|
|
Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Feb 14, 2017 14:16:14 GMT
Wolfram von Eschen's grey eyes smiled when Atticus examined his new toy. Then he said: "Yes. The good old cane sword. This is the weapon of a gentleman. Not as clumsy or random as swords in these days. An elegant weapon...for a more civilized age." After that trope was delivered, Wolfram used his fingers to make a frame and looked Atticus through it, acting like a camera operator who is trying to find a perfect position for his camera before capturing a scene. Smile in his eyes remained when Atticus turned his whole attention to Caprice.  "There is an idea," Wolfram finally said, after letting Atticus to have some time with his child. He used that time to think. "A tiny idea like a piece of flea dirt. But it's better than nothing. We can't put you behind locks because that option is already used. Instead of that we have to give you something else to do when the night comes...We must give your unconsciousness something to do. That action is going to occur in the holographic training room. We are letting you spend your night there. I could offer you one of my holo chambers, but they are a bit small for what I have in mind and...one of them is occupied by our guest - the good Count Casannuendo. I was able to adjust environment according to his modest needs, but I need a good programmer to set up the suitable scenery for Herr Batman. I can't do everything myself." |
|
|
|
Post by Belle Starr on Feb 14, 2017 17:54:37 GMT
"He doesn't look well." Said Misty Jackson with a frown looking at the small squirbit, a hybrid of squirrel and rabbit, laying on its side panting in it's open cage sitting on Belle Starr's dining room table in her own cage in the basement of Fortress Kshaa.
"No, I'm afraid Shakespere is dying," Said Belle Starr sadly although she couldn't see his condition; her other senses were already enhanced when she became blind at her own hand, and now were even sharper than before thus she was able to tell that Shakespeare was near the end of his life, observing "I guess he's pretty old for a Squirbit, and... well... the poor little critter's body is just plumb tuckered out!"
"He's not eating," The preteen mulatto girl stated the obvious.
"We'll just leave it next to him in case he regains his appetite. It's his favorite - a crushed paste of nuts and grains," Replied Belle with a melancholy smile putting the bowl next to the dying squirbit.
Luckily, the intercom blared interrupting the two ladies' sorrowful mood, "Hey Belle! It's me, Chris. I have what you asked for prepared out here. Want to come out and see?"
Chris Robet was not only the head of maintenance at Fortress Kshaa, but he was the Protectors' main go-to-it man for fixing anything and R&D. He was an average looking human with an affinity for hellbugs who had an equal affinity for him, and he had a pet golden hellbug named Tim that followed him everywhere. Belle picked up her staff, adeptly making her way to the door of her jail cell, then dutifully waited for the telltale buzz telling her it was open before grabbing the door's latch and letting herself out. Misty followed Belle out of her cell, and saw Belle embracing the slight man like an old friend, which he was, although the golden hellbug that accompanied him was hiding fearfully under some empty crates.
"Thanks Chris for building this for me," Said Belle gratefully as Chris warmly hugged her like they had just met in a park rather then meeting her exiting a titanium reinforced jail cell, although she could hear the electric crackle of her two nervous security guards' prods and their accelerated heartbeats revealing that if Chris had no fear of her outside her jail cell, they certainly did.
"It only took clearing some space in the garage next to your place here, then as you asked, putting up a Rhino quality force field from the floor to the ceiling all around the area. Putting the trapeze and the high wire up were the easy parts, although finding the long cloth drapes that would both hold you weight and reach almost to the floor from the ceiling was difficult, but I finally found some suitable material from Varus Soleptor, at usurious rates of course."
Belle reached out with her EGO radar, "feeling" all the improvements Chris had made to her new exercise area. The bulletproof plastic necklace she wore on her neck allowed her EGO its basic abilities, but would not allow here access to her EGO powers as she had requested, and was also an invention of Chris Robet's. Instead, she worked to direct her EGO's energies to making a more refined radar so that even blind, she could move around obstacles deftly. She had designed this exercise "yard" to help her use her EGO's radar with even more precision, and Chris Robet had been able to make her plan a reality, while protecting the rest of the base from her if the unthinkable occurred and she became the monster she knew was within her.
"It's beautiful Chris! Thank y'all so very much!" Exclaimed Belle, happier than she had sounded in weeks and hugging him even harder.
"Wow!" Remarked Misty in appreciation to the complicated maze of bars, lines, and various trapeze paraphernalia now in the rafters next to Belle's jail cell.
"Aren't you going to try it out?" Asked Chris with a big grin on his face.
Belle handed her staff to Misty, then adjusted the white scarf tied around her head hiding the empty sockets where her eyes once were as she collected her thoughts, choosing an appropriate song from her EGO's repertoire, then dancing to music only she could hear, moving her way around the room, testing the various ropes and drapes while in tune with the beat, then began climbing a rope in the center of the exercise area, jumping first to a trapeze then to a hanging drape where she continued her rhythmic dance upside down before swinging from bar to bar. Even the guards' heartbeats became normal as their fear was lost in their amazement at Belle's exhibition of grace and athletic prowess. Soon, people throughout the garage left their work, watching Belle's acrobatics through the golden light of the energy shield surrounding what could only be called her playground, for that was what it was now.
As Belle lost herself in her acrobatic dance, poor Shakespeare in his small cage inside Belle's larger one began to have trouble gathering a breath until he gasped once, his little heart stopping. As if on cue a small human sized cloud appeared above his cage, suddenly lighting up with a white light from within that then illuminated his cage in a blinding glare. When the light faded, Shakespeare was up and running about like a squirbit half his age, suddenly eating the food Belle had left for him voraciously. Only Shakespeare was there to hear the disembodied girlish giggle before the cloud disappeared slowly into nothingness, leaving Shakespeare to rediscover his small tread wheel which he began to run on enthusiastically in a way he had not for months.
|
|
|
|
Post by Lena Marr on Feb 14, 2017 18:36:22 GMT
"...I would say that this nauseatingly arrogant Boche Doctor acts as an active therapist. Maybe we should disable him just for the sake of seeing what will happen then? It teaches him a lesson and causes certain amount of chaos if we remove him temporarily. It might have some side effects though - good doers might unite their forces to help the Boche. But even that might be useful because glances will turn away from our people. That is why I suggest that we find a path which is not violent, mean or cruel. At least in the eyes of good doers to avoid disturbing our neighborhood and our cozy home with their accusations. Just a practical joke. A little prank."
"You know I love a good joke," Asserted Lena Marr grinning wickedly at her partner in crime, Marcel Lestrange even though she wasn't sure this was a good idea, adding, "I'm just not sure making Atticus more crazy is good for business, even if it is indirectly. It would have to be in a way that couldn't be traced back to us, and the joke could backfire and kill the old guy! I mean Wolfy is just so damned old - he could have a heart attack and keel over if you just say boo to him. If we cause another of Atty-baby's family to kick the bucket, and he finds out it is us - well, let's just say I don't like our chances of survival against an enraged Atticus Batman!"
