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Post by Sandy Bell on Aug 1, 2017 3:16:38 GMT
Volodja Uljanov frowned for a second and whispered again, "Should we ask Marcel to come as well?" Sandy Bell watched Atticus Batman become somewhat agitated resisting the urge to grin as she listened to Volodja's rationalization for inviting who she considered his worst enemy Marcel Lestrange to their wedding ceremony before she turned with a withering glare in her blue eyes and said quite sternly, "Absolutely not! That man is not your friend! All he ever wants to do is belittle you at best! And Lena - God knows what she might do in her present mind! We have enough chaos in our lives without inviting more at what should be one of the happiest moments in our lives so... no... just no, please!" Atticus Batman said, "I hope you two don't mind, but I need to go do something real quick. However I promise that I will be back in five minutes. Then I will be ready, and there will be no more delays." "Um...sure," Replied Sandy not sure at all, holding Volodja's hand tight just in case he decided to run... or in case she did. Finally Sandy and Volodja were both standing in front of Atticus as he said, "We already know why we are gathered here, so I will get on with it..." "... Now Sandy, I am sure we already know the answer, however I believe I still have to ask anyway... So do you take this scroungy self-proclaimed knight errant and art critic as your husband and other half, no matter how many times he wanders off and you have to drag him back or pull his butt out of trouble?" "I do sir, " answered Sandy her voice breaking unintentionally. After Sandy gave her heartfelt answer, Atticus turned to Volodja and continued with, "Volodja, do you take this very stubborn, strong-willed and obviously very loyal woman as your wife and other half, knowing that you will now have an anchor to keep you near home and a guide to bring you back home whenever you do wander off?" Sandy waited with bated breath for her true love Volodja's answer. When he answered, Atticus continued with, "I know you want me to finish up, but before we continue, I think it is time for Lady to present our present to you. So Lady would you please give them to Sandy?" Lady Christianna smiled and presented the rings Atticus made to Sandy. After Sandy thanked Lady, Atticus went on to say, "Alright Sandy hand Volodja your ring and hold onto his..." Once that was done, he said, "Now present each other with their ring and simultaneously place the rings on each other's finger." As they did so, Atticus nodded and went on with, "The joining of the rings symbolizes the strengthening of your bonds and your union....So I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may finally kiss the bride." As they kissed, Atticus remarked, "Now that the happy couple have been joined in matrimony, now is the time to congratulate them, before the two of them make themselves scarce for the duration of the trip...but perhaps, we may have time for a drink first...I know I NEED one." Just then the horizontal floor of the Vigilant's bridge went nearly vertical as the huge strato-carrier plummeted towards the ground. ***** To understand why this disaster was about to occur, one would have to go back through an unfortunate chain of events that began around the time Volodja whispered his question to Sandy about inviting Marcel to their wedding and her harsh answer. At that time, the Synth sisters and the Constantine twins had just made themselves comfortable at a table in the Vigilant's mess after ordering drinks and a meal. As Atilla Constantine chatted with the feline sister Brooke who demurely stared down the table's surface with huge yellow cat like eyes answering his inquiries with monosyllables, her blonde muscular sister Yvette laughed amiably with his sister Atika while sensually stroking her inner thigh under the table. Meanwhile the Synth envoy Ruby watched her beautiful pale and white haired sister Whitney with concern. Whitney seemed more aloof than ever and although that was her normal demeanor, Ruby sensed that there was something more that was wrong. Whitney in many ways was the most cerebral of the sisters being the scientist and technician of the team but often came off to outsiders as uncaring although Ruby knew that wasn't true. Ruby was sure this time it was something more but when she inquired of Whitney as to what was the matter, Whitney merely complained of an upset stomach and a lack of appetite before excusing herself from the table saying she was going to their quarters to rest. Ruby's forehead wrinkled giving her young cherubic face the look of a little old lady as she watched Whitney exit the Vigilant's mess. Once Whitney's back was turned Ruby didn't see Whitney's ice blue eyes glaze over as she left the mess with a determined stride making a beeline to engineering. When she arrived there, Whitney stealthily entered with her rapier drawn sealing the hatch closed behind her with it's icy powers. Then she elegantly danced in blur touching each of the engineering personnel with her rapier's frigid point paralyzing them before any could even move let alone set off an alarm. With that done, she dragged them all with strength that seemed unlikely in her slight form into Engineering's single drop pod and locked them therein. Once that was done she expertly sabotaged the Vigilant's engines causing it to begin a nose dive as the engines one-by-one turned off. Whitney magnetized her boots to keep her from falling on the slanting floor then calmly walking to the drop pod. The paralyzed staff there facing the pod's window could see her standing there calmly saluting them with her rapier before sheathing it then curtsying once slowly before hitting the red button that ejected them to safety away from the Vigilant. After that Whitney leaned impassively against a wall taking out a small nail file then concentrating on making her fingernails look perfect as she awaited the end.  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 1, 2017 11:54:26 GMT
Just then the horizontal floor of the Vigilant's bridge went nearly vertical as the huge strato-carrier plummeted towards the ground.
as the Vigilant tilted harshly, I grabbed Lady and pulled her to me as I managed to maneuver my slide so I turned as I slid and came to a stop with my back up against a console. I quickly magnetized my boots as I snapped, "Navigation! get things under control!...and why the dak have the engines stopped?!"
