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Post by Taffer on Jan 14, 2017 20:18:37 GMT
"Now is it some kind of a plot to make me look like the most foolish and incompetent commander in the eyes of Australian people?" Taffer voiced his rhetorical question as he heard the message Archer had sent about her so-called medical leave. "Archer, I'm fine with extending your 'medical leave'," He voiced his message addressed to her hailer, "Just please keep in mind that Australia is still isolated from other continent and we're not going to spend much time here unless it's necessary for our current mission. So if we're leaving without having you in contact or any knowledge when we can hear from you, it will be up to you to find a way to establish a communication with us again. And Frankie, it's great to have you on our side. I would really like it to stay this way. So if you need help or just want to talk — feel free to call." "Archer had been among those who saved my life back then in Defiance," he explained to Atika, not really caring about if his motives really needed any explanation, "I'll never forget it. Hope we'll hear from her soon. Now can you please connect me to Akhurst again?" "Lieutenant Colonel? It's Taffer again. I'm sorry and I fully understand it's getting ridiculous, but I have to call off my request again. If your squad hasn’t found our team mate yet, then they are free to go on their main task. Yep, that's our problem now, sorry for disturbance again."  "Now THAT's interesting," He suddenly said pointing at the oblong object shown on the left side of the screen, "Doesn't it look like someone is hiding behind that large rock?"  "I can't be sure, it can be anything up to a current with different temperature," a female voice sounded from the speakers and a holographic image of a hooded woman appeared next to Taffer. "If we could slow down, look at them from another angle and change the frequency…" "Negative Dash", Taffer replied quickly, "We do not change the speed or heading. If you need to change the frequency, then perform a full sweep and keep it sweeping all the time as if we are always scanning this way. If it's what we're looking for, we're not going to show them that we've found them. You'll get your different angle when we'll be passing by, but that's all." "Okay, analyzing the sweep result," Em Dash said and the screen showed the image which was gradually becoming more clear.  "I think we've just found them!" She exclaimed and Taffer nodded with a slight smile. "Atticus, we've found the submarine. We're going to pass by as if we didn't notice anything, then turn around and pass over them again so I can show Lady where they are located. Then we will get away as if we are scanning other tributaries of Fitzroy but not too far away so we can quickly get back if Lady is successful or needs our help. And I'd like to tell Lady a couple of words she goes if I may." |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jan 15, 2017 12:37:48 GMT
In the Riot, Lady Christianna became visible but not corporeal, saying to her husband, Atticus Batman, in a ghostly voice, "Save the rest for Boris! Will become corporeal for the homecoming, promise. Hugs and kisses then!"
Lady smiled enigmatically then blew him a kiss, sealing her promise.
I said calmly, "Don't worry I will save plenty of energy to deal with Boris and I will be looking forward to the homecoming hugs and kisses and such. However I am glad to finally be able to hear and see you without having to rely on the daking spectrum scanners and lip-reading more than necessary."
Just then I got Taffer's message, "Atticus, we've found the submarine. We're going to pass by as if we didn't notice anything, then turn around and pass over them again so I can show Lady where they are located. Then we will get away as if we are scanning other tributaries of Fitzroy but not too far away so we can quickly get back if Lady is successful or needs our help. And I'd like to tell Lady a couple of words she goes if I may."
So I responded to Taffer via EGO. "Taffer, I am feeling much better and Lady and I have more than enough energy now. So we are on our way to the Bridge as I speak. She can now make herself visible and even speak to us. So you can talk to Tianna as soon as we get there."
I then said outloud to Lady, "Tianna, Taffer needs us on the Bridge as they found the sub and he would like to talk to you before you start your 'Haunting' of Boris and his U-boat. So after you my Snow Angel."
As Lady practically floated out of the infirmary and cargo hold and to the Bridge, I followed close behind happy to once again be able to admire her figure and just enjoy her presence as we made the short walk to the Riot's Bridge. When we entered with me fully incased in my Powertech and ready for battle, I said sternly, "Alright Taffer, we're here. So please fill us in so that I can finally exterminate my enemy and get Lady back to us."
