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Post by Atticus Batman on Jan 21, 2017 12:59:32 GMT
Taffer said, "Atika, I put you in a tactical command of the Riot until we get back. It could be as simple as waiting for our signal and moving the Riot to the place we specify to pick us up. But it's never easy as you have probably learnt already. That's why we need someone being in touch with the situation. Our strike team may need an immediate evacuation. Akhurst and his people may need a communication relay with our team. We may need an aerial support in our fight. That's why we need you to be in command of it. You're already more than familiar with the communication equipment. Your EGO will help you in controlling the weapons if needed. Poe Dameron will fly the ship anywhere you command him to. Okay, everyone ready? No time to wait, let's do it!"
Atika's mouth dropped and she stuttered, her Mongol accent being extremely strong from her shock at Taffer's words, "M...m...me?! I'm n...n...n...NO Commander! Linguistics is what I am good at! Not telling people what to do or making hard choices like who to save or who to let die!"
I said sternly, "You do just that with your brother all of the time from what I have seen! Besides Taffer is right as usual! This task requires our linguistics expert as you know exactly how to manipulate Comm.s to get you in touch with whoever you need and if we require aid, the ADF is a lot closer and more mobile in the area than the Vigilant. However in order to have a chance of getting their aid, we need somebody who their Region Commander has a good repertoire with. If Taffer says that is you, then I have NO reason to doubt him, as he has been the one in command here and witnessing the conversations with you and this Ackhurst fellow, not me. So look at it this way: You have proven yourself to Taffer so much that he put you in command instead of one of the trained soldiers onboard such as Dameron. I would think that is a good thing. That would also give you something to brag to your brother about as I have seen and heard that siblings are always competitive over such things, no matter how close they are or how much they love and care about each other. Am I wrong?"
Atika mumbled, "No Sir, you aren't completely wrong and I suppose that I will definitely have something exciting to tell Tilly of my adventure after this, but what if I hesitate or am not sure of what to do and I don't have time to contact either of you or Captain Kaj to ask for help?!"
I responded with, "It would waste time trying to contact any of us if it is something that needs decided on the spot, and could cost lives or other complications. So you will have to get the courage to do so yourself, as you are the one in charge up here now. However I will point out that is why most Commanders always have a Second to help with those moments. For instance: I have Taffer. Kaj has Tasha Yar. In your case the answer sits right next to you in the pilot's chair. Not only is Dameron a great pilot but he is also military trained and from my experience has NEVER had an issue with speaking his mind. So if you need advice, then I am sure he will give it...perhaps even if you don't ask or feel you need it."
Poe Dameron started preparing for the drop as ordered and, as he did so, he said calmly, "It will be my pleasure girl! And do I have some great stories to tell you later when we are done here!"
Hearing all that, Atika took a breath and said with a little hesitation still in her voice, now also with some excitement, "Thank you Commander Taffer, I will do my best. Poe I would be very happy to have you as my Second and my pilot! So let's do it!"
When Taffer and I were back in the Riot's cargo hold getting ready for the drop, I said, "Taffer I hope you know what you are doing putting her in charge!"
Then we grabbed holds near the drop door and I opened it to prepare for our drop. When Poe eventually gave us our cue, Taffer and I jumped into the river below. Then a crew member aboard the Riot closed the door behind us.
A little while later, we had sunk to the riverbed and, walking on it's floor, we made our way to where the sub was located. As Taffer guarded my back, I started examining the torpedo tubes' external muzzle doors to determine the best way in. After examining them all, I made a nice discovery. One had been modified to have an external switch to control the equalizing and flood/drain valves of this specific tube, but required a certain code to do so. It also appeared to be designed so that once the tube was filled and pressure equalized enough for access from the sea (or in this case river), the system would unlock the door and the diver would just have to forcibly pull it open.
So as I harnessed my Grid energies to try to crack the code, I sent Taffer an EGO message saying, "We are in luck as this tube has been modified for use of divers. So I just need to crack the electronic code and we will be in."
After several long minutes of using my electrical energies to manipulate the access panel, it finally flashed a green light signifying that I got access. So I activated the flood valve and filled the tube. Then I adjusted the equalizing valve to maintain the correct pressure. Once that was all done, I turned the handle and forcefully pulled the door open. Then I signaled Taffer and he followed me in. After we got the muzzle door re-closed, we made our way to the other end of the tube. Once there I found another access panel. So I used this one to lock the muzzle door and slowly drain the tube and equalize the pressure safely for us. When that was all eventually done and the breech door's lock released, I pushed the Breech door open slightly and scanned the area, picking up one faint life sign in the room. So I cautiously opened the door the rest of the way, and pulled myself out.
 
As Taffer climbed out, I located the life sign in the torpedo room. What I found was a sailor who obviously fell asleep at his post, although I wasn't completely sure if it was because of the drugs in his system, or because he found his post that boring, nor did I actually care at the time. So I left him alone to sleep and returned to the tube, as Taffer was closing it as quietly as possible. I signaled him to be quiet so as not to wake the sleeping sailor. Then we made our way out of the torpedo room and went our separate ways to complete our required tasks; Taffer to find and destroy the virus, and me to find my wife. Then we would eventually meet back on the bridge where we would make up the rest of the plan on the fly and then hopefully end eventually with getting the sub topside. That way we can regroup with the rest of our team and then finally head home for some much needed downtime, before the next crisis comes our way.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jan 21, 2017 17:28:01 GMT
"What a freak show," said one of crew members of the submarine, who just ended his watch and went to have some rest. Now he was looking at his shipmates in their sleeping quarters. The effect of the chemicals which was released into the ventilation system of the sub, made him to see rest of the people as weirdos, because visions he had were based on his personal traits. Distrust towards others and suspicion that there were non humans or subhumans among members of their organisation, were two of these traits. And now, when chemicals disabled his common sense, his fellow shipmates looked like a bunch of alien life forms to him:
"Look who's talking, freak" snapped one of them back to him, because from his point of view that man who just entered and spoke was a freak himself. Disturbingly weird one too. He shared the trait of distrust with the first speaker. Actually most of the crew shared those traits.