The navigation officer on duty responded with, "I am trying Sir! As for the engines, I am not sure! They have gone offline and engineering isn't responding!"
As he talked I moved to my command chair and set Lady into it strapping her in place as Tasha Yar responded with, "Commander we just detected Engineering's emergency escape pod leaving! Life-signs show all engineers on duty onboard it, and sensors show the doors sealed and cameras offline!"
I snapped, "Dak! Notify off-duty engineering crews to meet me in engineering! Get Attila Constantine and Poe Dameron in here now! Perhaps Attila can do something to at least get us maneuvering thrusters! If not then maybe Poe can get us down with minimal damage! Sandy prepare emergency procedures and handle things here, while I try to get a crew into engineering to get things back online! If any of you have any sort of engineering experience then your with me!"
As I headed toward the door, Poe came running in saying, "No need to alert me Commander! I am already here!"
I snapped, "Then take the controls! Do what you can to keep this thing in one piece!"
Then I blurred off the bridge heading for engineering, of course fighting gravity and basically running uphill most of the way.
Meanwhile in the Mess as everybody started bracing themselves against the bolted down tables, Attila got Tasha's notification to get to the Bridge and try to get engines or at least the maneuvering thrusters online from there. So he informed everyone at his table of the situation and telling his sister to stay with Brooke and her sisters. Then he worked his way out of the Mess and towards the Bridge as quickly as he could, trying to use the tilting of the ship to his advantage to slide there as much as possible. As soon as he got onto the Bridge, Attila accessed the engineering control console there and started trying to remotely reactivate the engines.
When I finally got to Engineering it's main door was not only sealed but frozen shut. As I tried the manual door release, some engineering crew arrived. The door turned out to be too frozen to open. So it would take some force extra force. SO I ordered one of the engineers to get me a crowbar or something to use for leverage. As the crew member went to do so I looked through the view window on the door and could see the synth sister Whitney leaned impassively against a wall taking out a small nail file then concentrating on making her fingernails look perfect as she awaited the end. So I contacted Atika over EGO snapping, "Atika! Whitney is locked in Engineering, shut-off all engines and forced the main engineering crew to evacuate in their emergency drop pod! Where the dak are her sisters?!" Atika responded with, "They're in the Mess with me Sir! Whitney said she was sick and going back to her quarters! Why would she be in..." I cut her off with, "Obviously to stop us from getting to Scar of course! You all admitted she tried killing you before under his orders! Since you all swear Ruby genuinely had no idea of that and was indeed against it, inform her of what is going on. Once I get into Engineering, if Whitney tries to stop us, I will have to stop her, but perhaps her sisters can talk some sense into her instead! So get Ruby to Engineering NOW! Just then the engineer returned with two long iron bars. So I slammed them into the door's gap from opposite directions. Then I started pushing hard on one as two engineers started pushing the other one in the other direction, in hopes that we would be able to force the door open. While we were doing that, I notified Sandy via EGO channel saying, "Sandy we were sabotaged and the culprit is still in there! It is the girl Whitney. So send some security...However the doors are frozen solid. So we are trying to force our way into engineering now. Have somebody bring me a torch or a charge-blade with fire-nanites or something! You better also send Volodja to Engineering, while you have somebody try to locate a torch! So have him stop at an armory and pick up a fire-nanite charge-blade on his way here! Maybe I can use it to cut our way in, while he tries to talk some sense into her, just in case her sisters decide that they can't or won't...provided they don't turn out to be in on this! This door is barely budging, so have Volodja hurry with the fire-blade as we may not be able to wait until they get a bulky torch down here! Is Attila having any luck with the engines or thrusters from there?!"
Back on the Bridge, Attila wasn't having any luck remotely restarting main engines. So he switched focus to all the different thrusters instead. As Sandy was talking to Atticus over the EGO channel, Attila yelled out excitedly from where he was working, "Yes! Poe! The emergency thrusters, maneuvering thrusters and landing thrusters are all back online!"
Poe Dameron replied, "Alright. Leveling the Vigilant now! Without main engines we are still going down. However with the all the thrusters now active, I will be able to at least make a landing but without engines, we won't make it to shore. So it will be a water landing unless somebody can get me engines---and soon! So you better try to get them back up, kid!"
Attila interrupted with, "Sandy, I'm till trying to get the main engines online, but whatever happened in engineering disabled our remote connection to them! I am trying to bypass the main controls and gain access to them through the emergency controls, but if that works it will only give us main engines for about ten minutes before they shut back down!"
Poe said, "That could work."
Poe Dameron then said to Captains, Bell and Yar, "Captains, IF the kid can get me main engines for just a few minutes, I can get us over land. Then I will be able to get us down in one piece back on dry land, just as soon as you give the order, and Lexy finds me a clearing!"