Lena jumped up from her seat on the overstuffed sofa, then sashayed over to Marcel, forcing her lithe form between him and the table he had been working on and straddling him as she playfully traced the landscape of his face with a chalk white forefinger that ended tapping him lightly on the tip of his nose, saying in a little girl girl's voice, "Don't you think the best thing to do is just let itsy bitsy Lena take the big bad Atty-Wolf out with an even bigger-badder bomb explosion or a nice high caliber sniper rifle bullet or even a needle of really fatal poison! I can even wear a red riding hood if you like, with nothing under it natch for the celebration afterwards! What do you say, Pooh Bear?"
Lena didn't mention her concern to Marcel that if they didn't kill Atticus Batman outright while he was still weakened both mentally and physically from grief, they might lose their chance completely, and that by the time he came after them he would be unstoppable. Lena truly believed that it was a matter of survival, and if the diabolical duo didn't strike in a fast and furious manner, it would be their survival and not Atticus' that would be at stake. However, she also felt that Marcel was the brains of their outfit, and whatever he decided she would go along with, even if it led to their deaths.
"Hey, I love my Pooh Bear, and will follow him through the gates of Hell if that is where he takes me," Thought Lena to herself, silencing the protesting voices in her head and adding in jest to herself, "Although that would be a really lousy date!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Taffer on Feb 14, 2017 22:42:34 GMT
A bulky T4 Titan was making its way clockwise around the Bay Area. Taffer, who was driving it, looked around casually as he listened to the noise coming from the built-in radio receiver. He wasn't searching for something in particular, mostly using this driving exercise to get thoughts together on the pending tasks he had at Fortress Kshaa. Beside the usual routine his commanding duty burdened him with, there was a task that became much more personal to him than he expected. Lieutenant Sarae Maas was still in coma and even the medical staff at Fortress Kshaa including Dr. Orion were only able to keep her alive, and the chances of her waking up was still unknown. The only clue on why her immune system was acting up so badly was trailing back to the times when Governor Skarr was starting his experiments on Synth project. It meant he had to find more data on methods and results of his research, but the problem was those places were scattered all over the world. One particular place was a Synth City in Alaska where BJ Starr, a synth copy of Belle Starr lived, but others were located in different parts of South America, which was a territory of Votanis Collective. Taffer was sure BJ would help him if he asked for any old records of Skarr's research, but the Collective was a completely different matter. Taffer had no illusions that Collective authorities would greet him with open arms and let him snoop around, although the fact that he was supposed to do it to help a Collective citizen, could help a little. At the same time he understood there were also forces that might be interested in Maas never waking up at all. As his thoughts were elsewhere, his eyes and ears were routinely catching changes in the environment as he drove by different places. Those wind turbines at the hill of Bloodbath travel point — he never thought them rotating before, and the increased noise in his receiver was signaling of some equipment that was also active there. Could it be mutants? It seemed unlikely as they were focused on fighting to the point of obsession and thus they wouldn't just settle there but more likely would be picking a fight with caravans going through the travel point. Some Ark hunters managed to set up a base up there? That was possible too, so he made a mental note of watching that area more closely. An unusual lack of Volge attack was noticed all over the Bay Area, even K-Tam station was mentioning it. Raiders and 99'ers were setting roadblocks instead of Volge, but that was expected. An unusual series of attacks on Raider and Dark Matter camps was registered, but that wasn't particular news for Taffer. Everything else was looking as usual until he reached Top Notch. "Now I see there's a little change here," Taffer mentally noted as he parked his Titan next to the ramp leading upwards so that it wouldn't block up the small parking lot up there. "I wonder if you're calling a big house-size four-legged robot standing next to Rosa's home a 'little change', what would be a big one," Em Dash whispered in his head. "You wouldn't like it. I wouldn't like it myself," he answered evasively as he made his way up the ramp on foot. He didn't find Rosa at home, although there was his other friend he was looking for. As he opened the door to the workshop, his friend Vo Kshaa greeted him. Taffer was more than a little surprised seeing him wearing a gas mask with its lenses covered with red paint. In addition, he held a mannequin's head with some big goggles strapped to it.  "How do I look?" Vo asked, his voice heavily distorted by the mask, but it didn't evade from Taffer that he was definitely amused. "Well, can't see any difference," Taffer replied jokingly, "Is it a new haircut?" "Now that was just mean," Vo said, almost laughing at Taffer's joke. "Hey what are you looking at? My eyes are here!" He added, pointing at the goggles on the mannequin. "Now I see where you are going with that," Taffer said thoughtfully, "But do you remember it should fit two different sizes?" "That was not the hardest part to do," Vo replied, "In fact, it was the first upgrade I made to them." With that said, he plugged a hose into the "neck" of the mannequin's head and pushed the button on the pump nearby. As the head inflated rapidly, the goggles split in two halves but remained stuck to the sides of a bloated head. Vo flipped a switch again and as the size of the head returned to normal, the two halves of the goggles joined again and took their place where the eyes should be. "Seems good enough," Taffer agreed, "But you still can't deny that your eyes are still functional even if they are covered. If the retina and its nerves were damaged, this device might not function properly." "That's up to what her EGO would manage to simulate," Vo replied, "So that's what we'll know when she tries them in. If she would even want to try them," he added with a sigh, "Are we in for a next EGO restore session?" "I'm afraid not," Taffer shook his head, "Last two failed to extract any information from your EGO's memory, so that's probably all that could be done at least with this method." "Thanks anyway," Vo sighed again, "It seems we manage to restore all memories we had together with Shirra but not those she had personally while not directly connected to me. I wish I could regain my memories of Belle this easily. They are coming back too, but slowly. Painfully slow I must say." "Don't fret it friend," Taffer put a hand on his shoulder, "You'll get all of them back eventually." Their conversation was interrupted when Taffer received a message from Atticus, "Taffer I daking blew it extremely big this time! I...I..I discovered last