"Who do you call a freak, freak?" was the reply and hand of the first speaker begun to move towards the closet, tearing the door open and pulling out a mop. Now he was armed and ready to fight those monsters.
"Put that thing down and we might kill you fast and painlessly," promised third guy. "Right men?" he asked next, but then his eyes widened in horror. "Shit! Freaks are everywhere!"
__________
On the bridge the First Officer Sweers pulled Captain by his sleeve. "Excuse me, Captain Ruyter. There is something you must see!" He pointed to the monitor and two pairs of eyes witnessed a brawl in the sleeping quarters section of the submarine. Was it just a riot? Perhaps a mutiny? outbreak of the mass hysteria? They didn't knew that yet. That's why t they had to gather necessary information about that event, before they could take any action and report about the incident to Boris as well.
"Watch Officer," ordered Captain. "You will go there RIGHT AWAY and see what the fuck is going on on MY ship! Leave your radio on all the time"
"Right away, Sir," was replied with a calm voice. The watch officer was solid as a rock and only a little bit more emotional. Perfect man to send observe the situation.
At first everything seemed to be under control. Watch Officer gave short reports while he moved to the sleeping quarters until his voice suddenly changed. Usually phlegmatic Watch Officer begun to mumble, stutter and was finally cut off from the bridge, managing to scream: "Gassss!" as his final message.
Officers on the bridge saw him rush into the fistfight and gave immediate command to seal off that particular section from the rest of the sub. Captain ordered First Officer Sweers to inform Boris and begun to think about the last message of the Watch Officer. Gas?
"Send the air supply tester in!" ordered Captain Ruyter. "Fast!" He was grateful to the Watch Officer who acted like a canary in the mine and warned them. But veracity of that warning still needed solid proof. Soon the Captain got it when air tester reported that he discovered high amount of toxic gasses in sleeping area. The Captain sent out a team to check the ventilation system right away and eliminate the cause of the air pollution.
Three men team, accompanied by the air tester, moved carefully past the riot and begun their work. They checked everywhere they could (and even places where they couldn't usually reach) until the air tester said: "Hey! Listen to this! Someone singing!"
"You better check your mask, mate," warned team leader. "I think there is a leak."
"No! Someone SINGS in the vent, I swear it! It's..It's...about some Lucy who is in the sky with...Diamonds? Listen yourself." And he begun to screw off the lid. All four men lowered their masked heads towards the hole and now all of them could clearly heard the singing voice of a girl. Men looked inside the air processing unit and saw small Castithan teen girl on her back and singing:
"Capt'n," said the team leader. "We have a saboteur on board. We have every reason to believe that she messed up our vent system."
"Capture her alive and bring her here for interrogation!" ordered Captain Ruyter. Now he was able to give a FULL report about that accident to Boris who already appeared to the bridge and threw him him dim glances. First Officer Sweers stood by his side.
"It's a diversion, Sir!" the Captain announced. "Our men just reported that they already discovered the intruder., responsible of sabotaging our ventilation system. It's a girl. A CASTITHAN girl. A SINGING CASTITHAN girl!"
"Excellent job, Captain," replied Boris. "I already begun to consider...Actually it won't matter, my good Captain. Once again we have a proof that Votans are a plague which poison everything and everywhere in places where they appear! Bring the vermin here! I would like to have couple of words with her before the termination."
"Will be done, Sir!"
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Post by Belle Starr on Jan 21, 2017 19:26:35 GMT
Belle Starr knocked out the guard to the right as Vo Kshaa knocked out the guard to the left. Belle peered in, seeing over one hundred humans, many dressed in gulanite miner's outfits, busily working on the docks as if preparing for some big event. As she watched, huge clawed hands reached out of the ground grabbing one after another of the human men and women, pulling them under the ground, whereupon a scream would be heard, muffled by the concealing rock, until it suddenly was not. Those of the humans who had weapons tried in vain to defend themselves from what she recognized as Volge Troopers, but such resistance didn't last for long. A woman miner was pulled underground near Belle, and still blurring, she ran to the woman, grabbing one of her flailing arms resisting the force that sought to pull her downward, but soon there was no longer any resistance against Belle. Belle fell on her rump, finding herself holding the woman's bloody detached arm, still warm from when it was attached to a living being. Soon the only two living people by the cavern dock was Belle and her lover, Vo Kshaa. The Volge were gone. The humans were gone. Belle sat where she had fallen, still holding the dead woman's detached arm, blinking her blue diamond eyes in disbelief. Belle muttered in shock, "What is going on!?!? Did I cause this!?!?I don't want this!?!? I never wanted any of this!?!? I just wanted a better world..."  Far below, the hologram of Belle Starr smiled at Marcel Lestrange, speaking to him slowly like he was a small child just learning his parents' language, "You misunderstand again Mr. Lestrange: It doesn't matter if Eugen was guilty or not of any crimes, or any of the others for that matter. It should have been society and its laws that punished them for their criminal acts, not Ms. Marr's unilateral action. Their crimes are not in issue, Ms. Marr's crimes are! In the case of Eugen, he was tied up and helpless, but instead of turning him over to the lawful authorities for due process, she gutted him like a caught flounder! Civilization will never flourish in our post-apocalypse world without enforcing law and order through legitimate authorities." With an inaudible sigh, holo-Belle repeated her question, "To the aforementioned crimes, how do you Lena Marr plead - guilty or not guilty!" Lena Marr had a sudden thought, waving her chalk white hands vigorously to catch her counsel's attention, then stuck her pink tongue out of the corner of her lush lips, crossing her sky blue eyes, and moving one alabaster forefinger in a clockwise motion over her temple. Once she saw that Marcel had seen her pantomimed suggestion, Lena smiled wickedly and shrugged as if to say, "It's only a thought!" |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jan 21, 2017 19:56:19 GMT