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Post by Sandy Bell on Aug 1, 2017 14:54:18 GMT
Sandy Bell thought the wedding ceremony... odd, but the wedding kiss with her now husband Volodja Uljanov was fabulous and she hated to see it end. But then as was often the case in her life everything suddenly went to shatko! Sandy glanced to her side and saw that Erika Widowmaker had already secured herself to a chair next to the communications console flicking the "red alert" switch and ordering essential crew to their duty stations and non-essential crew to the Vigilant's escape pods but not to leave unless on Commander Batman's orders. Sandy secured herself in the seat next to Erika beginning damage control protocols. "Just another day in the neighborhood," Remarked Sandy sardonically turning briefly to quickly wink one blue eye at Erika. "May the Gods protect us," Interjected the tall muscular Irathiant woman sitting next to her. Commander Batman snapped, "Dak! Notify off-duty engineering crews to meet me in engineering! Get Attila Constantine and Poe Dameron in here now! Perhaps Attila can do something to at least get us maneuvering thrusters! If not then maybe Poe can get us down with minimal damage! Sandy prepare emergency procedures and handle things here, while I try to get a crew into engineering to get things back online! If any of you have any sort of engineering experience then your with me!" "Begun emergency procedures Commander," Answered Sandy as she got down to business at the computer console in front of her as she added to Atticus, "Give 'em Hell sir!" Then Atticus blurred off the bridge heading for engineering, of course fighting gravity and basically running uphill most of the way. Outside the sealed door to Engineering, a ship's engineer returned to Atticus with two long iron bars. Atticus slammed them into the door's gap from opposite directions. Then he started pushing hard on one as two engineers started pushing the other one in the other direction, in hopes that we would be able to force the door open. The two engineers were swiftly pushed aside as the two strong power gloved hands of the Synth Sister Yvette as well as the clawed hands of her feline sister Brooke took their place on the makeshift crowbar straining to open the door from the direction opposite of Atticus. "Excuse us guys," Grunted Yvette as her arms' muscles bulged with the strain, "But brute strength is more my thing!" "Less talk, more effort," Muttered Brooke through sharp clenched teeth. The smallest Synth Sister and leader of their family team Ruby wasted no time to get to the intercom panel next to the door to Engineering taking in the situation in at a glance before asking in a worried tone of the last Synth Sister secured within, "Whitney, why are you doing this?" Whitney looked up with cold blue eyes from her fingernails to those gathered at the small window in the door to Engineering saying in a matter-of-fact tone before looking back to her nails to continue her filing, "Love dear sister, love. True unrelenting love for a man and his cause. I love Skar and believe in his world vision not Father's. Father believes that order can be reached through the peaceful means of an outstretched open hand but only Skar realizes that it can only be kept with an iron fist. There will always be those who oppose a world order even one that benefits them such as these independent-minded Protectors. Don't you see they will always fight against the Synth Empire? Skar is right that might indeed make right and is the only way to keep the order once it is established." "Violence is the antithesis to our mission of peace Whitney, can't you see that?" Implored Ruby as she swept her raven locks from in front of her silvery blue eyes. "What kind of love would endanger so many others?" As the others worked on opening the door, Whitney stopped her manicure standing upright from the wall she had been leaning on gesturing with outstretched hands desperately pleading her case to her beloved sister, "Ruby, you don't understand. You have always been loved by everyone because of your bubbly charisma. So has Yvette with her confident extroversion and even Brooke with her exotic introversion, but I... I know my nickname in Synth City is the Ice Princess - more comfortable with machines than with people - that was until I met Skarr. He appreciates me for me - loves me for me - so much so that he willingly shared his world dream with me! I love Skarr so much it hurts - and I'm willing to give my life to keep him and his dream alive! Isn't true love all about self sacrifice? I've read all the love poems and love stories of all the races on Earth - even the lost human Harlequin Tomes of Romance and that is a common theme among them! I know I have a heart for I feel it breaking when I'm not with Skarr - and isn't that what we Synths want to realize, true humanity?" "Whitney, your father, your sisters, I all love you! Don't do this," Pleaded Ruby as a white fluid began to leak from her silvery blue eyes. Whitney smiled serenely shrouded in her absolute belief in and love for Skarr before informing Ruby calmly, "Sisters, I have calculated that if everyone on board the Vigilant right now goes to the escape pods and launches them immediately, there is a 98.9% chance that all of those on board save myself will survive the inevitable destruction of the Vigilant. I implore you all to do so, and allow my martyrdom for my man, our cause, and the love we share come to fruition." While Ruby argued with her sister, Atticus notified Sandy via EGO channel saying, "Sandy we were sabotaged and the culprit is still in there! It is the girl Whitney. So send some security...However the doors are frozen solid. So we are trying to force our way into engineering now. Have somebody bring me a torch or a charge-blade with fire-nanites or something! You better also send Volodja to Engineering, while you have somebody try to locate a torch! So have him stop at an armory and pick up a fire-nanite charge-blade on his way here! Maybe I can use it to cut our way in, while he tries to talk some sense into her, just in case her sisters decide that they can't or won't...provided they don't turn out to be in on this! This door is barely budging, so have Volodja hurry with the fire-blade as we may not be able to wait until they get a bulky torch down here! Is Attila having any luck with the engines or thrusters from there?!" Back on the Vigilant's Bridge as the strato-carrier continued it's downward trek, Poe Dameron then said, "Captains, IF the kid can get me main engines for just a few minutes, I can get us over land. Then I will be able to get us down in one piece back on dry land, just as soon as you give the order, and Lexy finds me a clearing!" Now-Captain Sandy Bell bellowed, "Consider the order given - just get us down safely Poe and I'll consider it the best wedding gift ever!"   |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Aug 2, 2017 7:53:17 GMT