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Post by Belle Starr on Jan 15, 2017 13:36:38 GMT
When Belle Starr and her strike team arrived at Angel Arc's mining facility four dash one-eight-one, the gates to the complex were wide open. As they rode up the dirt road to the gulanite mines following the numerous posted signs, the base seemed abandoned until they came up in front of the administration building. There they found a swarthy stocky man with greasy black hair and a gold tooth loading up a small cart hitched behind an ATV with canisters of refined gulanite. A grim look crossed Belle's beautiful freckled face and her blue diamond eyes narrowed as she recognized the man, and as her team's Raptor stopped blocking the ATV's retreat from the complex, Belle jumped out of the front seat opening her Thorne Liro charge blade as she approached the only survivor of the three men who had raped her in her first ark fall years ago.
Juan Perez's brown face turned white when he recognized who was approaching him, falling to his knees as he began to plead, "Madre! Senorita Starr! Don't kill me, please! You didn't kill me last time when you could of! I ran as far as I could! I never thought I'd see you again! Please - I have a wife and child now - !"
"I'm NOT going to kill y'all," Belle interrupted through clenched perfect teeth as with one sweep of her charge blade she cut the trailers hitch in twain. "I try to follow God's word, and turn the other cheek, but scumbags like y'all make it real hard! Just cause I'm merciful, doesn't mean I'm going to let y'all commit more crimes! This stuff don't belong to you none! Now get the heck out of Dodge, NOW!"
Perez didn't have to be told twice, and as his ATV raced out of sight, Belle gripped the hilt of her charge blade so tight her knuckles turned white as a red flush traveled up her swan like neck and into her freckled cheeks, but both soon subsided as she took control of her emotions. Finally, she closed her charge blade, refastening it to her belt as she climbed back into the front seat of the Raptor, gesturing with one hand for Vo Kshaa to continue on to the mines' entrance. When they arrived there, they saw a thin pale man in a hard hat and short sleeved white shirt sitting in a stopped cart outside the mines. Belle jumped out of the Raptor's front seat once again, her Dancing Lady SMG at the ready, as she approached the man, getting a closer view of him as she did. His forehead was against the steering wheel of the cart and he was visibly trembling, but she could see the nameplate pinned above the pocket of his shirt, which read, "Ted Sedgewick, Overseer, Arc Angel Industries."
Belle frowned, then gently put a hand on Overseer Sedgewick's shoulder, asking as the pupils of her diamond blue eyes flared red, "Relax Mr. Sedgewick, we're not here to hurt you, but where is Erika Widowmaker?"
Sedgewick stopped shaking and looked up with watery light blue eyes, a hound dog expression dominating his long pale face, as he replied, "I was giving Captain Widowmaker a tour of the mines when she spotted something awry I guess, then leaped out of the cart as we approached a flooded tunnel. Suddenly armed men rose out of the water, firing automatic weapons at us, so I high tailed it out of there. I-I-I don't know what happened to her after I left."
Belle smiled warmly as the red gleam in her eyes diminished, stating with confidence, "Don't worry Mr. Sedgewick, we're here to help!" Then turned to her team, exclaiming, "Okay gang! Let's go save Erika, y'all!"
Belle activated her EGO's blur power, and sped into the gulanite mines. At the same time, Juan Perez pressed his ATV to get as far away from Belle Starr as possible, congratulating himself for escaping her wrath yet again.
"Stupid Chiquita!" Thought Perez to himself, "Why would I weigh myself down with a wife and brat, when I can just take any bitch I want? Got to say, she's still a pretty piece of ass! I should thank her for the memories - "
Suddenly the ground beneath him and his ATV opened up under them as huge hands grabbed them both, pulling them underground. No one other then the Volge that seized him heard his screams as they literally tore him limb from limb, with no evidence of his passing other than a pool of blood that appeared on the ground above in a huge crack where the ground had closed.