Door of the holo room opened and insiders could see Volodja Uljanov to appear in the sheaf of light. Actually they could see the end of his hospital bed first. Then his face above the blanket. Small wheel begun to squeak and the bed rolled into the holo room. "I told you, Volodja...", begun Wolfram von Eschen. "...That you are going to use your walking cane to beat me up if I leave this bed. As you can see, I followed your orders to the letter and stayed in my bed, but I don't remember you saying anything about moving around with the bed while I am still in it. You are right - I am a bit weak to roam around alone, but that doesn't mean that I leave Sandy in trouble and leave that trouble to be single-handedly yours to handle. You were gone quite along time so I became worried. That's why I convinced honourable Count Casannuendo to give me a push after discovering these small wheels, attached to the bed. Count agreed with me that we should not bother medical personnel and avoid them from getting involved. All we had to do was to follow traces of Sarge. Sophie was quite keen on following him...I do apologize for using labour of the Count but I wouldn't be here without his help." Volodja face and his eyes were tired and worried but he managed to smile. Weakly. Diminutive Liberata Count stepped out behind the other end of Volodja's bed and bowed to Sandy gallantly, explaining: "It was my pleasure to help this young man to find this young woman. A gentlemen helping another gentlemen in important matter. Love doesn't care about the geographical distance...or height differences..." His eyes became dreamy for a second and a wide smile enlightened his face. Then he resumed his place behind the end of the bed and pushed Volodja closer to Sandy and Wolfram.  |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jan 22, 2017 0:50:52 GMT
When Volodja Uljanov was rolled into the Vigilant's holo-room where Sandy Bell sat at an outdoor cafe, she jumped up running to his side, bending over and hugging him tightly, her warm cheek against his. Still holding onto his left hand with her tan right one, she held tight as they wheeled him to where she had been sitting. She sat again, still holding his hand and looking at him with tired Baby blue eyes. Although her face had regained its ruddy complexion, there were still dark circles around her eyes which had an undeniably haunted look to them.
*****
Rough hands pulled Lady Christianna out of her place of concealment, but she hardly noticed, singing sweetly the Beatles' "Come Together," but when they stood her up, the human crewmen towering over her, she smiled enigmatically, saying cheerfully, "Welcome wayfarers, I'm the Mistress of Happiness, bringing good cheer to all I encounter!"
One of the sailors hit the intercom button, saying, "Captain, we have a stowaway - it's Castithan wench, a really short and scrawny Castithan wench! What should we do with her?"
Lady frowned, saying belligerently, "Who you calling short?" Then attempted to kick the offending sailor, but missing by a mile and only not falling down because of the two sailors who had a firm hold on each of her chalk white arms.
"Bring her to me," Ordered the Captain, and soon the sailors who had captured Lady were dragging her through the submarine to take her to its Captain.
*****
Erika Widowmaker had found a ledge underwater with her feet to walk along the edge of the tunnel running from the underground docks to the river, and was making good time towards the entryway there. She heard the gunfire from the underground docks behind her, but by then she was two-thirds of the way to her goal, so it made no sense to go back, especially not knowing the cause of the gunfight.
"No," Thought Erika to herself, "It makes more sense to keep going ahead, so I can get away from these subterranean gulanite deposits. That way, my EGO can contact the other Protectors' EGOs, and I can tell them the lay of the land." So Erika trudged forward, unaware that two of the Protectors were right behind her in the underground docks area, including her best friend, Belle Starr.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jan 22, 2017 7:52:29 GMT
"And Lena was not tied up and defenceless when he...?" spat Marcel but then grinned devilishly and continued calmly: "I believe that our judge is familiar with the term of Double Jeopardy. It is quite civilized and ancient procedure and prevents an accused person from being tried again on the same or similar charges and on the same facts. Let me explain how the Double Jeopardy applies to this case. You see - authorities have ALREADY made a decision and found my defendant, Lena Marr, not guilty. How it happened, you may ask. Simply, I reply. The whole incident occurred on board of a vessel, belonging to the INDEPENDENT company - Paradise Protectors. In the moment of the incident that aforementioned ship was in international airspace, so called no man's land. Thus, authorities of that vessel had full power over it, including full juridical power. Authorities of the ship are as legitimate as any authorities can ever be. Their ship, their codex of the law. Authorities of the ship were informed right away, they investigated whole event and after consideration they closed the case, deciding that Lena Marr was innocent. She was a victim of a vile crime, not a criminal. Nobody can say that authorities were incompetent, because they have quite good experience about crimes. Nobody can say that they were biased. They do not have any reason to favour us - we are hired help who are not the part of their organisation. They could just get rid of us by condemning Lena because we have worked against them as well. The whole investigation was as objective as possible. After local authorities made their decision, anyone who dares to call himself or herself civilized, can not accuse Lena Marr of the same thing twice. It would be a legality crime against her. If these kind of legality crimes continue, then civilization will never flourish in post apocalyptic world indeed! By the way....If you will not let us go now, this post apocalyptic world will not be the same post apocalyptic world as you know it. It will be a post apocalyptic world with the sign: "Humans only!" At moment you are helping one certain madman who likes to wear women's clothes to fulfil his dream of Votanfree world and not only a dream but also will and means to fulfil it!. If he succeeds, there will not be any jury left for you any more because they are Votan. We have a real criminal to stop and you are preventing it from happening."  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jan 22, 2017 13:41:53 GMT
As I worked my way to the sub heading for the Ventilation systems near the engine Room, I managed to slip past several crew men in the halls and avoid all surveillance systems. I did notice some minor disturbances taking place in various part of the sub on my way but was able to keep even those agitated individuals from realizing I was really there. However as I got near the Engine room I discovered a couple armed individuals guarding that section.