If someone asked him about the wedding, Volodja would honestly said that he remembers his anxiety and joy at the same time...and the moment when Sandy and him confirmed their decision of accepting each other as husband and wife...And how they were given rings...And their first kiss as a married couple which was was sweet as their kisses usually were and yet felt completely different than their kisses before because it was their first kiss in married life...And how the world turned after that. It literally turned. When "Vigilant" decided to nose dive, Volodja Uljanov swam with the stream with other loose objects - he slid down on floor until he hit one of the seats with his legs. His boots worked as a bumper so no harm was done and Sandy was able to maintain her vertically higher position because she got a hold on something right away and could use Volodja's shoulder as a foothold as well. Supporting each other is one of fundamentals in married life, believed Volodja and now he felt that his was on the right place - his feet firmly on solid surface of the seat's back support. "Quite an highlight of the ceremony," said Volodja with a smile. He was talking to nobody particular and everybody at the same time, because he wasn't sure that someone listens him in this vigil hassle on board of our "Vigilant". "I am aware of events that change the world upside down and now our little flying world turned almost upside down right after our kiss. Almost like a butterfly effect but we are not to blame here...Unlike those poor butterflies who supposedly cause tornadoes." When Poe turned the world back where it was, Volodja helped himself up from the wannabe wall which now resumed it's duties a a floor with a one powerful swing and right away he was asked to play the part of Prometheus and bring something fiery to the people in downstairs and thus help them progress. This time the progress meant breaking couple of doors but progress of humankind usually was closely connected with destruction of environment, so...Volodja just shrugged and sending an air kiss and loving glance to his wife who was already busy giving orders, made his way into armoury to grab a flaming sword because time of "Vigilant" being steady in air was extremely counted. In matter of seconds the "Vigilant" could lose it's engines, balance and that air pad under it's belly, caused by now working vertical thrusters, and continue it's dive... "Anything else I can do?" asked Volodja after the part of slamming the sword into a door crack and prying it open (it was nothing like than that that famous sword in a stone motif, but much much more prosaic, containing some muffled curses and sweat and such, although history is quite delicate about telling what kind of sounds were made by the king Arthur when he pulled his sword out from the stone and what kind of cussing lexicon he might have been used when the sword got stuck) was over. He looked the small group of Synth girls. "Or should the messenger return to his place after delivering this hot blade? I already received a main prize, so you don't have to worry about giving me a tip..."  |
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Post by Lena Marr on Aug 2, 2017 19:13:18 GMT
Lena Marr got lucky. Not lucky in the way she would have used the term before she lost her memory, or more correctly, had it altered in an reeducation attempt by the Big Boss of the Synth Empire. But lucky in a more conventional way. She and her lover/master were in the Vigilant's armory and Lena had just tried on a set of blue ark predator armor and was admiring herself in the reflective surface of a wall there when the air ship began it's plummet to earth. She crashed face first into the very surface she had been admiring herself in and would have suffered a major concussion if she hadn't had her helmet on at the time. And that is how she got lucky, although it may have also been the moment in which Lena's luck ran out.  Lena found herself in a jumble of crates and loose weapons in a panic not because she was hurt or unable to move at that second but because she had lost sight of her true love, Marcel. However her panic over his safety was soon replaced with a terrible memory of her past that created a fright of a different kind. Her past memory of being alone as a child prostitute in a Lima orphanage/brothel returned and overran her mind like an invading army. Suddenly she felt the overwhelming weight of her first John on top of her when she was four and the helplessness she felt being unable to move or even breathe as he had his way with her. She felt the ripping pain in her vagina as his huge member was forced into her and even felt the blood trickling out of her private parts then. Most of all, she felt the sheer horror of the occasion being old enough to understand the atrocity being enacted against her but too young to do anything about it. So Lena did now what she did then when she couldn't move and was helpless to determine her fate. Lena whimpered loudly and waited for the end to come. Now like then, Lena was sure the end of both her dire circumstances and her pitiful life would happen soon but now like then she was wrong. Still Lena let her mind go numb and said between her whimpers now as she did then, "I deserve this... I'm a bad girl... a terribly horrible girl..." As her mind and sky blue eyes both went blank, Lena recited the first verse she had ever memorized that of an old human nursery rhyme that was in fact an adaption from a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow although Lena had no knowledge of that fact as she said over and over: "There was a little girl, Who had a little curl, Right in the middle of her forehead. When she was good, She was very, very good, But when she was bad, she was horrid."  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Aug 3, 2017 7:33:37 GMT