night that I was the Raider Devastator that has been massacring them this week. Apparently I have been doing so in my sleep. I know because last night I woke up while it was happening because I heard a young woman pleading me for her life! So I freed her and took her to the Overpass where I handed her over to the authorities. So I wouldn't be surprised if word of what I did last night has already spread. So it is a matter of time before Pooper puts it all together, and given my conversation with Lena at supper last night, she figured it out before any of us did. If you need more details please talk to Wolfram or Erika, and....I was hoping you could somehow put a positive spin on it to Ara and Pooper, but if you don't think you can do so or that it would be better if I just let them take me away...then say so and I will turn myself in. However Wolfram, Erika and I are discussing how to stop me from any more late night slaughter, as we speak. So hopefully it won't happen again." "I'll see what I can do. I'll keep you posted," Taffer shortly replied as the smile vanished from his face. "Don't jump up, Belle's fine," Taffer said noticing Vo's face changed expression too, "Just Atticus asked me to meet some authorities here And I'd rather do it now. Good luck with finishing up your device. I really hope it will be helpful." With that said, Taffer turned around and exited the workshop, hoping Cooper haven't changed his hailer number since he contacted him last time. |
|
|
|
Post by Marcel Lestrange on Feb 15, 2017 9:40:38 GMT
Marcel Lestrange put both his arms around Lena and gave her a lap ride while choosing his words carefully. He actually had a confession to make. A hard one, because Marcel was generally considered to be a ober-alpha-macho male. "I could say that taking our Monsieur Batman when he is relatively limited by his physical condition, would not be a very good sport, which might be true. But...But the Fairy tale you mentioned...The best known version of this tale is the FRENCH fairy tale by a FRENCH writer Charles Perrault. The Little Red Hood and her grandmother were both eaten and there was no hunters or foresters or somebody like that to kill the wolf, cut his tummy and save Red Hood and her Granny. Fin. What I am trying to tell you is...I am worried about your safety even when Monsieur Batman is incapacitated. Wounded predator is much dangerous than one can expect and when his killing instincts take over...Call me a sentimentalist or give me some other name which tells that I am softy, but I do not want you to get hurt, Lena, so maybe we should think some more, if we leave the Boche alone. I know that I might lose a lot in your eyes when admitting my softness about you... And...To change the subject...About that Red Hood character...I think that Alice is more your type than Little Red Hood, who was way too passive. By that I mean Alice from the video game series like"American McGee's Alice" or "Alice: Madness returns." Cute and deadly and uses knife. But you are more unique than her or anyone else."  |
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Batman on Feb 15, 2017 12:31:15 GMT
"There is an idea," Wolfram finally said, after letting Atticus to have some time with his child. He used that time to think. "A tiny idea like a piece of flea dirt. But it's better than nothing. We can't put you behind locks because that option is already used. Instead of that we have to give you something else to do when the night comes...We must give your unconsciousness something to do. That action is going to occur in the holographic training room. We are letting you spend your night there. I could offer you one of my holo-chambers, but they are a bit small for what I have in mind and...one of them is occupied by our guest - the good Count Casannuendo. I was able to adjust environment according to his modest needs, but I need a good programmer to set up the suitable scenery for Herr Batman. I can't do everything myself."
Still holding Caprice so she can continue to happily smack around the carabiner on my chest armor and giggle every time she hears it jingle, I kissed her forehead, causing another giggle from her as my now very bushy and unkempt goatee tickled her. Then I said calmly to Wolfram, "I forget you have never made it much past the main sitting area in my bunker. Upstairs I have an exercise and trophy room. However given where your train of thought seems to be, you would be more interested in the fact that there is a medium sized holo-training room in the basement. So not only could you remove my codes from all the external exits to the bunker, but if you feel the need to you can even lock me into my training room at night so there is NO risk of me hurting anybody who doesn't deserve it.
As for setting up a holo-program...I have no idea what your clever old mind is thinking. However I am capable of it, but if you would rather keep me in suspense until I am locked in for the night and it is activated, then there is always Broderick Smythe who as you know is quite talented at such things and I believe Chloe MacGyver is decent at it. As is Tali Zorah of the Vigilant's engineering crew. Actually most of the Vigilant's and Fortress K'shaa's engineering crews could do so for that matter, although most may not be as focused at it as the one's I mentioned by name. By the way, I think there are several available quarters. So we could assign one to Count Casannuendo if he is planning on staying for awhile.____ I know that would make my sister happy and it would once again be available to your patients.....as I am sure that all of my bad actions and failed command decisions weeks ago have left both Medical and Psychiatric with plenty of patients that could use your rooms for the therapeutic reasons that they were intended for."
I glanced at Count Casannuendo as I picked Cosmin up with my free hand so I was now holding both kids, as I said, "It seems you have made quite a good impression with everyone Casannuendo. So I am sure Erika or somebody else on the Command or Personnel staff would be more than happy to find you some quarters of your own and get you out of that psychiatric holo-room. Besides we owe you for helping everyone in the Vigilant's holo-suite when they were trying to convince Erika to let Dinara help save Amber, and MY holo-program tried killing everyone locked in there. Not to mention all the other things you have done to help."
Then I set both twins back in their stroller, as I turned back to Wolfram and said almost inaudibly, "Wolfram, speaking of patients.....I know I have no right to ask as Volodja and Sandy will probably hate me forever for what I did, and I more than deserve it and never deserve their forgiveness.....or Lady's for that matter, so I will not ask for it but ____ How are Volodja and Sandy doing after the horrible things I did to them?...I just wish my bad decisions...;and perhaps selfish and definitely reckless actions; didn't cause the deaths of their child, Lady, and countless members of my crew. _____ Tell me again why everyone cares enough to try to help me and why people would want me to return to my role as Commander....when I failed so horribly at it that so many were injured or killed, when the only ones that should have died were the enemy AND myself?!"