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Post by Archer, Frankie J. on Jan 15, 2017 17:06:17 GMT
 The sky was getting darker, not for lack of daylight. She was approaching the crude facility. It was raining oil from the black clouds above. She'd cut and manipulated her parachute into an improvised poncho to cover herself. The vehicle she was after appeared to have stopped just beyond the edge of the oil clouds for a dry safe place to rest. The sun was descending behind the crude air. Frankie wanted to catch up with the driver as they came outside the refinery. The next morning, Frankie was footmarching. She heard that engine running at high revolution. She turned around and expected to see the vehicle slowing down and come to the gate of the facility, as she predicted. The thunderous roller shifted into gear and sped passed the facility, and passed her opportunity to obtain that car. Blowing her nose full of oil, she looked up at the large gate then knocked on the door. In her mind she remembered the song LEXY hummed for her in her quarters aboard the Vigilant, gaining the earwig of a melody. |
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Post by Lena Marr on Jan 15, 2017 18:42:10 GMT
As Lena Marr drove the Roofians' monster truck with Marcel mounting the Machine gun on top, she followed Belle Starr and the rest of the strike team to the front of the mining complex's administration, watching silently as Belle confronted her rapist, but communicating to Marcel via their EGO's through their private channel as Belle let Perez race away on his ATV saying in disgust, "And that is why WE will win. Soft-hearted AND soft-headed. Is there any wonder why I hate her so much? All that power - just going to waste! Damn do-gooder!"
When Belle got back into the Raptor, Lena revved the engine of her own vehicle and followed the Raptor to the entrance of the Gulanite mines. Lena quietly watched the conversation between Belle and Overseer Sedgeway, thinking how much she would give to have the kind of personal power it was rumored Belle Starr wielded. Lena had once heard that there was ancient human civilization who ate the hearts of their defeated enemies to gain their strength and power. Lena wondered if she ate Belle's heart, would she gain Belle's strength and power?
"Worth a try," Thought Lena with a wicked grin as she turned off the monster's truck engine, pocketing the key as she blurred off after Belle Starr, yelling nonchalantly as she did, "In for a penny, in for a pound!" Not at all knowing what that old human saying meant, but liking the way it sounded.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jan 16, 2017 13:29:29 GMT
Marcel Lestrange discovered few major disadvantages of his hazmat suit. First - he could not lit a cigarette and second - he found himself wondering why the hell those countless people who wore different kind of protective suits or tightly closed armours in different stories did not had to have to take a leak while they were in those suits and armours. He actually would gladly being empting his bladder at moment if he only could. But that was not the most important thing at moment because they arrived and Lena spoke with him, expressing her opinion about the nature of goodness and making Marcel not only to forget his needs but also grin and reply:
"I am sure that you are correct, Honey Pot. That is why goodness actually never wins and lets the evil triumph. Good is way too dumb to prevail! If it is not dumb then it is very naive. Or quite soft. Or at least way too limited. And what is worst - goodness limits itself. They can not use the most effective methods because these are not honourable. Honourable, my ass! As long as they are effective they are usable. Goodness is pathetic! Pathetic like...Volodja!"
Wolfram von Eschen observed how Sandy Bell took care of sick Volodja Uljanov. His cold hands were placed on Volodja's hot ones because Wolfram decided to suppress all Volodja's attempts to get up or sabotage Sandy's efforts to keep half conscious Volodja well fed and making sure that Volodja had enough of water to compensate the loss of fluids due to his sickness and what was most important - Wolfram knew Volodja quite well and tried to do anything humanly possible to keep him escaping from his in the sick bed. Suddenly Wolfram noticed that Volodja's face became paler than it already was and he asked with his rasp voice: "Is everything all right?"
Volodja looked at him with his still feverish eyes but smiled weakly before saying: "I would feel much better, Wolfram, if you ease your grip. At moment I feel like my palms are placed between vice."
"I think that we are starting to get him back," told Wolfram von Eschen to Sandy Bell. "He just established at least a semi conscious contact with the world."
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Post by Taffer on Jan 16, 2017 22:09:50 GMT
"Okay, now please turn around and pass exactly over the marked spot," Taffer said to the pilot, "Do not stop and do not take any maneuvers unless provoked. Just pass the spot and continue on."