Part One - Every Pot finds it's Lid"I see," said Volodja Uljanov when Synth sisters, except Whitney who stood a bit away from the rest of them, hands across her chest and daring glance in her eyes, explained what was going on. "Itlekhs tepl gefint zikh zayn dekl - It means "Every pot finds it's lid" in Jiddish...But love is also...maybe not blind, but makes persons look their object of desire through rose-coloured glasses. Sometimes one flawed person might gain from that, just like I did not very long ago, and I at least tried to live up her expectations, but sometimes...Sometimes one might get exploited and hurt...And I am afraid that this might be the case here...I am sure that our Whitney doesn't believe me because of those glasses, her feelings...and those books she red, but I do have some doubts that Whitney here might be in love with Skarr, while Skarr loves himself, so he doesn't quite qualify as a decent lid for someone like her, because she is much better than Skarr and willing to sacrifice herself for the sake of beloved while Skarr usually prefers sacrifice others while singing the Song to whoever...Not sure that singing is something he would do though so consider it as a figure of speech... I also remember that once we discussed about the influence of books to human psyche with Wolfram and now we have a similar case in our hands...And since I made that excursion to he past, I also remembered one episode from the past where Skarr or his synthetic but identical copy, I am not sure which one it was, became curious about some confidential medical records and he introduced me with his interrogation specialist in hope that he might open my mouth and satisfy that curiosity...If it wasn't my wife, I wouldn't be here telling you about that event. She saved my butt from the hot grill in last moment. But I had lot of trouble with reaching places after that because I...injured my leg during the interrogation. I do hope that Whitney here doesn't have to have that kind of experience and doesn't plant her seeds of love into fruitless soil. But that part is up to you. I can't decide for you so I spoke that little I know about the situation here. For the record." Volodja pondered a second and added: "You also might think about letting our people at least to try and fix the engines before we splash into the sea or not. I can't force myself to use raw physical power against you or manipulate your minds, so I let you think and consider my words and decide yourself what to do...But I'd prefer to see that possible path into Skarr's heart isn't paved with bodies of innocent victims which might easily happen because we are about to fall. Especially when I wasted so much valuable time by having another lecture. Excuse me for a second..." Volodja's face became tense when he listened an EGO message and he said: "Now you have to excuse me for some more because someone I know needs my help as well. It might be pointless if our ship fells down but I will go and try to help him despite of that. It was nice talking with you. You may take over from here..." His last sentence was meant to everybody in the engine room - humans, Votans and Synths. PS. That message Volodja received and which made him to leave came from Moira - Marcel's EGO psyche, because Marcel would rather died than asking someone to help him. Especially when that someone was Volodja Uljanov. But Moira had somewhat different opinion about Volodja, so she didn't hesitate and made that call. Especially when Marcel experienced some unexpected technical difficulties. 
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Aug 3, 2017 8:29:31 GMT
Part Deux - Every Honey Pot finds it's Pooh
Marcel Lestrange was stuck in closet. Right before "Vigilant" begun to dive he was examining it's contains to pick himself couple of professional killing tools and sudden thrust forward and downward pushed him into the closet and closed the heavy steel door behind him covering him from Lena's sight. The blow he received, when his head "touched" the closet wall, was quite strong and knocked Marcel out so Moira who also heard Lena's whimpers and verses decided to take that matter into her virtual hands and call for help.
Volodja rushed into armoury and begun to pull the closet door open. Seeing that the door was stuck, he grabbed another charging blade from display (The one he delivered earlier was borrowed from a security member so Volodja didn't had to go and look for it from the armoury. That also meant that he wasn't able to discover Lena's and Marcel's troubles earlier) and rammed it into a door crack. The second one that day already and tried to get the door open. Unfortunately the door was jammed, so it was no use. But that didn't meant giving up and Lena's words reminded him that he wasn't alone, so he asked:
"Can you be a good girl, Lena, and help me to get this door open? I believe that Marcel is behind it and if we manage to get the door open, he is saved...at least from suffocation."
Before trying to yank the door again, Volodja made a quick call to Wolfram's hailer, asking him to drop by because one of his patients - Lena - was in shock condition.
Speaking of Wolfram...
Wolfram von Eschen survived the first dive of the "Vigilant" because he had with him his reliable walking cane which he turned and placed on two neighbouring seats as a bar, put his hands over the cane and hung on it, securing himself with the help of armpits. His long thin feet dangled on air for a while but the cane lasted his body weight and pressure. Although it was quite a painful experience, he considered himself lucky because he saw was how Count Casannuendo bounced past him like a tiny rubber ball and had to grab for Wolfram's feet to stop the fall. Cane made some threatening protest noises but still held on although two men relied their safety to it now.
When the pressure test was over and the ship regained her original horizontal stance, both elderly gentlemen just sat on the floor and had a small cursing contest of their own. Few good curses help to ease the pain and both men knew that quite well.
"Dear Count," said Wolfram after curses faded. "Have you considered having a diet? You almost pulled my leg off with your weight."
"Actually I was about to suggest you the same thing, Wolfram. Something full of calories and proteins because those pea sticks you call legs, are so bony that I probably have more than a one bruise now. Some fat upholstery won't harm you. And me either," replied Count.
Those remarks confirmed that both men survived the accident without much harm and were able to help others. Especially Wolfram who received that already mentioned hailer call and hurried out to meet Lena, Marcel and Volodja...