I then took a risk and glanced at Erika, seeing her cringe slightly when I once again suggested that I was the one that should have died, so I shrugged my shoulders and said resignedly, "I am sorry Sister Dear, but you know it's true! The only member of our crew and family that should have died is me, the failed Commander and failed experiment! Not them! NOT Sandy's and Volodja's unborn child!!...AND DEFINITELY NOT LADY!!!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Erika Widowmaker on Feb 15, 2017 15:11:22 GMT
"I am sorry Sister Dear, but you know it's true! The only member of our crew and family that should have died is me, the failed Commander and failed experiment! Not them! NOT Sandy's and Volodja's unborn child!!...AND DEFINITELY NOT LADY!!!" "Atticus Batman!" Erika Widowmaker said his name like a teacher says the name of an unruly child disrupting her class, gesturing towards the twins with one red clay colored hand, "I will not sit here and listen to you feel sorry for yourself! What is, is, and we who survive must do everything in our power in the name of those who didn't to make things better to those who follow. We have no time for regrets or recriminations." Erika stood up, smiling with the corners of her mouth at Count Casannuendo, saying graciously, "Please follow me Count, I already anticipated my dear Brother's intent, and have a room prepared for you." Erika and the Count left the Mess Hall after saying their farewells to the others, and walked side by side chatting pleasantly about likes and dislikes but avoiding all topics that might be earth-shattering, as she led him to a door in the residence halls, commenting with a demure smile, "Here are your quarters, and right next door are the ones I have when I am at Fortress Kshaa, just in case you want to talk," Erika suddenly realized how that might sound, and her jade eyes narrowed as her smile disappeared while she quickly added, "And I do mean talk and just talk! I have sworn an oath that I will always be true to my dead husband, and though I value our friendship highly, you must know that friends are all that we can ever be," Her expression softened, as she said more calmly, "Anyway, I know how it can be in a strange place with mostly strangers, so please, if you ever want or need a friendly ear, come next door and knock." Erika then bent down and kissed the diminutive Liberata on the cheek, turning on her heel and retreating back to her own quarters without looking back but wondering why her heartbeat had suddenly accelerated with the kiss. ***** Meanwhile, Ralph the Cook knocked on door of Volodja Uljanov's and Sandy Bell's quarters, and when Sandy hesitantly answered it, he handed her a big basket of large red tomatoes saying with a lopsided grin, "I don't know what you two did to my failed tomato crop on the roof garden, but it's only fair that you share in the spoils. Here you go with my thanks! Got to run now, time to begin preparing lunch!" Sandy watched the older man's back retreat down the hall before disappearing around a corner, mumbling to the empty hall, "No, thank you..." Before closing the door and putting the basket on a small nearby table before turning to Volodja and saying, "That crop was a goner I'm sure. I didn't do anything for it, did you?" ***** As Belle Starr performed feats of acrobatic daring to the amusement of all in the garage, a small nondescript semi-transparent cloud escaped out an open door and made it's way off the grounds of Fortress Kshaa. It found and seemed to then follow the tracks of Atticus' tank trip the night before until it came upon a scene of carnage. E-Rep had removed the bodies of the civilian hostages, but had left to rot the bodies of the Raiders Atticus had slain, and some had been gnawed on by wandering hellbugs. The cloud hovered over each of the bodies illuminating them with an inner white light, then each body shakily stood up and began moving slowly like a zombie in an old horror movie. When all of them were revived, they began to shamble towards Fortress Kshaa, following the tracks of Atticus' tank. A full score of the creatures were now alive, but without a soul to guide them, they were more dead than the mutants in the Mutant district, but with a single thought left in their brains: To kill their killer! The small cloud hovered behind them and if it had eyes one would say almost as if it was watching them go when a small sound of disappointment escaped it, "Awwwwwwwwwwwww!" Soon however, it forgot the shambling zombies it created, as it busied itself growing flowers all over the former battleground in the grey wasteland that was San Francisco. ***** Meanwhile Lena Marr sported a genuine smile on her pretty chalk white face as she sat on Marcel's lap, exclaiming happily, "Aw, Pooh Bear, I KNEW you cared! You know best!" then began kissing him passionately.  |
|
|
|
Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Feb 16, 2017 8:17:58 GMT
"Thank you for the kind offer, Herr Batman," replied Wolfram von Eschen. "But I believe that you don't want an unfair advantage you most certainly are going to have if I let you program the whole thing. You like challenges, Herr Batman, so we are going to give you one. Me and...I think that I am going to use...Broderick again. Because Chloe. You know how...creative Chloe can be, but this time her creativity might distract you from finding solutions."
He hesitated a bit before hie speech continued. "As for Volodja und Fräulein Sandy Bell...They are trying a therapy of their own. I am not sure how much progress they achieved, because as a specialist I wouldn't want to interfere into work of my colleague when I am not asked to do it. Especially when his methods are promising...That therapy of theirs seems to work as long as I know, but it will be a slow process. Hopefully it will be also a steady one."
_________
"That crop was a goner I'm sure. I didn't do anything for it, did you?" asked Sandy Bell form her lover, Volodja Uljanov, after putting bowlful of fresh, red and appetizing tomatoes to the table.
"I wish that I could have been able to do something. I was looking for a solution but somehow the nature seemed to beat me by far," replied Volodja. At least for a brief moment his eyes looked like that someone lit couple of candles when curiosity about the strange phenomena overwhelmed his mind.
"Quite a strange thing indeed. Maybe we should investigate what caused that sudden blooming?" he added, but then those candles were blown off again. He put his pale hand on Sandy's tanned palm and then those lights returned.
"Next time when in the garden we will do that," said Volodja Uljanov decisively.
_________
Count Giacomo Girolamo Casannuendo looked after Erika Widowmaker with a happy and somewhat absent minded look on his face after she kissed him on his cheek. Then he turned around and opened absent mindedly the door, leading to...the broom closet next to his apartment door and stepped towards it. When he finally realized what he was about to do, the Count adjusted his stance, shrugged his shoulders and said with a tiny bit louder voice than usual:
"Actually I was going to inspect contents of the cleaning closet anyway. Just to be sure that everything is in order there. It shows how professional the cleaning crew is." Casannuendo closed the closet and opened the right door this time. With dignity.
|
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Batman on Feb 16, 2017 12:09:02 GMT
"I am sorry Sister Dear, but you know it's true! The only member of our crew and family that should have died is me, the failed Commander and failed experiment! Not them! NOT Sandy's and Volodja's unborn child!!...AND DEFINITELY NOT LADY!!!"
"Atticus Batman!" Erika Widowmaker said my name like a teacher says the name of an unruly child disrupting her class, gesturing towards the twins with one red clay colored hand, "I will not sit here and listen to you feel sorry for yourself! What is, is, and we who survive must do everything in our power in the name of those who didn't to make things better to those who follow. We have no time for regrets or recriminations."
Erika stood up, smiling with the corners of her mouth at Count Casannuendo, saying graciously, "Please follow me Count, I already anticipated my dear Brother's intent, and have a room prepared for you."
Erika and the Count left the Mess Hall after saying their farewells to the others. As I watched her go, I said slightly confused, but to nobody in particular, "What did she mean, anticipated my intent? I sure didn't know OR anticipate my own intent! Until what happened last night, I would have been more than fine leaving him in the psychiatric ward and AWAY from....MY sister as much as possible!"
Wolfram seemed to not notice when he was ready to continue our conversation, as he seemed to let my uncertainties go, at least for the time being.
"Thank you for the kind offer, Herr Batman," replied Wolfram von Eschen. "But I believe that you don't want an unfair advantage you most certainly are going to have if I let you program the whole thing. You like challenges, Herr Batman, so we are going to give you one. Me and...I think that I am going to use...Broderick again. Because Chloe. You know how...creative Chloe can be, but this time her creativity might distract you from finding solutions."
He hesitated a bit before his speech continued. "As for Volodja und Fräulein Sandy Bell...They are trying a therapy of their own. I am not sure how much progress they achieved, because as a specialist I wouldn't want to interfere into work of my colleague when I am not asked to do it. Especially when his methods are promising...That therapy of theirs seems to work as long as I know, but it will be a slow process. Hopefully it will be also a steady one."