"We're going to fly right over them slowly," Taffer said as he turned to Atticus and Lady who had just entered the Bridge. "We won't see them on the sonar this time as they are hiding below the rock protruding out of the river bank. But we already know their coordinates so I'll tell you the exact moment when Lady could just fly straight down to reach them. At the same time our trajectory which runs out of their line of sight will hopefully ensure them we still haven't noticed them. Since then, we'll be maneuvering around the area as if we're still searching for the sub. Lady, be sure we'll be close enough to jump in for help if anything goes wrong but I'm afraid the only way of communication with you will be your link with Atticus. Unless you get a hold of their radio equipment of course.
Now to the essence of your mission Lady. The old submarine like this has to be operated with a rather big crew of people as they have to manually control the pumps, engines, radio and weapons while receiving commands from the captain of the bridge, who in its turn most likely receives commands from Boris himself. Boris is not your main target as he's probably completely focused on his wicked idea and if you even manage to scare him enough, he would likely command to move underwater to some other place he considers safe. The Captain is another matter. We don't know anything about him or her. He or she could be as much focused on fulfilling the mission at all cost or could be concerned of their own life or lives of their crew. So their character will determine their actions in case they notice something is going on on their ship. The crew, especially low-ranks is more predictable. They may be there just for money or may be loyal to their cause, but most of them are still concerned about their own lives the most. This means if they think they are in danger, they will start acting irrationally and all their actions will be directed towards escaping away from the dangerous place. But the first thing is there's nowhere to escape on the submarine while it's underwater. Second thing is the submarine is a dangerous place itself and they know it. Every weird sound, every movement of things that should not move, every trace of dripping water is a sign for them that the ship is in the verge of falling apart and drowning. If they see enough evidences that they are in danger, they will most likely ignore all the commands and work to surface the ship and escape, and that's exactly what we need them to do.
Speaking of the haunting part itself, I'm guessing all of the crew are humans for obvious reasons, so I can easily tell of their fears, being of the same race and culture. Most sailors, pilots, spacemen and other people who constantly work in dangerous environment are superstitious. That's natural because they are constantly looking for any sign of danger around them. Then, almost every human culture has some beliefs that souls of people who died or was killed way before their designated end of life continue to haunt the Earth until their destined time of life runs out or until they finish what they were destined to do in their life or until they take revenge on their murderer. Given those people are actively trying to kill as many Votans as possible, meeting revenge-seeking ghosts of those they have already killed is definitely one of their worst fears now.
Now, I think I have to end my lecture because it's just twenty seconds left before we pass right over the submarine. I wish you luck Lady and please remember you're not alone as we're still around and waiting for you to return safely back to us."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jan 17, 2017 11:58:28 GMT
I listened to everything Taffer said, then said, "And she WILL return to us! Taffer you are right that Lady and I will still be connected and Lady, I WILL be there as soon as you need me. Don't ever doubt it...even after what I did earlier. However Taffer I think you forgot something..." I took a moment to enjoy my thought and then said with an air of cruel humor in my tone, "There is ONE way for some of the more cowardly to escape. The Torpedo tubes!...."
Then I once again said calmly, "Alright not all of them are cowardly as I heard mention that long ago the American Navy Seals created a small submersible that could be launched from a sub's torpedo tubes. However you still get my point. NEVER underestimate the brave, or in this case the extremely cowardly, as they will always try to find a way."
(Shooting SEALs from a torpedo tube Article) (Torpedo Seal information)
Then I turned to Lady and unsealed and removed my helmet so she could see my face and said, "Good luck Tianna. I know you will do great and I will be looking forward to your return. I love you."
Then I glared around the room at those in hearing distance as if to warn them NOT to say anything about my tender moment. After Lady's response and departure, I put my helm back on and re-sealed it.