I stepped back and watched for a minute or so to try to figure out a way past them. However I didn't have to wait long for they heard one of those disturbances happening nearby and wandered that direction to investigate. So I took the opportunity to move closer. I had my EGO scan the immediate area for Lady, but only found residual trace scans, meaning she had been there but wasn't any longer. It also appeared that the ventilation system had been repaired of any tampering Lady did. So I decided to quickly try my hand at it. However instead of altering chemicals, I tried a different approach.
I vented the backup oxygen reserves back into the ocean, so they couldn't be used. Then I lowered the remaining oxygen flow so just enough would be running through the sub to keep it's crew alive, but not enough for them to stay awake for long. Next I turned up the strength in my armor's arms and gauntlets, and with the added strength I snapped the levers off the oxygen controls so that the oxygen would not be able to be turned back up until they could be replaced. That of course meant that with oxygen running out and no way to alter the controls, the Captain would have no choice but to surface the sub or risk his entire crew going into a hibernation from lack of oxygen.
I returned my power-tech armor's settings back to where I prefer them, as I heard the guards coming back, as well as some coming from the direction I arrived from. So I was forced to slip into the Engine room and wait for an opening to make my next move. After I slipped into a dark area where I wouldn't be discovered, I placed my heavily armored hand on an Engine panel, then I used some of my Grid energies to short out one of the engines so it would appear that the old engine finally failed from age. As I finished doing so I could hear that all the guards were now just outside the Engine Room's entrance, so I pushed flat against a wall to help conceal myself further. From where I was hidden, I heard their discussion.
UI (Unidentified) Sailor #1: "I can't believe we found one of those white alien women onboard and that she tampered with our ventilation! How did she get down here anyway?"
UI Sailor #2: "Beats me! However I think the only way she could have got onboard is if one of our crew smuggled her on!"
UI #1: "You really think one of us would really bring a Votan onboard to sabotage the ship we are all confined to?!"
UI #3: "Use your brains idiots! There is an OBVIOUS reason why one of us would smuggle a Casti onboard!"
UI #1: "And just what is that?!"
UI #3: "Simple Votan are no better than animals. So the only use for one other than as general labor or target practice would be as a slave."
UI #2: "Say I did agree that makes sense, then tell me just why somebody would smuggle a slave on without informing the Captain!"
UI #3: "Also simple! She is CASTITHAN! Don't you realize that Castithan women are extremely sexual beings and would do things to you beyond your wildest imagination?! So obviously somebody smuggled their sex slave onboard and didn't want to share. Given where she was found and how out of it she seemed, I would venture to guess that her owner either was afraid he was close to being caught or decided she had outlived her usefulness. So he stuck her in that air vent where we found her and altered the ventilation so the gases would quietly kill her but the moron screwed up and just made her high while flooding the Sub with several dangerous chemicals!"
UI #1: "Well that is the dumbest thing I've heard you say all day! After all she has been discovered alive and taken to the Captain. So he will get her to tell him who her Master is and that disgusting Votan-Lover will be put down with his precious pet!"
Hearing that I sent Taffer an EGO message saying, "Taffer, Lady has been discovered and taken to the Captain for interrogation. Her ventilation tampering has also been discovered and fixed. However you still need to keep your helmet on and your suit airtight. I also hope you have plenty of oxygen reserves left because I tampered with the oxygen and emptied their reserves. So in less than an hour the air will be so shallow that people will fall into a deep sleep from oxygen deprivation. I even caused one engine to fail to further ensure that the Captain will indeed see the need to surface the sub. So you need to hurry up with your part of the plan because I am headed to the Bridge to save her. However thanks to them finding her, they have stepped up security around the Engine room and I am sure it was done for all other key locations such as the Bridge and their lab as well. So as I am hearing guards talking of Lady's execution, I need to get to the Bridge fast. I would expend too much of our precious time by sneaking there, or just blurring there and killing all those that get in my way. Besides if I were to leave corpses in my wake this time, then their possible discovery could lead to Lady being killed sooner and I can NOT risk that. We also can't risk your discovery before you are finished. So I can only think of one way to buy you time and still get to the Bridge in time for me to save Lady."
Taffer started to respond with, "Wait you don't mean..."
However I mentally cut him off with my demandingly gruff tone saying, "YES I DO! I will activate my cloak and sneak away from the Engine room to ensure they don't discover my tampering there. On the way here I passed the Mess Hall and if I activate cloak right before leaving the Engine Room, I should be able to get into the Mess Hall's kitchen just before cloak wears off. So I will work my way to the mess Hall kitchen and once there I will do what I know I MUST do to get to the Bridge BEFORE Lady is killed!...I will surrender and demand to speak to the Captain! Just make sure you succeed or the lack of Oxygen causes the crew to fall asleep BEFORE I have to kill everyone on the Bridge to get Lady out safely!"
Then as I finally allowed Taffer to respond, I grabbed some loose nuts from a tool-chest in the Engine Room and snuck quietly over to the door. I tossed several of the nuts out the door and in the opposite direction of where I was headed. Then when all but one of the guards went to investigate, I cloaked and slipped past the remaining guard. Next I moved quickly to the Mess Hall as I listened to what Taffer had to say, which probably also included some protestation to my newest plan. Sure enough my cloak ran out just as I entered the kitchen. As the cooks saw me, one screamed for Security and some armed Officers on break came to the Kitchen to see what was going on. Seeing me, they raised their weapons. However I dropped mine and surrendered peacefully. As I did so I mentally opened a one-way ambient-band EGO channel with Taffer so that he could hear everything that is happening with, to, and around me so that he would be aware of my bluff as I make it up on the spot.
As one retrieved my gear, another grinned and said smugly, "This will get me a promotion for sure! However I am interested to see just what kind of creature the infamous Batman really is behind that helmet!"
However as he started to reach for my helm, I let out a sinister laugh which caused him to stop dead in his tracks. Then he hesitantly said, "Just what is so funny?!"