I glanced back at Wolfram as I said, "I hope it does work for them. I really do. As for my giving myself an unfair advantage...You MUST be kidding me! If you had talked to my sister or Casannuendo about what they experienced in my holo-program back on the Vigilant weeks ago, then you would know my training programs are extremely difficult, even for me....especially for me, because I ALWAYS make sure to encode the program to add the worst creature I know of into the program in some way that will force me to completely test my fighting and mental abilities in every way and I ALWAYS have ALL safety protocols completely deactivated when running them! However this is your program so I will not interfere in any way.
Now if you'll excuse us, the little ones are getting fidgety in their stroller again. So I think it is time that I take them home, so that I can change them. Then they can play with their toys and each other and perhaps Caraid and Bonzo for a while, until they are ready for lunch and perhaps a nap."
After Wolfram had responded and I had given him the codes that he and Smythe would need to access my bunker's holo-training room and install whatever program the two come up with, I leaned on the table for stability as I slowly stood up. Then I moved over to the stroller and adjusted the twins' blankets and safety harnesses. Once all that was done, I slowly pushed the stroller out of the Mess Hall, down the corridor and out into the Fortress compound. After looking at the clear sky for a minute or two, I continued to our home bunker. Once inside again, I took the kids out of the stroller and over to their changing tables. After changing them, I then put them in their play pen and sat in my big chair so I could watch them playing happily together for a little while. However I made sure to keep my mask on just in case Wolfram and Smythe drop by at some point to work on Wolfram's program. |
|
|
|
Post by Vo Kshaa on Feb 16, 2017 21:34:33 GMT
Once Vo was satisfied with all the results of tests on new goggles he made, he decided he's ready to return to the Fortress. He descended from the workshop of Top Notch to its lobby where he found Eren Niden and thanked her for her help with his work. Then he started the engine of his ATV and was about to drive away when he saw a familiar Hellblazer truck climbing the ramp. As Vo was almost sure who the owner of the truck was, he opted to stay and wait for her to drive closer and come out. "Hey Vo! How's it going?" Lu shouted as she jumped out of the truck's cabin. "I see you have not been wasting your time! Is it you who brought that big robot here? I know you're crazy enough to do that!"  "Well, it's not me who brought it here," Vo replied as he pulled out the goggles he was working on and showed them to his sister, "I was too busy on a much smaller thing. I think Rosa have found it somewhere and dragged it here somehow. I just saw her sitting on top of it and working on something within it when I was coming out of the workshop." "Great, I just wanted to see her and tell her my thanks," Lu said as she walked up the staircase to the workshop. Vo followed her as he was curious to what it was about. As they reached the platform where a steel rope was attached to the wall with its other end attached to the robot's head. Lu scratched her head thinking on how she could get to the robot using that rope when she saw Rosa climbing out of the Monolith and waving at her. Then she saw Rosa attaching a pulley to her belt and using it to come up to the platform.  "Hello Vo! Hello Lu!" Rosa exclaimed as her feet landed on the platform. "How did your search go? Found something that suits you?" "Oh, it went even better than I expected," Lu replied to her. "Just like you've suggested, I've started from the New Freedom crash site and then went south down the road. There were some decent buildings indeed, but the place was crawling with mutants. Not that I can't handle them but their look just makes me sad. Those poor creatures keep reminding me that they once were living people who ended up in the wrong place in wrong time. If I had to fend off hostiles, I'd rather have raiders or hellbugs to fight. It would be just plain us or them fight, not some mercy kill thing. But when I drove to the Bloodbath, I found a nice accommodation complex on a hill and it looked almost intact. The hill is rather hard to climb on a roller, but it's more of a good thing because ark hunters seemed to not bother marauding it. Or maybe it was because of a hellbug nest at the foot of the hill. Anyway, when I got there, I found a pretty nice home to live in. The elevator shaft was destroyed by hellbugs, but I've made my own way in right from the top. Aside from that, everything is in good condition. I've found several wind turbines nearby I got working and supplying energy. There's a water pump inside and the water from it is still of good quality. Even some furniture is still intact. Moreover, it's located near Bloodbath travel point with all the infrastructure accessible from there and the view from the window is very nice! All in all, I really think I've found myself a new home! All that thanks to you Rosa!"  "Now where have you got the Monolith? I'm somewhat in doubt that Esthete has sent you one from Red Deer." "Oh, It came definitely not from Red Deer," Rosa replied. "I've just found one at the Alamo park, fully charged and ready to go with all the Dark Matter crew guarding it… dead. Massacred. I don't know who and why they did it, but as I found no one around, I thought I could take the robot with me. Or, to be correct, let it take me with it." "So do you find your room at Fortress Kshaa that bad that you opted to find yourself a new place to live next to the hellbug nest instead?" Vo asked jokingly. "Oh no, it's not THAT bad of course," Lu shook her head, "I think I've just tired of living in bunkers. I mean, it was the only way I could survive in Calgary without falling under the iron hand of that Indogene AI at Red Deer, but I've noticed I simply cannot fully relax in a cramped space of a bunker. So when there's an option to have my home located on a hill, I'll gladly relocate." "Well, I'll leave you to settle in your new home then," Vo said, "while I take a trip to the Fortress. Should be a good field test for these new goggles." "Wait, are you going to drive all the way to the Fortress with those on your nose? I think I know a safer way." Ignoring Vo's protests, Lu pulled her brother to her truck and made him roll his ATV onto its platform and fasten it there. "Now you drive the truck and I'll be right next to you to take over the control if something bad happens to your goggles." As they drove down the ramp, Lu waved to Rosa through the window and concentrated on the road again, ensuring they wouldn't crash if Vo suddenly lost his virtual vision. "Look, that's an unusual sight," Vo said as they were getting close to the Fortress, "Raiders this deep in San Fran? I've never seen them going this deep. At least not without their digging machines. Besides, they are acting somewhat strange. They usually run around and shoot into the air, not just walking in rows like this. Let's follow them, and ready your rocket launcher." Soon whoever was at comms of the War Room at the Fortress Kshaa, received Vo's message, "Hello team. We're following a group of raiders which is closing in to the Fortress. It seems they are coming straight at you and they are acting strangely — too calm and too… mechanical. You might want to take a look before the base's defense kicks in." |
|
|
|
Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Feb 17, 2017 8:12:26 GMT
"Broderick my boy," began Doctor von Eschen, supported by Chloe MacGyver. "Have I ever told you that you remind me of my grandson?"