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Post by Lena Marr on Aug 3, 2017 14:02:57 GMT
Volodja Uljanov's face became tense when he listened an EGO message and he said: "Now you have to excuse me for some more because someone I know needs my help as well. It might be pointless if our ship fells down but I will go and try to help him despite of that. It was nice talking with you. You may take over from here..." His last sentence was meant to everybody in the engine room - humans, Votans and Synths. Her pale arms still folded tightly across her small chest, Whitney's ice blue eyes were downcast as she answered sadly shaking her white tousled head from side to side, "You should read the sacred tomes of Harlequin and you might understand. Love is sacrifice and Skarr is my ultimate love and therefore I must make the ultimate sacrifice for him. I... I really don't want any of you to be hurt, especially my sisters, so please... please... just take the escape pods and go!" The Synth Sisters were slowly surrounding Whitney with Ruby in the middle and Yvette and Brooke to each far side of her. Finally Brooke could take no more and with a snarl did a short teleport what she called a blink to right in front of Whitney. However, Whitney was just as agile as Brooke and with a quick sidestep got out of the leaping feline Synth's way. Unfortunately for Brooke, her momentum took her to where the Engineering escape pod had been and out the hole left by it's departure. Whitney's pale hands went to her small gaping mouth and she gasped in shock. Yvette cursed a blue streak and flew after Brooke through the escape pod's hole. Ruby just stared with large silvery blue eyes at Whitney unsure of what to do but exclaiming, "What have you done?" Whitney's ice blue eyes narrowed as she pulled her rapier, "This was not how it was supposed to go down! Yvette will save Brooke or Brooke will save herself - but you must leave now and leave my beloved Skarr alone - forever!" Unfortunately, Volodja Uljanov did not see or hear any of this for he left shortly after his last comment to the armory to save Marcel Lestrange, his friendly enemy or his spiteful friend, even Volodja seemed not to know from time to time. Volodja asked as he struggled with the door Marcel was helpless behind, "Can you be a good girl, Lena, and help me to get this door open? I believe that Marcel is behind it and if we manage to get the door open, he is saved...at least from suffocation." Lena Marr's unblinking blank eyes took focus as she slowly turned her pretty Castithan face to him, "I... know you! You're Volodja Uljanov - my Master's archenemy!" She unleashed with an electric sizzle the charge blade she had found appealing and had been holding when the Vigilant began it's plummet earthward saying frankly, "My Master will reward me greatly for killing you... maybe with a greater food ration than usual... and maybe with more and more and more enjoyable sex as only he can give!" Lena began to climb slowly up the almost vertical deck to where Volodja was perched by the armory closet door with a sneer on her face and stopping to wave the sizzling charge blade every so often before saying with a wicked grin, "Luke, I am your father!" Then Lena pouted prettily as a strange look of confusion crossed her chalk white face as she confessed, "I don't know why I said that; but I felt if I didn't I'd never get a chance to again!"  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Aug 4, 2017 5:19:08 GMT
Volodja Uljanov turned his back against the closet door, because it was more reasonable to face Lena and see what she was going to do with her sword. For a brief moment he considered to replay her remark with the "I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate." routine to create a distraction but since his mind told that Lena was already confused enough, he had to toss that idea to aside with silent mental sigh.
Quoting the "Bible" was also out of question, because although the though of boring Lena to death with the biblical genealogy à la:
"Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth:
and unto them were sons born after the flood.
The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog,
and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim."
And so on and so on...was very tempting. They just didn't had enough time for that. Plus, that kind of tactics were suitable for using in more peaceful and stable environments, not on board of soon to be crushed or splashed and drowned airship. There was no time to make Lena falling asleep by telling her about the nuances of biblical family trees which studying gave work to generations of theologians...Especially when Marcel Lestrange was already running out of air.
Catching a glimpse of falling blade made Volodja to twirl out of it's way (and Lena almost lose her balance but she regained it swiftly like a white feline). The blade smashed into closet door with enormous strength, raising a cloud of sparks. Were they sparks or were they Nanites? Didn't matter actually. But that blow, given by Lena's powerful hand, made Volodja to ask from Moira:
"Are you all right there?"
"We are and thanks to that blow now we even have an air hole," she replied, because Lena's sword cut through the closet door.
"Hang on there," said Volodja. And added with inner grin: "You have no other place to be anyway."
"Actually there are lot of places to be but we can't go there yet," giggled Moira despite of the situation.
Volodja could fight back, because before he discovered advantages of his multi-purpose sapper shovel, he was an experienced sword fighter as well, but he didn't want to risk with someone getting injured during the sword fight, so he tried to reason with Lena now while just defending himself from her sword, instead of using more aggressive combat style because he knew that Lena wasn't dumb and despite being touched by madness she still possessed the skill to think logically (Lena used causal logic which connects one process (the cause) with another process or state (the effect) at moment (Typical modus ponens: If A, then B where A is the deed of killing Volodja and B is (possible) reward for that and if A is true then B will also be):
"Lena dear. I know that you are trying to help Marcel in the way you find most suitable, but there is something you should think about!" (Another sword slash, which Volodja parried with his sword) "I need your help to get the door open. I can't do it alone. But so can't you if you kill me. And if you can't release Marcel from the closet, you can't get your reward from him."