I responded arrogantly with, "Obviously you HAVE heard of me! So think about it. Why would I never allow anybody to remove my helmet?"
He scratched his beard, then responded with, "To hide your identity of course!"
I said condescendingly, "Well surely I could do the same thing with a simple mask and light armor, instead of ALWAYS wearing environmentally sealed heavy armors!"
He looked at me confused as he said, "I suppose so..... but then why do you always wear sealed armor?"
I responded with, "That is simple. You wanted to know my biggest secret and thought it was my appearance but it is not. So hear it is...I wear environmentally sealed heavy armor, not for my safety but for everyone else's. You see I suffer from a rare condition that can afflict Gulanee. Do you know anything about the Gulanee?"
He said, "Well just that they are energy beings but not anything else."
I said calmly, "I see. Well you see as energy beings we are extremely prone to disease, especially human ones as we had never encountered them before coming here."
He frowned and said, "Well that makes sense but what is your point?"
I responded with, "Well I have caught a rare but extremely contagious human viral disease. So if you remove my helmet or tamper with my suit's seal then you will contaminate your whole vessel with a deadly and incurable disease. Not only that but remember I said I also suffer from a rare Gulanee condition?"
He nodded so I continued with, "Well that condition brought on by an extreme reaction to your deadly human virus is an extreme electrical buildup in my system. Not only does the suit keep the human virus contained but it also keeps the dangerous electrical energies I produce as a reaction to the human disease contained. You see, not only would removing my armor flood your sub with a highly contagious and DEADLY airborne HUMAN virus, but it would leave my energies exposed to your air and with this dangerous electrical build up it will melt any flesh and bone it comes in contact with. Not to mention it could destroy the more sensitive electrical systems on this sub, and possibly even cause an extreme explosion as your oxygen rich environment hits my exposed body."
He responded with, "And why would I believe that?!"
I said calmly, "You may not but that is your problem not mine, for I have never cared about life and death. However looking into the Mess Hall behind you, I see that somebody in there has a medical scanner. So just have them scan me. The scanner will be able to detect the dangerous energy levels even through the armor, and possibly even the virus."
He hastily said, "Fine we will do so now!"
Then he had another security officer walk out into the Mess to quietly retrieve the guy with the medical scanner. While that was happening, I mentally told my EGO psyche to do what she could to disguise my genetic signatures so the scanner would indeed pick up that I am actually Gulanee and if she could to also make it so the scanner would indeed pick up that I have a deadly airborne human virus. Then I started channeling my built up energies in a way that the scanner would also pick up that I do indeed emit extremely dangerous electrical energies that are strong enough to melt both skin and bone, and even cause an explosion when introduced to the oxygen-enriched air being filtered through the sub. When the guard and medical tech came in, the Tech began to scan me over my armor and with the help of my EGO, and my Grid symbiot, I was indeed able to convince the scanning device that all that I had said was true.
So the obviously senior and mouthy bearded guard said, "Damn! It is true! Get him out of here! I don't want this on my hands!"
I responded with, "It is. Now as I surrendered peacefully, I request to see your Captain and Boris."
"He smiled wickedly and said, "Good idea! Guards take him to the Bridge to see the Captain and Boris right away!"
As I was escorted toward the Bridge, the bearded jackass followed at a safe distance from me and his guards as he thought, "This could be my chance! If I find a way to get this monster to infect both Boris AND the Captain or better yet melt them, then I will be Captain and Nobody will EVER stand in my way or tell me what to do again! Yes this is my lucky day indeed!"
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Jan 22, 2017 22:18:03 GMT
After incapacitating the guard to the left, Vo rushed into the cave, scanning the environment for any signs of Erika being nearby and as he found none, he searched for someone who looked like a leader of the gang or a foreman. The candidate who was matching the definition the most, was a short and thin man who was sitting on top of the device which Vo recognized as a drilling machine similar to those which was used by raiders and 99'er in Bay Area.  The reason why Vo had turned his attention to him, was mainly the fact that unlike other workers he was doing nothing rather than sitting there with a clipboard in his hands. Seeing there were not too many guards around, Vo made a bee-line towards man guy he identified as a foreman, planning to seize him quickly to prevent any resistance and then interrogate him on Erika's whereabouts. Given the only move the man performed when Vo appeared on the scene was looking at him above his glasses with surprise, Vo thought the man would be an easy target to capture. But as he jumped on top of the machine to grab the man, Vo' hands caught only air at the spot the foreman was just a moment before. The only thing Vo could notice before the man completely disappeared was a huge Volge claw pulling him underground and the clipboard and glasses which remained on the ground. As Vo looked around, he saw people sinking into the ground left and right with nothing he could do about it as his Blur had just exhausted. Soon it all was over and the only two living people by the cavern dock was Belle and her lover, Vo Kshaa. Belle sat where she had fallen, still holding the dead woman's detached arm, blinking her blue diamond eyes in disbelief. Belle muttered in shock, "What is going on!?!? Did I cause this!?!?I don't want this!?!? I never wanted any of this!?!? I just wanted a better world..." Vo jumped off the machine and picked up the clipboard, as if he needed a tactile confirmation of what he had just seen was real, which, in fact, was somewhat true, but then he mechanically stuffed it into his backpack and rushed to Belle, trying frantically to compile his thoughts together on what had just happened and what should they do with it. "Belle, It wasn't you who caused this," Vo said as he dropped to his knees next to her and pulled the bloody arm away from her hands. "You didn't command them to attack, did you? But their attack is definitely connected with us appearing here. With what we've seen before that happened to Juan Perez, I have to assume they are trying to help you somehow, but they are doing it without taking the value of human life into account. They just don't understand this concept and they never will, unless… Unless you can explain it to them in terms which they could understand. Or at least command them to stay away from attacking people until you find a way to make them get the idea. I didn't catch any signs of Erika here before all this happened, and the only way out of here besides the way we came in is that water tunnel. If your instincts are right and Erika indeed had been here, then the only way she could escape is by water. We can follow this way out and search for her traces outside, but if she have really escaped this way, she probably have already contacted the Riot or Vigilant. This cave should have a sort of wired communication device as radiowaves are impossible to pass through the gulanite. If we could use it to connect to the antennas outside, we could contact the Riot and ask if they have heard from Erika yet. If they did, we'd be able to contact her and coordinate our further actions. If not, we'll continue our search from here. We also can use this machine to dig deeper underground and find out where these Volge are coming from. If they are indeed listening to you, then we could probably shoo them away from her and prevent this from happening again." He took Belle's hands into his and added, "Whatever it is I'm staying with you. I can try and establish the communication with the Riot, I can drive this machine underground for you, or I can just swim outside and search for any traces of Erika there. By your command, Belle." |
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Post by Belle Starr on Jan 23, 2017 16:48:02 GMT
Vo Kshaa took Belle Starr's hands into his and added, "Whatever it is I'm staying with you. I can try and establish the communication with the Riot, I can drive this machine underground for you, or I can just swim outside and search for any traces of Erika there. By your command, Belle."