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Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Jan 17, 2017 18:14:51 GMT
As Lu played a role of rear guard, she took the time to report their progress and findings to the Riot, including the incident with the first Angel Arc employee they met and the second one. Once Belle and Lena blurred deeper into the mine and her lover and Lu's brother Vo blurred right behind them with his Breacher on the ready, Lu took Sedgewick's hand and helped him out of the cart.
"Mr. Sedgewick, we better get away from the mine and find a safer place for you as we'll probably have to fend off those armed people you were talking about. I think we've seen a sturdy building where you can wait until the security comes and evacuates you."
"I think we can borrow this cart to speed up our descent," She said to Marcel as she placed her Decoy on one of the seats in it. "Don't wait for me, just drive it forward."
With that said, she ushered Mr. Sedgewick into the administrative building and pushed him through the door, closing it behind them.
"Okay, I've reported your location to my superiors, so they will soon send someone to rescue you from here," she said hastily as she knew the time of her Decoy was running out. "Oh and here's the frequency you can contact my superiors with," she added as she handed him a piece of paper with the Riot's 'civilian' communication frequency written on it. "I'm pretty sure this building should have a communication console somewhere. And if you don't know how to operate it — then read the fine manual!"
With those words said, Lu quickly dissipated as she switched with her Decoy at the last second, finding herself in the cart again.
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Post by Taffer on Jan 17, 2017 18:22:42 GMT
"And someone's way out is the other one's way in," Taffer noted with a smile when Atticus mentioned torpedo tubes. "But only if Lady could 'convince' someone to control bulkheads of the torpedo tube the way we need to enter through them."
Taffer had to skip watching Atticus's tender moment with Lady as Lu contacted him at the same time with the report of the strike team's progress at the mines, which, in turn, made him move to the communication console again.
"Atika could you please contact Akhurst again and tell them some good news for a change. Our strike team have checked the grounds of Angel Arc facility and found them safe but abandoned, which is rather strange to hear as according to Erika's report they were fully operational just a couple of hours before. Our team is making their way further into the mine, but they have already found one employee of the Angel Arc corporation who better be quarantined as a potential virus carrier. So if his people are going to visit and investigate the facility, it would be nice if they take care of that man."
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Post by Archer, Frankie J. on Jan 17, 2017 20:41:14 GMT
Even after a whole lot of hassle and hazing outside the gate, Archer was finally allowed into the crude facility. After a long time being made to wait, Archer managed to speak with the rig boss. Following a long discussion and a lengthy debate and only after negotiations lasted days, she bartered for a roller. That was after she aided the work around the facility. In a few long days she learned a couple things about the crude, oil, and as well as mechanical. It turned out to be simpler than she'd imagined. It all worked a lot like communications and relations. Although, she was still no blackfinger.
One day within the commissary, she was scrubbing her gear when a huge sensoth woman outright took her Series 4. Sensoth were normally very submissive men and women. This one apparently with a dramatically altered psyche, or perhaps on drugs, or even just being someone who'd suffered traumatically and is coping using overaggression and lack of worth in others, blatantly stole the weapon picking it up as it was resting and drying on the table in front of Archer with the rest of her things.
Frances was in such a state herself. She looked up at the alien woman, but she couldn't afford to be concerned with that bit of property now. Her priorities were different. She needed the roller. She needed to keep herself out of trouble in order to achieve the roller. She couldn't make a big deal out of a gun, no matter how unique and one-of-a-kind. Archer didn't want to let it go but she had no other choice. She couldn't watch it walk away like that, so she put her head down and scrubbed her gear.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Jan 18, 2017 11:05:59 GMT
"Good luck Tianna. I know you will do great and I will be looking forward to your return. I love you."
Nothing had gone right for Lady Christianna since her husband, Atticus Batman, said those words and she gave him a ghostly kiss before departing on her mission to infiltrate Boris' submarine and to scare the crew. First, there was a strong wind, and her plan to gently drift down to the sub and then go through the hull to enter safely within was proving to be impossible. Lady had to suddenly solidify to gain mass, knowing it would cost Atticus Grid energy that he needed for the coming battle but needed nonetheless. She dropped like a rock, thus ignoring the winds that would have led her astray from her target, then again became insubstantial just before entering the sea craft with no ill effects, except a sudden migraine headache from changing mass so quickly and so often within a short amount of time.