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 4, 2017 7:48:56 GMT
"Some people like you, some people don't. In the end you just have to be yourself." - Andres Iniesta
****** "Hmmmmm..." Lena Marr put her chalk white forefinger to the corner of her lush lips and flashed her long lashed sky blue eyes heavenward as she slashed half-halfheartedly at Volodja Uljanov with the charge blade in her other hand which he easily blocked as she remarked, "You got a point their Mr. V even if its at the top of your head!" Then asked Hope her EGO psyche through the telepathic link they shared, "Is Master Marcel in this closet?" "Not sure but Moira his EGO psyche definitely is and she is a mite peeved at me for not detecting them sooner but it's so loud in here with the seven others in your head I can hardly hear myself think," Hope replied sheepishly adding, "I hope she can forgive me someday!" "Not to worry," Said Lena out-loud with a devilishly wicked grin so that both Volodja and Hope could hear her, "Let's help Master Marcel come out of the closet so to speak!" With that said and with a few well-placed charge blade strikes by herself and Volodja, the armory closet door soon opened and with a glance Lena saw her lover Marcel Lestrange lying apparently unconscious within so without hesitation she leaped in next to him showering his face with kisses as she exclaimed joyfully, "Rise and shine Pooh Bear, your little Honey Pot is here!!!!!"  ***** In the Vigilant's cockpit, Sandy Bell and Erika Widowmaker unconsciously grabbed each other's hands tightly as the ground rushed forward in their view-screen. Lady Christianna on the other hand subconsciously turned insubstantial drifting out of her restraining belt as she saw the earth below become covered in distinct vegetation to be recognizable as jungle to be seen as individual trees through the on rushing canopy. ***** Belle Starr awoke in a one person space ship among stars she didn't recognize and a message on her computer console, "Welcome Ms. Starr to No Man's Sky. You have been selected by the Atlas Corporation to chart the unknown universe in this quadrant. Your skills and abilities to survive have been noted and you will be richly rewarded if you succeed, whereas if you fail your only reward will be death. Good Luck, the Atlas Corporation." Not sure if it was a dream, a delusion, or perhaps reincarnation, Belle was used to sudden changes in her life so accepted this new turn of events calmly as she thought to herself only somewhat surprised to find no answering voice of an EGO, "No Man's Sky, huh? Well, we'll see if it's no woman's sky either!" |
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 5, 2017 8:52:55 GMT
"Vigilant"s second dive made the Count to bounce again but this time he bounced like a determined Gummi Bear* towards the pilot seat, using other seatback's as trampolines until he landed by Poe Dameron's side who had real trouble keeping "Vigilant" from crashing right away. Luckily for them their vessel obeyed moves of the steering system so despite the loss of their engines they were at least stay in air...for now. Lexy, "Vigilants" AI, who looked like small Castithan girl and was biting her virtual fingernails like a real child because of her anxiety, watched worryingly at Poe's struggle with the stubborn "Vigilant".  * Gummi Bears were indeed inspired by candies but the result became somewhat different, so don't you dare to mistake Gummi Bears with gummy bears and such! "Cute," said Count. "Really cute. But...Can you remove your fingers from your mouth and look for a suitable place for our emergency landing instead, dear? A road would be our best option because crashing into the jungle could be fatal. Especially with descending angle like we have right now. Our only chance to land without working engines would be a glide landing on open landscape and that land strip must be long enough to enable us stop our bird on time...There have to be roads in Votanis Collective!" "This used to be a human federation, called Brazil," announced Poe. "And they built some roads indeed. But the jungle already swallowed those...I think..." "Don't think too much. Act!" suggested Count. "We don't know that yet. Even former road is better than no road at all. What's your name, little girl? Lexy? Beautiful name you have. Can you look for a nearest highway, Lexy?" "One is straight ahead!" said Lexy after tiny break. "We are sort of following it's path. Makes easier to navi...navigate when following landmarks. It used to be a highway...called... BR-364" It's quite straight. And it's NOT cheating when I follow it's path!" "At least something goes the right way," muttered Count. "Following landmarks is logical indeed. When we are straight above it, reduce the angle and land on it, Poe. I know it's harder than landing a small private plane but this is our only chance...Which also means that we don't have a second try if we fail. But the HARDEST part is done - we have a land strip where we can put our bird. The rest is matter of professionalism and the correct angle which we are going to calculate right now. Are you up to the challenge, flyboy?" "You betcha, shorty!" snapped Poe. "Hold on tight!" Slowly...very slowly... "Vigilant"s nose begun to move and ship begun to descend. Now it was Count's turn to bit his fingernails while Poe and Lexy were working on the right landing procedure first and then accomplishing it.  As result of their mutual efforts "Vigilants" belly touched the ground at the final stage of the glide. It wasn't exactly a soft touch but it wasn't a crash either, because descending angle was correctly calculated by Dameron Poe and Lexy. Due to inertia, "Vigilant" kept sliding onward without an intention to stop very soon. She shook rapidly but the the (former) highway was flat enough and local flora which slowly took back it's original growth place wasn't that high as the rest of the untouched jungle so it acted as a natural braking mechanism...More shaking and shattering...More tension...And then there was silence. They were on the ground and the "Vigilant" found her place in the list of planes, successfully performing a deadstick landing. |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 5, 2017 12:16:57 GMT
After Volo had sliced through the ice, freezing the door shut; Yvette, Brooke and I forced it open. Then as Volodja tried to talk to Whitney and her sisters, I quietly slipped into engineering.
As Whitney's sisters surrounded her, and she argued with them, I slowly moved over to a console that I knew would help the situation on the Bridge, since I was not yet able to get the engineers into engineering so they could get the engines running themselves. However as I did so, I felt and noticed the engines come on, but unfortunately only stayed on for about two minutes. The console in question, was the one that gave me the ability to give the Bridge's engineering console remote access to the engines. So since the engines had come to life briefly only to shut off again with us once again starting a now slower downward trajectory, and I was finally at the console, I quickly pressed the buttons that I knew would give the Bridge direct control of the engines. Now it was up to Lexy or Attila to notice the active light now blinking on the console's remote access panel.