Belle Starr's blue diamond eyes stared deeply into Vo's cyan ones, using the techniques he and Volodja Uljanov taught her to fight off panic attacks and to regain her focus, which once completed, allowed her to force a smile, and decide by saying, "Dig we must!"
Belle then leaned over, kissing him passionately before remarking with a truly warm smile, "I love you Vo! Now... lets go get those varmints!"
Still hand-in-hand, Belle and Vo ran to the digging machine, not letting go into they had to in order to get into the machine. Vo helped her in first, then once she was settled in the passenger seat, Vo took the driver's seat. Although her EGO radar could find no trace of the Volge who had attacked the docks because of the surrounding gulanite deposits, the red pupils in her blue diamond eyes glared brightly, and once Vo started the digging machine, she directed him by just following her instincts. Putting a pale hand to her temple, Belle would say, "Right" or "Left" not knowing for sure if it was the right direction to where the Volge were, but feeling it was correct.
*****
Holo-Belle smiled a smile with no warmth whatsoever at Marcel Lestrange, before glancing to the right before staring at him and ordering, "You make a good point as to a court of jurisdiction already deciding Ms. Marr's innocence in the death of Eugen, and since this court holds the legal concept of double jeopardy as sacrosanct, we will drop that charge. However, the charges of all of Ms. Marr's other murders, such as those at the Fork, and her attempted murders of Mr. and Mrs. Batman, remain the object of juridical determination."
Holo-Belle seemed to hurry her words, like she had suddenly realized she was late for a very important appointment, saying quickly, "But, Counsel Lestrange, you also make a good point that there is a greater threat at the moment than Lena Marr - that of Boris and his Votan killing virus scheme - and that Lena Marr might be of help in preventing Boris' success somehow. Not that if she does, it will repudiate these charges against her, though her actions may be considered in sentencing! Do not doubt that this trial WILL take place, if not here, elsewhere, but for now, court is adjourned!"
Holo-Belle disappeared within the blink of an eye, the hologram projector fizzling and sparking in self destruction shortly afterward. Volge began disappearing in flashes of teleportation light all over the cavern until only Lena Marr and Marcel Lestrange remained, along with the few flickering torches that lit the area in dim light, Suddenly and noisily, a digging machine appeared from the cavern wall Holo-Belle had glanced at, which stopped when it entered the cavern, a hatch on top opened up and Belle Starr's blond tousled head and red, white and blue armored shoulders popped out.
"Y'all hurt? Y'all need some help? Have y'all seen a passel of Volge, as they just massacred a whole bunch of folk topside and we're hot on the bushwhackers' trail - I think?" Belle yelled to the diabolical duo.
With a snarl on her pretty chalk white face., Lena leaped up from where she had been on her knees naked in front of Holo-Belle and the assembled Volge seconds before, as she rushed to where her clothes and knives had been piled nearby. Not bothering with her clothes, she grabbed her knives, opening the switchblade with one flick of her wrist, then closing one sky blue eye as she took aim before throwing it; her target being Belle's Starr's right eye, which suddenly widened in surprise.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jan 23, 2017 19:29:46 GMT
"Honey Pot," said Marcel Lestrange, putting his tanned hand on Lena's white one to prevent her from throwing her knife. "I do not have overly warm feelings towards this crowd of these no good good doers than you, but considering the situation, the knife could wait. I am curious what Mademoiselle Belle has to say about the whole thing. Especially when she acts like nothing happened. Like there was not any Volge jury and the judge who looked like a copy of her. But it was not a dream because I have a blister right where my cigarette fell. Is she really that good actress or she really has no clue about the trial and her image being the judge? That is the question. But dead Belle Starr can not give us any answers. And I am afraid that Volge might return as soon you throw the knife. I prefer not to start another trial right now. I do not want to lose you, Honey Pot."
Marcel stepped in front of Lena and before turning his attention to good doers, he gave a long passionate French kiss to Lena. Then he reluctantly stopped and looking over his shoulder, said:
"We had an incident not very long ago. A quite weird incident, involving Volge, and Lena is REASONABLY cautious after that. She only tries to defend herself, not to attack without a reason. Sometimes one draws the knife to protect oneself. Self defence, even if it might look like a threat, is a self defence, like...ee...erm...sometimes banana is just a banana or whatever that Boche Doctor, called Freud, said. But I must warn you that we are a bit tense right now. That is why I suggest you to avoid those kind of sudden moves which may be interpreted as a hostile activity towards us."
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Post by Taffer on Jan 23, 2017 22:36:10 GMT
"First, it's crazy," Taffer tried to protest via his EGO link when he heard Atticus's plan on getting to the Bridge. "Second, If Lady in her state has a tongue-slip about you being her husband, they will most likely try to reduce you to submission by torturing her. Third, with all the fuzz you'll be causing at the bridge will make it much more difficult for me to get to Boris's lab which is probably located somewhere near the bridge. Close to his heart, far from his servants so to speak. Have I already said it's just totally crazy?"