"No you haven't," replied Broderick Smythe nervously. Even his thick black rimmed glasses seemed to sweat from nervousness. "And...and the correct form should be reminiscence of your son, you always wanted?"
"I know that," said Wolfram with grin. "I said grandson and I meant grandson, because it allows me to avoid taking responsibility for creating such a fine example of...khm khm...young man like you. I can't take credit for that so I put an extra layer of generations between us. Anyway -I need you to do something. Not only for me but Herr Batman as well. Stop shaking and pay attention, my boy! I need you to create a labyrinth for Her Batman. To make his private medium sized holographic training room much bigger inside than it looks outside. Dungeons and Dragons style, I guess." He put his hand which didn't leant to Chloe on Brody's shoulder.
"You are able to write commands, logarithms and algorithms and everything else needed for that, as long as I know it. I see that labyrinth consisting from sections which will open in front of Herr Batman as soon as he solves some puzzles and unlocks the door which leads him to the next area. His path will begin from his bed and ends with the exit door. I know that it will be quite linear row of sequences but you can bend and twist them any way you want as long as they lead Herr Batman out of his training room at the end of the journey. Disguise the linearity. You are a gamer, so you should konow how to do it. Make him walk in rounds with newly created holographic walls and doors, as long as I care. Just make sure that he keeps moving forward so you can empty the section he left behind him and fill the that freed space with another part of the labyrinth. And do not forget puzzles. Puzzles are very important." Wolfram hesitated for a moment, but decided that he must fill Broderick in by explaining him why his work was needed.
"You see my boy - lately Herr Batman tends to walk around by night, following his instincts unconsciously. What I want, is to give him a chance to bring his unconscious mind closer to his consciousness through the row of cognitive processes by giving him a labyrinth to walk, so he could concentrate on navigating and puzzle solving. That should thin the line between two different states of his mind and push them closer to each other and smoothly wake him up from sleep walking. That is why I didn't wanted him to program the labyrinth. He could find his way automatically if I let him create his own path. He has proven that because he has no problem with walking around the Fortress K'Shaa in his present state. I want his unconsciousness to reach it's imaginary hand towards the knowledge in his conscious mind. So you are going to be the Daedalus the Labyrinth Builder. But if you can't do it then better admit it right now. I let Chloe handle the problem then."
Broderick's professional pride felt tickled by Wolfram's well placed moment of doubt and rose to it's hind legs and made Broderick to say: "I will do it but may there be monsters? There are monsters in dungeons. For the sake of immersion there MUST be monsters too."
"All right my boy. You are the builder anyway, so put some monsters there if you find it necessary. But puzzle solving should be the most important aspect of your work."
"You heard what this old goat wanted?" asked Chloe. "Don't be a bludger. You accepted the challenge so better do it, you dag. If you get bogged then scream for help. Maybe I feel clucky enough to give you a hand. But don't disturb us during the dessert. Let's go now, Wolfy. I feel the fat cracking, so let's not waste that precious moment. Especially in your tender age."
"I am up for the challenge, Chloe," replied Wolfram von Eschen. "One more thing, my boy. If you tell anyone about this work of yours, then things that Herr Batman would do with you are a just a tender baby care compared with things I will do. So keep your lips sealed." Wolfram made a frightening grimace but then smiled and winked to Brody, before leaving the room with Chloe.
|
|
|
|
Post by Erika Widowmaker on Feb 17, 2017 9:09:29 GMT
Security Officer Darlene Gish was at the comms of the War Room at the Fortress Kshaa, receiving Vo Kshaa's message, "Hello team. We're following a group of raiders which is closing in to the Fortress. It seems they are coming straight at you and they are acting strangely — too calm and too… mechanical. You might want to take a look before the base's defense kicks in." Officer Gish turned to Security Chief LeBeau who was sitting in the command chair, who nodded in silent approval as she contacted Atticus Batman, Erika Widowmaker, Kaj Oenfer, and Chloe MacGyver, relaying Vo's message to them and saying calmly, "I know we are short on command staff, but one of you may want to come up here in the War Room and I don't know who is off the WIA list and able to investigate. I could just divert one of our routine security patrols to the site, but usually if it's an unusual sighting, the A-team investigates. So, what are your orders?" Erika rushed out of her room and towards the War Room, contacting both them and Atticus, "Put the base on yellow alert officer Gish, I'm on my way to you to coordinate defenses in case we need them. Kaj, perhaps it is best for you to prepare the Vigilant for flight in case we need aerial support, and Chloe has been doing double shifts as of late and is with Wolfram, so lets not disturb them unless absolutely necessary. Atticus, do you feel well enough to investigate, or should I ask Belle to? We both know she is only a prisoner at her own request, and Medic Jameson reports she seems to have overcome her handicap. It might be even best if you both go, but that is up to you. On the other hand, I could divert one of security patrols to investigate, but I have a bad... feeling about this. Call it premonition or woman's instinct, but I have a feeling that this event is anything but normal and may be fatal to any non-EGO powered individuals. Whatever, Atticus you are still Commander of the Protectors, and with Taffer not here, it is your choice." ***** The small shining cloud followed what was now a shambling hoard of humanoid zombies of various races, raising the dead whenever it found them, so the zombies were in various states of decomposition. Many were from Atticus Batman's nightly sleep walking massacres, but others came from other fatal events - ambushed E-Rep patrols, failed ark hunter expeditions, and such that happened often in the San Francisco wasteland. Those that arose after the first group that had arisen just seemed to follow them towards Fortress Kshaa, with the cloud mindlessly raising more of the dead along the way, at least when it wasn't making flowers blossom in the barren soil. ***** "Next time when in the garden we will do that," said Volodja Uljanov decisively in the quarters at Fortress Kshaa that he shared with Sandy Bell. Sandy smiled shyly, but it was the first smile he had seen one on her face in weeks, than she hugged him tightly, whispering in is ear, "Let's go now." ***** Oblivious to what was going on not far from Fortress Kshaa, Belle Starr continued her acrobatic high wire show until the yellow alert sounded, whereupon she did a triple flip from the trapeze landing safely on her feet with a perfect two point landing. Belle took her staff from Misty as her audience quickly dispersed, going to their duty stations to prepare for a potential attack, as her two guards sidled up to her. One security guard ordered, having been briefed on Belle's powers and not sure that it might be a Volge attack to release her, "Ms. Starr, we need to get you back inside your... home now. Please follow me." Belle hesitated for a moment, wondering if the innocents in fortress Kshaa might need her protection but then thought that she might just complicate the problems they already had with whatever was approaching Fortress Kshaa, so she followed the guard without comment.  |
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Batman on Feb 17, 2017 12:23:16 GMT
Erika rushed out of her room and towards the War Room, contacting both them and myself, "Put the base on yellow alert officer Gish, I'm on my way to you to coordinate defenses in case we need them. Kaj, perhaps it is best for you to prepare the Vigilant for flight in case we need aerial support, and Chloe has been doing double shifts as of late and is with Wolfram, so lets not disturb them unless absolutely necessary. Atticus, do you feel well enough to investigate, or should I ask Belle to? We both know she is only a prisoner at her own request, and Medic Jameson reports she seems to have overcome her handicap. It might be even best if you both go, but that is up to you. On the other hand, I could divert one of security patrols to investigate, but I have a bad... feeling about this. Call it premonition or woman's instinct, but I have a feeling that this event is anything but normal and may be fatal to any non-EGO powered individuals. Whatever, Atticus you are still Commander of the Protectors, and with Taffer not here, it is your choice."