Second, the ghost plan was not going quite as planned. She appeared and disappeared through out the sub, moved dishes around the mess, floated the crews' personal items around their common sleeping area, even moved the captain's hat on his head so it was facing backwards and everyone seemed to ignore her. When she entered the XO's cabin, she saw him playing chess with himself, so she starting moving the pieces opposite him, playing the game as her father Bocar had taught her, and was amazed that the XO played the game like nothing was amiss.
As Lady relayed the bad news to Atticus and Taffer via her EGO, she wondered and voiced a question to both of them, "Drunk? Drugged? Not right in the noggin anyway! Still fully functional though. What gives?"
*****
Volodja Uljanov looked at Wolfram Von Eschen with his still feverish eyes but smiled weakly before saying: "I would feel much better, Wolfram, if you ease your grip. At moment I feel like my palms are placed between vice."
"I think that we are starting to get him back," told Wolfram Von Eschen to Sandy Bell. "He just established at least a semi conscious contact with the world."
Sandy Bell's baby blue eyes regained focus at the sound of her lover, Volodja's, voice and smiled with the corners of her mouth. However the slight smile disappeared as fast as it had appeared, and still dressed in her bloody fatigues and rent armor, she carefully placed the half eaten bowl of soup and spoon on the nightstand next to his bed before shuffling out of the room headed towards the Vigilant's hangar. When she got there, she opened a hangar door by the push of a button, looking at the landscape flashing by far below.
"It would be so easy... so, so easy... just to jump... to find release in oblivion," Sandy thought to herself as tears began to make dirty trails down her pale cheeks.
Sandy stared out the hangar door for what seemed to her to be an eternity, then pushed the button a second time closing the hangar door. When it had closed she slowly fell down onto the floor into a sitting position, holding herself across her belly where an addled Atticus Batman had stabbed her, killing her and Volodja's unborn baby, and began to rock on her haunches as she sobbed uncontrollably, unable to hold in her sorrow at their loss anymore, and not sure that the overwhelming sorrow would ever end until her life did, but unwilling yet to take that last drastic step.
*****
Belle Starr's and Lena Marr's blur ended around the same time, but leaving them far ahead of the rest of the strike team. Suddenly Belle turned to Lena, the red pupils of her blue eyes glowing brightly as her neatly manicured hands clenched tight into fists and her beautiful pale freckled face twisted into an angry grimace. She glared at Lena for some moments as she swiped an errant strand of blond hair from in front of her face, and the intensity of that glare made Lena back up two steps.
"I know you for who you are Lena," Began Belle angrily, "Your mind is an open book to me! I know that since this mission began, you've worked against us as much as for us, and almost got Lady killed again and again! I'm not going to stand for it, y'all hear! You're a no-good bushwacker, and your petty plans and diabolical schemes end here and now, or you do! Your choice!"
A wicked grin crossed Lena's pretty chalk white face as she straightened her stance, standing tall as she replied, "Come on Pollyanna, you and I both know you won't do anything to me until I threaten one of your precious Protectors right in front of you, and maybe not even then! You're a bloody do-gooder and you know it! Law and order, order and law, blah-blah-blah! Even if I killed Lady right in front of you, not that I would, but if I did, you'd still just arrest me and throw me in jail, soooooo... don't pretend that you would do anything else, and don't threaten me! I don't take threats lightly - especially from people who don't have the guts to follow through with them!"
Belle' rose petal lips formed a tight thin line as she clenched her hands so forcefully that her painted fingernails drew blood from her palms, then she turned her back on Lena, stalking off stiffly towards where they thought Erika might be. Lena leaned against the wall of the tunnel they were going down as she watched Belle disappear into the darkness with unblinking sky blue eyes.
Lena's wicked grin disappeared as she let loose a sigh of relief, wiping the sweat off her forehead with one chalk white hand as she thought to herself, "Whoosh! I wasn't sure that would work! She really looked pissed off! But like I told her - do-gooder, do nothing!"