"Can you please relieve me for one more hour?" The voice behind the corner made Taffer stop quarreling with Batman and concentrate on his hearing. "I know it's my shift already, but I just didn't have enough sleep with this Boris and his crazy ideas! Last time he ordered me to move most of his equipment to the rear ballast tank! Yes, you've heard it right and the guy thinks his work will be safer in the ballast tank behind those two pressure doors. Moreover, he ordered me to lock and pressurize both of them each damn time I was carrying yet another piece of his fucking equipment! And then he sent me to the medic for an exam which lasted for two hours. I can't even think what Doc tried to find in my… well, whatever."
"I'd tell you why he's doing that, but you wouldn't have a good sleep after," said the second voice in a typical smartass tone.
"Oh well, then I better have some sleep before you tell me."
"You're not going anywhere. It's your shift and your problems. I have better things to do."
"Not even try to ask me for anything!" — That was the only decent phrase in a stream of curses which were thrown in wake of the 'smartass' man who ran out of the room while not even noticing a dark figure hiding in the corner.
"I have to backpedal what I've said on Boris's lab location," Taffer sent to Atticus, "Seems like my 'controlled leak' made him a bit more paranoid and forced him to move the virus into a more secure place than just a single room. I'll update on the exact location when I get there."
With that sent, Taffer carefully peeked into the room where the conversation happened and then sneaked past the guard who was definitely too drowsy to notice anything. He had already passed by the air conditioning equipment room where Lady was found and now only the two aforementioned pressure doors were keeping him from the destination. It didn't take much time for his EGO to hack the locks on them, although Taffer wasn't sure that their opening did pass unnoticed for the crew. So once he got past them, he used his charge blade to seal it for good. There was another danger though — If Boris was crazy enough, and Taffer was sure he was, he might be trying to pour the virus right into water when he found out he was losing control over the situation. The fact the new lab was organized in no better place than the ballast tank just added to his fears. If Atticus was going to be taken to the Bridge, he might be able to prevent that from happening. But before informing him of that, Taffer had to determine which of the tanks was actually used as a lab.
"The maintenance hatch of the ballast tank is not used frequently," Taffer thought as he examined the scratches on the hatch of the left tank, "unless you have transferred many things through it, locking it each time you've been bringing yet another one."
Soon he was transferring the message to Atticus, "I'm at the lab, and it was moved to the left rear ballast tank of the submarine. Whatever happens, don't let them flood it until I report it's clean. Ah, and seems like they forgot to bring a sterilizer here and I've already sealed two doors behind my back. But I'll think something out on how to destroy the virus."
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Post by Lena Marr on Jan 23, 2017 23:35:41 GMT
Lena Marr glared at her lover, Marcel Lestrange, when he stopped her throwing her knife at Belle Starr's head that was poking out of the mining machines hatch. Lena had a perfect image in her mind's eye of "Stickee", her switchblade, sticking out of Belle's right eye, piercing her brain and killing her instantly. Now her revenge was ruined by Marcel's actions, and a frown dominated her chalk white face as her unblinking sky blue eyes shot daggers at Marcel - until he French kissed her, which she resisted at first, but only for a second, and by the time they finished, her familiar wicked grin was again gracing her pretty face.
Lena silently dressed behind Marcel, as he spoke to Belle Starr, not because she was modest, but because the cool air blowing through the huge cavern over her naked skin made her cold. Still she listened to what he said, and she had to begrudgingly admit what he had said, not only to her, but to Belle, made sense, especially as to what he said as to Belle's acting ability.
"Belle Starr couldn't fool a toddler on a sugar high," Thought Lena to herself with a bemused look on her alabaster face.
Lena almost broke into raucous laughter when Marcel warned Belle about the "tense" situation and that any "sudden moves" on Belle's part might be interpreted as "hostile activity" against them, and Belle's beautiful pale face got paler, her blue diamond eyes as big as saucers, as she merely answered, "O-kay..."
As Lena put her twin Bowie knives into their leg sheathes and secreted her switchblade in her cleavage, she stepped from in back of Marcel, adding to his thinly veiled threat, "However, if you offer us a ride out of this dirt hole, we'll be less tense and think of your moves as less hostile, and maybe if you are nice, even tell you WHY we are so tense as to you in particular, Miss Belle Starr!" Then added as an afterthought, "And oh yeah, if you got a spare electrical tool kit I could borrow, I sure as Hell would like to get this damned EGO suppressing necklace off!"