I replied exasperatedly, "NO SISTER DEAR!, I am NOT the Commander! I am just a sick and grieving widow who is tired of causing the deaths of those I love! So with Taffer away, YOU are currently in Command. So it is YOUR problem. NOT MINE!...Besides since you seem to keep forgetting it, I can BARELY walk! So if a battle were to break out, then what daking good would I be?! I would just be a daking liability....and I am NOBODY'S liability, but my own! I am not sure Belle should be forced into such a situation either, but that is between you and her. Although I do agree with your suggestion that Kaj ready the Vigilant for aerial support. However...."
I paused as I fought to calm my quelling anger and said somewhat passively, ".....since you are Commander it is your call. I assume with you gone and Wolfram and Chloe busy working on a solution to keep me occupied in my sleep, Security Chief Lebeau will be in charge, so I suppose the base is in good hands. Also even though I must use a cane for stability, I can still fire a gun and do have some access to my Grid abilities, which you and Wolfram are both well aware of......so I suppose I can at least sit in or on the vehicle and guard it if all of you need to leave it to investigate more closely. So...if you really insist I go, I will do so as I am up to at least that much. However I will ONLY go because YOU requested it as my BIG Sister and Commander, and because I NEED to make sure NO dangers get close to my family again!!!"
Then I snapped once again angrily, more at myself and the situation that caused me to lose faith in myself than anything else, "However I CAN NOT take Command like you seem to think I should! I have already proven I am NO Commander and I don't know why everyone seems to think otherwise! Perhaps you all have gone as mad as a Hatter, while I was in Command...because BAD things ALWAYS happen when I am in Command and all of you seem to keep forgetting that!!!"
Then when the twins, in their cribs right next to my chair, started to cry from being startled out of their naps by my outburst, I reached over and handed Caprice her stuffed hulker and adjusted Cosmin's blanket. Then I gave them both their pacifiers as I calmed them and myself down. Once that was done, I said to Erika, now calmly, "...Alright Sister dear, since you really want me to go and you and Wolfram keep saying that I NEED to leave the compound at some point....I suppose I will go. However I WILL stick by the stipulations that I already mentioned. So I will make my way to the War-room as quickly as my feeble legs and this cane will take me. However given that we are to investigate a possible threat to the Fortress, I would be more comfortable leaving the twins with an actual baby-sitter, instead of just the daking holo-nanny. That teen girl from Elysium, Misty Jackson, has played with the twins at dinner a couple times and said she would love to watch them sometime. I know her and her father are helping Belle, but if Belle doesn't need her at the moment, do you think you could ask her to watch the twins? If she says yes, then have Chris or Zork bring her to my bunker and show her around. If she can't do it, then please hail Stephanie Yershova (nee Douglas) and ask her to baby-sit for me, as she has offered her baby-sitting services in the past as well."
As I listened to Erika's responses to everything I had to say, I pulled myself out of my chair and picked up my sword cane. Then I hobbled over to the controls and activated the holo-nanny and my bunker's external security measures as a safety precaution. Next I hobbled over to the armor closet in the main room and opened it. I only ever kept three specific outfits in it. So the first one I saw was the most current version of my "Death" garb, the heavy armor I had worn in Australia, which I stared at for a few seconds but still couldn't bear the idea of consciously wearing them, due to the fact that they were linked with Lady's death. So I moved my gaze to the second outfit in this closet, my "Hero" garb. However I definitely did NOT consider myself a hero in any way at the moment, so I quickly moved past it, to the third outfit, my "Shadow Warrior" garb. After debating on that or the basic light armor I currently had on for a few seconds, I removed my basic armor and set it in the armor closet before me. Then I leant my cane against the wall and pulled out the Arkhunter infiltrator armor and Collective Predator helm that make up my "shadow Warrior" garb. Once I had them out, I carefully put them on, trying not to further aggravate my pain in the process.
 Once the armor and helm were on and secured, I re-locked the armor closet and retrieved my cane. Then moved over to the locked weapons locker and opened it. Then put away my Extra-life pistol. After doing so, I pulled out my Thawandeye Surge Nano-Fragger Mk V, and Monitor Sidearm Mk II and put them on. Normally I would also equip my Amakune or a charge-blade no matter which armor I am wearing, however given my current aversion to it, I decided the sword cane was the closest I was going to come to a sword at the moment. So I closed and locked the weapons locker. Then I walked back to the cribs. Seeing that the twins had drifted back to sleep, I gently kissed both foreheads. Then I left the bunker, and started my painful and seemingly long walk to Fortress K'shaa's War-room so that I could meet up with my Sister and whoever else she would be dragging along, trusting that my loving big sister would indeed have Zork or Chris take a baby-sitter to my home bunker as I had requested. Meanwhile, Kaj agreed to get the Vigilant ready in case it would be needed. So he scrambled his crew and once the Vigilant was ready, he contacted the War-room and requested permission for lift-off. |
|
|
|
Post by Erika Widowmaker on Feb 17, 2017 15:10:01 GMT
After agreeing with Atticus' terms of engagement, Erika Widowmaker smiled slightly as she walked briskly, changing her destination from going to Fortress Kshaa's War Room to instead the basement garage below, saying on her hailer as she did, "Security Chief Le Beau, you have the War Room. I and my brother will investigate the anomaly, with maybe two others. Please have the external defenses ready in case the anomaly becomes a threat." As Erika entered the huge garage, she angled over to where she knew Belle Star's jail cell was, raising a purple eyebrow when she saw a force field around a huge area adjacent to it. Since the the golden light of the force field's energy left the fence almost transparent she could see the two guards leading Belle from the exercise area back to her cell, followed by Misty Jackson and Chris Robet as she yelled for mechanics to prepare Atticus' severalvehicles for travel, allowing him to choose which one they would take. "Guards hold up there," Ordered Erika, adding, "And drop this force field! Belle Starr is in my custody now." One of the guards hit a button on a remote control, and the force field went down as both guards backed away leaving Belle with a quizzical look on her pretty freckled face as she stood by while Erika took command, "Belle, I had heard that you had compensated for your lack of eyesight, but do you feel well enough to battle? Atticus and I are going to investigate a potential danger to us here that