Lena chuckled to herself - just before huge clawed hands came out of the wall behind her, grabbing her and pulling her into the hole before it closed without a trace, but causing her to drop her gun onto the dusty ground of the tunnel before it closed.
*****
Erika Widowmaker needed to tell the others where she was and that she had found the secret submarine lair, but none of her communication devices, including her EGO, would work because of all the gulanite deposits around her, so she devised a plan, albeit a risky one, to contact her fellow Protectors. Holstering her Magnum and taking off her boots and tying them around her neck, she carefully lowered herself into the cold water out of sight of the humans working on the dock. Once she was sure she was unobserved, she began to noiselessly dog-paddle down a long dark tunnel towards the pinprick of light that signified the outside entrance to the hidden underground base.
"Once I get outside, I can contact the others, letting them know where the sub base is," Thought Erika to herself, but adding grimly, "That is, unless I drown first, or a shark gator eats me."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jan 18, 2017 13:14:46 GMT
"Atika could you please contact Akhurst again and tell them some good news for a change. Our strike team have checked the grounds of Angel Arc facility and found them safe but abandoned, which is rather strange to hear as according to Erika's report they were fully operational just a couple of hours before. Our team is making their way further into the mine, but they have already found one employee of the Angel Arc corporation who better be quarantined as a potential virus carrier. So if his people are going to visit and investigate the facility, it would be nice if they take care of that man."
Atika nodded then contacted Akhurst. After she informed him of what Taffer had said, he told her he would contact two squads in the area and send them to the Angel Arc Mining facility to investigate and help the Protectors on site as needed, as well as to take care of the one employee that had been found so far. After the call ended, she of course filled in Taffer and myself.
Shortly after Lady's departure, I felt a slight drain in my energy, realizing that for some reason Lady had already had to use more than she expected. So it was a good thing that I was now fully healed and once again instinctively and subconsciously slowly absorbing excess energies from my surroundings to keep myself at peak efficiency. However I still felt the urge to further brace my energy reserves. So I walked over to a compartment under my console and removed a bottle of my Irathient rum and took a huge swig. Then I took occasional swallows from the bottle as I helped Taffer monitor the systems as needed.
Some time later, Taffer and I received Lady's EGO communique. As Lady relayed the bad news to Taffer and myself via her EGO, she wondered and voiced a question to both of us, "Drunk? Drugged? Not right in the noggin anyway! Still fully functional though. What gives?"
I responded via EGO for her and Taffer to hear, "Daking odd indeed. Perhaps a form of mind control, such as what his Votan virus did on the Sensoth float?!"
Just then I heard the arrogant voice in my head of Kabule, my split personality who took on a life of his own. Kabule said with interest, "Hmmm yes! That would make sense! It could be in some way! YES! It COULD be that interesting!"
I mentally growled, "Kafool just what the dak are you talking about?!"
He said, "Come off it Assicus! You know my love of plants for poisons and the like and that is what I am talking about!"
I grumbled back, "Dak, I have a feeling you are about to go on about your obsession with Toxicology!...Dak it Kabule! I am NOT in the mood for it! So unless it is actually important to the current mission then keep it to your daking self!"
Seconds later Kabule appeared on the Riot's Bridge, using my EGO's holo-projector to do so. As soon as I saw him appear in front of me I snapped angrily, "Dak it Kabule! Just what the daking hell are you doing out here?!"
Kabule, dressed in his usual biker leathers, gave me his arrogant smile and said in a haughty tone, "Relax big brother! What I have to say IS important. So just let me speak to your team! Besides this Taffer has proven before that he is much more reasonable than you, and does see the use of my knowledge in toxicology, even though you do not. So at least let HIM hear what I have to say before you once again send me to my 'ROOM'!"
I snapped, "Fine but make it quick and respectful for once!"