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jan 24, 2017 9:22:00 GMT
"What is your name, girl?" asked Boris on the bridge after Lady Christianna was escorted there by men who captured her inside the the air processing unit. "Lady," giggled Lady Christianna. She was telling the truth. "Your NAME, girl" said Boris patiently. "I want to know your name. Lady is a title and only human beings deserve to be called ladies. So what is your name, girl?" "They call me Lady." "Hmmm. I am sure that you have other names too, girl." "Name is Lady Christianna." "Good. Now we are going somewhere. Let's speak about "Them" now. Who delivered you to the submarine? Tell us the truth. The truth doesn't hurt. But lying will. You see. We have a friend here. His name is Hubert. He likes to dissect smaller life forms. If you lie to us, we will introduce you to him. Poor fellow hasn't cut anyone lately so he is a bit nervous. Today might be his lucky day though. Depends totally on you, girl. Who smuggled you inside? Who told you to sabotage our air system?" Lady Christianna was not used with making many words, so she just looked at Boris with her pink eyes until she blurted out only one: "They," said Lady Christianna. Boris looked at the Captain with slightly irritated look in his eyes. "She has spirit. Have to admit that. Until now she has spoken only few words. That means one thing - she refuses to speak with us. An uncooperative kind of stowaway and saboteur. Must give her credit for that, although she is lower species. But we still need her to talk more. No teenager can't be that laconic! It's against their nature." Boris didn't had a clue that Lady Christianna was a girl with few words. Even effect of chemicals couldn't erase that feature of her's. Even when she sang earlier, did not meant that she was as eager to speak in any other way as she was used to. An almost classic misinterpretation when one's individual feature is mistakenly considered to be a sign of stubbornness. Boris was partly correct though. Lady Christianna refused to give away any of her friends and especially her husband, Atticus Batman, even when she was drugged. Her speaking manner turned out to be her advantage. At least for awhile.... "Let us try once more, girl," said Boris. "Who are "They"? Try to describe "Them" this time, using more words than one or two. Why I have to pull every word out from your little mouth? Speak, or I call Hubert. Speak!" "They are family!" declared Lady Christianna with a pout on her pretty face. "My family!" "We are still not going anywhere with this conversation. You have told us almost nothing," said Boris, before listening the report from the crew, but added after hearing it: "Maybe we will be hearing more soon enough, because we are going to meet another uninvited guest. Looks like that our submarine is full of them and that means serious talk with our security personnel. But before we do that, the interrogation must continue. Perhaps that captured intruder is also a part of your so called family? Let's wait and see!"  |
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Jan 24, 2017 19:26:34 GMT
As Vo saw Lena targeting Belle with her switchblade, he took his breached by the barrel, readying his improvised bat and Blur power to take Lena's service, although he still hoped that defensive move wouldn't be needed as they had more than enough enemies already. Picking up a fight with each other would only make both couples stall on their way and weaken them. He sighed with relief when Marcel offered a peaceful solution to the conflict and Lena agreed with him.
"And oh yeah, if you got a spare electrical tool kit I could borrow, I sure as Hell would like to get this damned EGO suppressing necklace off!" Lena added to her speech to Belle.
"There should be one in a toolbox, I'll bring it right now!" Vo exclaimed, hoping his action would be accepted as a good will and would ease the conflict further. He quickly climbed back into the machine and returned with a multi-tool which he handed to Marcel so that he could give it to Lena. In fact, he used that gesture to switch Marcel's attention to what he was going to say.
"We had a quite weird incident involving Volge too, with them killing many people in the mines, and I can assure you that Belle was way too busy to produce or control any copies of herself or act as a judge. I hope your EGO has a recording about what had happened here because knowing the details would be beneficial in determining who is behind all of this. You see, we already had an issue with the doppelganger who tried to impersonate Belle, although that poor robot didn't even know she was trying to live someone else's life. If someone tries to play that card again, we better stop them before they could do any substantial damage to our friends or Belle's image in their eyes. And you definitely don't like having your leg pulled and you are probably eager to know who was trying to and why. As to taking a ride, we can definitely offer you a seat in this machine but Belle is still in command so it's up to her to decide if we're continuing our pursuit or taking it back to the surface."
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jan 25, 2017 8:40:40 GMT
Small man with glasses and Prussian haircut entered the bridge, holding his notebook. Stopping by Boris's side he bowed slightly.
"If you think that this gentlemen here is Hubert, I was telling you about, then you are mistaken. Key to success is information and this gentlemen tends to possess it. If not, then he obtains that missing information. What do you got for us this time? I think the search subject was one Lady Christianna."
"Quick research about Lady Christianna gave few results. Quite surprising results. Even The Buggle search engine had something about her, when I entered her name in it, assuming that she was speaking the truth. If you are not in the Buggle then you do not exist, as they say. This Lady Christianna exists. And here are some samples of her life and deeds."
Thin man adjusted his glasses and read with monotonous voice:
"Mistress of Sorrow affair where she played leading part...Involved in several operation of an organisation, called Paradise Protectors which consists of renegade humans and Votans...More of this and that...married to Atticus Batman...Enough material to consider her as considerable foe. Especially when Protectors are involved as well. They usually consider continent of America as their operation base but seems that they are expanding...I will leave complete report at your disposal, Sir." Thin man opened his case, took out a printout with his search results, put it to the console near Boris, bowed formally again and backed out from the bridge.
"I believe that if we managed to Capture THE Lady Christianna, then Atticus Batman can't be far away," decided Boris, after getting acquainted with the contents of report. We better prepare some extra security measures, because I have every reason to assume that he follows his wife here. Captain! Give an order stop the fuelling process and start our engines. We have to leave this place right away."
Captain Ruyter shouted few orders and after some bustling, engines of the submarine begun to hum....or some case they didn't but the vessel still begun to move towards the ocean. Slowly though, because one of the engines was not in the best condition any more. From the other side - the current of the river worked for them and carried the submarine along. although they had to remain above the water level. Captain Ruyter lowered his head towards Boris's ear and whispered something into it. What he said, made Boris to look Lady Christianna's chalk white face and tell:
"I am afraid that we have to use you as a measure to keep your husband under control. And secure a safe passage for us because we are lacking motors as it seems. And air. It takes us an extra effort to fix that mess your people caused. But that doesn't definitely mean that we are going to stop.
I know how old fashioned it sounds, but since everything happened in such a short notice we don't have much space to manoeuvre. But do you know...Lady, how many people thought that they had everything under control when they held someone at gunpoint and became careless? Too many! Especially after I saw your...people escape the sealed off island of ours. I am sure it wasn't possible without using a human mind, but those same traitors of the humankind are probably leading your infiltration operation too. Shame that they decided to team up with your kind! But they chose their path, so...
Gentlemen! Lead our prisoner away from the bridge and be prepared to eliminate her when something gets wrong with another prisoner who suspiciously fits with the description of Atticus Batman! You will know when something gets wrong if I release this extremely sensitive knob of my hailer."
After Lady Christianna was taken away from the bridge, Boris moved his hailer holding hand under the table and leaned comfortably back on his chair. He was prepared to meet the prisoner now.
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