Vo spotted." Belle's heart beat faster and caught in her throat at the mention of her former lover's name as she exclaimed, "Just give me a charge blade and a detonator and I'm fine! Is Vo alright?" "He's fine Belle," Reassured Erika, then ordered, "Guards take Belle to the garage armory to get equipped. There isn't any of your armor there so you'll have to wear your Harmony Preacher outfit that you're wearing now, but you can get the weapons you seek and we have a good selection of shields there." As Belle and her two guards headed to the two, Erika bellowed to the observation room above Belle's cell, "Medic Jameson! You're going with us too, so get to the armory as well!" Joy Jameson quickly exited as ordered, with one arm in the sleeve of her coat as she struggled to get her other arm into the other sleeve while she hurried to catch up with Belle and her guards. Erika turned to the young mulatto girl asking, "Misty, do you mind babysitting Atticus' twins? One of the other guards will escort your father to his quarters, but we really need your help in the Batman Bunker during this emergency, so will you please?" Misty vigorously shook her head yes, causing a pendant to come out from where she wore it under her shirt. Even though the blue stone Erika remembered was glowing then but now was dull, Erika immediately recognized the pendant Atticus had given his late wife Lady Christianna not long after they met with a piece of his grid essence encased within. Erika's jade colored eyes grew big as she asked, "Where did you get that necklace Misty?" "I found it on the floor in the Vigilant's hangar weeks ago, answered the young girl, her tone indicating that she was afraid she had done something wrong, "It was pretty, and I asked around the hangar if it was any of the Vigilant's crew, but nobody recognized it, so I kept it. Did I do something wrong?" "No... no... you did nothing wrong, "Erika said sadly, "It just once belonged to my late sister-in-law. Do you mind letting me have it? I promise to take you to Paradise's bazaar and you may have your pick of any necklace there." The young girl beamed, as excited about a field trip to Paradise as she was to get new jewelry, gleefully taking Lady's pendant off and handing it to Erika, but apologizing, "Please tell Mister Atticus that I meant no wrong - I just didn't know it was his wife's!" "I will," Assured Erika with a slight smile, but thinking to herself as she pocketed the pendant, "When and if I think giving it to him will help him more than hurt him." "I'll show her where the Batman Bunker is and let her in," Volunteered Chris Robet. Erika thanked Chris, who then led Misty to where her babysitting job awaited, as Erika hurried to the small armory in the base garage. She saw that Belle had retrieved a charge blade as well as a Big Boomer detonator. Joy Jameson had found some light armor with a VBI SMG and Berserker Shotgun to accompany it. Erika liked to travel light, so she had on her fatiques and Magnum sidearm, pleased to find a rare Blackheart Light Machine-gun standing in a corner of the armory. All three ladies picked up high end Ironclad shields, then left the armory to wait for Atticus to arrive and pick the vehicle they would go in to investigate their new enemy. At the same time, a lone Volge Trooper smaller than most of his kind on a misshapen stone outcropping not far but far above with a clear view of Fortress Kshaa lay on his stomach and looked intently at a small patch of flowers growing up there.  |
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Batman on Feb 18, 2017 11:50:04 GMT
As I finally stumbled into the War-room, I looked around but didn't see my sister anywhere. So I said to Security Chief Remy Lebeau, "Alright Lebeau, where the dak is Erika? I thought I was meeting her here!"
Lebeau said in his strong Cajun Accent, "Sorry Mon Commandant, but Madame Widowmaker, she be having somethin else ta do before your trip. So you are suppos' ta be meetin her in de Basement Garage."
I grumbled, "Daking woman making me walk more than my body wants!"
Then I said in a cranky tone, "Fine. I guess I will be heading to the daking basement garage then! But is my rum still here?"
Remy said, " Yes Mon ami. We have not moved any of yer stuff."
So I hobbled over to the Command Chair, and after looking at it with distaste for a second, I leaned on my cane and opened a side compartment in it and pulled out my bottle of Irathient rum. I opened it and took several huge swigs from the bottle. Next I pulled out my boot flask and filled it up, and replaced it in my boot. Then I took another huge swig, which unfortunately emptied the bottle, even though I tipped it again just to be sure. So I tossed the now empty bottle to Lebeau to throw away and replace. After that, I worked my way through the corridors of Fortress K'shaa as quickly as my sore body and cane could take me, barely grumbling hellos to anyone that greeted me as I past them, and made it to the Basement Garage.
When I finally entered the garage, I saw Erika, Belle and Joy Jameson; as all three women were there waiting for me. So I walked to them and said, "Good to have you back again St.....Belle."
Then I said VERY calmly to Erika, "I am finally here, COMMANDER Widowmaker. So where's our ride?"
She raised an eyebrow at my choice of title for her, as I usually prefer to call her Sister Dear, Sister, or even Erika when talking to her. Then she informed me that we would be taking whichever one of MY vehicles that I picked. So I turned to one of the mechanics and said annoyed, "My Durango R/T True Blue Pearl, NOW!"
As the Mechanic was getting my Durango, Erika looked over my armor and said in a friendly tone, "Haven't seen that outfit in a while, Brother Dear."
I stated despairingly, "Can not, will not wear the others, Sister Dear. NOT a hero. That died or at least went dormant with Lady's abrupt departure. Not the Harbinger as I can barely move at most times and hate even leaving my bunker or being near ANYBODY anymore and you know that....although I suppose if Wolfram's experiment works tonight, I may one day reawaken as the Harbinger of Death...as I do miss who and what I was, BEFORE I betrayed the woman I love and caused her to....leave us.
So for now, I am but a shadow, a shell of the man that I used to be. I am starting to accept that. Perhaps you should as well. I am but a ghost of what I once was and may yet one day be again. However that day is NOT today and probably not anytime soon, if it ever comes at all. No matter how much we both may wish otherwise!"
When the mechanic finally brought the requested vehicle over, he went to hand me the keys. However I refused to take them and wordlessly pointed at Erika, so he would give them to her. Then still silently, I opened the front passenger door and slowly and painfully got into it. After I closed the door, I saw Erika looking at me with an eyebrow raised again.
So I rolled down the window and said to her Passive-aggressively, "Can't drive with this bad body and had to walk all over base to find you, since you were not in the War-Room. So now I'm in even more pain, but at least I made it and am ready to go. So you or Jameson can drive. Now shouldn't we be going before those Raiders get any closer, Commander? We wouldn't want that would we."
|
|