Kabule gave me an arrogant smile and said, "Aren't I always? But fine, have it your way. Somewhat boring it is! Now Taffer I suppose that as Assicus wants me to get right to the point, I will say why I am here instead of talking to the pretty young Irathient wearing the communications headset. I heard that EGO message from Atticus's little wifey, as I know you did as well. Anyway I was just telling the big and cranky BORE that mind control makes sense, however you are in Australia!
So perhaps it is not a completely man-made virus or one created to kill Votans and then altered to test it further, like the one that recently made Atticus interesting again...at least for a little while. Instead it could be derived from something much more natural and indigenous to the continent and focused specifically on mind control! Back when I was in control of Atticus' body and worked for Seto and Nim, I had heard of a plant that is indigenous to both Australia and Africa called the Acacia that had an interesting affect on the ants that fed on it. So I looked it up once. It seems this plant was able to use some sort of mind control on those annoying little bugs to protect it most of the time and leave it alone when it wanted. That was before the terraforming incidents. So perhaps the terraforming mutated it in a way that would make that natural chemical affective on humans and this Boris guy found a way to fully harness and make use of that chemical.
Of course there is also an ancient Greek myth about a cult of Lotus-eaters that were addicted to the lotus flower and it caused an apathy that could be used to manipulate a person as well. From my research back when I was 'alive', Lotus blossoms could also be found in Australia at one time. So it is possible that a mutated version of them also exist here."
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jan 18, 2017 16:05:16 GMT
"I see," said Marcel Lestrange when he discovered abandoned gun on the floor. "I see," he repeated once more. "I see." Third time was said in quiet voice reminding a sigh. Then he turned towards the rest of the team and begun to talk. His voice was clear and unemotional as usual:
"You know what is funny about saving the world? Everyone are willing to save his or her own private world with people and things belonging into it. One may think that they try to save the thing as a whole but no! World consists from things which we consider to be important to ourselves. You may wonder why Marcel Lestrange became philosophical? Because I see that Lena is missing. She happens to be most important part of MY world. And that brings me to so called ethical dilemma. Should I save your worlds first, or mine? I believe that you know the answer already. I am going to save my own world. Yours can wait! If I can not do this, then do not stay to wait for me. At this particular moment, nothing means lesser for me than YOUR little worlds. Comprenez?"
While he was talking, Marcel removed his hazmat suit, letting it fall to the cave floor. Then he pulled out one of his cigarettes and tossed between his thin lips. Little KLICK! from his golden lighter and the rest of the team could see a flash in darkness, lighting Marcel's face for a brief moment. Then they could see single glowing red dot - Marcel puffed his cigarette. Suddenly that point disappeared because Marcel Lestrange turned around and walked into the darkness...
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Jan 18, 2017 16:52:20 GMT
"I see," said Wolfram von Eschen when Sandy walked out and Volodja tried to get up from his sick bed. "I am afraid that you can't do a damn thing, mein Junge. You are too weak. See, what I mean..." and one gentle move of Wolfram's hand, Volodja was pushed to his back. "Let me handle this. And if I even have a SUSPICION that you are out of your bed, I am going to beat the crap out of you with this walking cane, no matter how sick you are. Verstehen!" Saying that, Wolfram turned around and walked stiffly out of the door. He stopped only then and now to ask passing crew members about pretty woman in bloody armour they might seen in his short and sweet "speak up, speak fast and I might spare your tibiae" way. Some of them hadn't seen Sandy, some had, and thanks to them Wolfram was able to restore Sandy's path, leading towards the hangar. If Sandy paid any attention to her surroundings then she probably could hear rhythmic tapping of Wolfram's walking cane on the floor. Those tap and clap sounds ceased when Wolfram von Eschen reached next to sobbing Sandy, letting out couple of muttered curses and crepitating sounds of his old joint when he knelt by her side. He put his long thin arm around her shoulders and said with hoarse voice: "Sandy, Liebchen. I believe that you could use a shoulder right now. I am offering you one, although I should warn you that this old war horse could catch a mud fever from all this humidity. He he. But I am willing to take that risk and also listen you if you are willing to talk with me. Do you want to talk, Liebchen?" |
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