In the meantime Volo had left Main Engineering as he was needed elsewhere, Brooke was knocked overboard with Yvette diving after her, and Ruby was staring in shock at all that had transpired. So I moved away from the console.
Then stepped in front of Whitney before saying, "Family should NOT fight like this! However that is between you and your sisters...IF they survive their unintended free-fall. Now lower your daking weapon and let my other engineers in to get the engines back on or I will make you!"
However, just as I said that and reached for my blade, Atika blurred between me and Whitney. Then she said to Whitney, "Look, I DO want to be your friend too. I love meeting and making new and wonderful friends! However ever since we met you; you stay away from us, won't talk to us, and make it clear that you do NOT want friends! ____ In case you haven't realized it, those actions make it impossible to make friends...even with somebody as HOT and fashionable as you! I love your skirt!"
When Whitney looked at her, in slight confusion at being called HOT, Atika giggled and said, "Yes, HOT! You may act cold and have chilling powers, but you can still be HOT!! Not only that, but our Commander here, tends to act like he doesn't want or need anybody either and yet he now has a wife and family. So if somebody as dangerous as him can have so many friends and family; DESPITE his anger, his 'Violence is ALWAYS the best answer!' mentality, and his general 'The world can go fuck itself and die!' attitude, then obviously you should have no issues getting friends if you truly want to and just let people in! Besides you have an advantage over Commander Batman, as you already have several sisters that love and care about you!"
I glared at Atika as she talked to Whitney. Then once she stopped to take a breathe, I grumbled with, "Dak, why does EVERYBODY keep stopping me lately! I wish just once this week, that I could hit somebody WITHOUT interference!!"
Then I said to Whitney, "She is correct, currently VERY ANNOYING and a little out of line, but nonetheless still correct...If a monster such as myself can get friends and family after hating the world for so long, then you should have no problem, once you decide that you are ready to let others in...I definitely know just how hard that can be, but am glad that I finally did so.
As for Skarr, if you ever read any of his files, like you did those supposed tomes you keep quoting, then you would know that Skarr only cares about himself and to an extent other Castithans, although only the high Caste matter to him. Every other race is just a tool to him to use and discard as he sees fit. You would also know how manipulative the disgusting bastard can be. ___ I mean think about it! You disabled the engines of a strato-carrier in flight with hundreds of people on it. You knocked one of your own sisters out of the ship....and you are planning to end your own life in a crash for a guy that used your own sister for evil purposes and is doing so to you as well!
Due to all the oddities of this trip so far, I never had a chance to tell you and your sisters how I knew a clone was killed and the real Cael must be alive still, or why I wanted to tell Brooke personally. However I suppose that I better say it now, as you need to hear it. Then we can tell Brooke later, if she and we survive all of this stupidity that you caused!..
...So here it is. Our doctors did a thorough autopsy of the Cael that was killed and ran all kinds of tests. During that time, they were able to determine definitively that the Cael in the Morgue is a clone. They also discovered a small chip embedded in his brain. After some examination of it, they discovered that, once activated, it sends a high-pitched signal into the brain of the person implanted with it that causes them to act violently without rational thought. However further testing also discovered that it causes an even more violent reaction from various different species of Earth felines. Obviously as Brooke seems to share some feline traits, her unconscious reaction and corresponding murder of the Cael clone was caused by that same signal that caused him to pull his gun on everybody.
All the information is well-documented and I will have my EGO make it available to you at the console near you, so you can see for yourself."
Then after I had Dinara do so, I said to Whitney, "Alright, the information is now available to you. So just look for yourself!"
Just then we felt more turbulence as the Vigilant adjusted trajectories. So I took a risk and glanced at the pod hole in the floor and saw that we were in the process of landing.
Meanwhile, let's go back to the Vigilant 's Bridge, just moments before Atticus finally entered Main engineering, and shortly after Volo left it. Attila had opened up the Bridge's main engineering console and was doing all kinds of work and managed to get the engines working. However they only stayed on for a minute or two, before shutting down again. Fortunately that was just enough time for Poe to get the Vigilant over land but nothing else. So Poe was back to trying to glide it into a controlled crash. Of course Fate tends to intervene, in this case in the form of Count Casannuendo who started calming Lexy and helping her and Poe with a landing trajectory. So it wasn't long before, Poe started the process of the forced landing. As result of their mutual efforts "Vigilant's" belly touched the ground at the final stage of the glide. It wasn't exactly a soft touch but it wasn't a crash either, because descending angle was correctly calculated by Poe Dameron and Lexy. Due to inertia, "Vigilant" kept sliding onward without an intention to stop very soon. She shook rapidly but the (former) highway was flat enough and local flora which slowly took back it's original growth place wasn't that high as the rest of the untouched jungle so it acted as a natural braking mechanism...More shaking and shattering...More tension...And then there was silence. They were on the ground and the "Vigilant" found her place in the list of planes, successfully performing a dead-stick landing. Just then Attila broke the silence by glancing up at the console that he had been working on, and stating loudly (and with a little annoyance at himself for not noticing a little earlier), "Damn! It looks like the Commander managed to give us remote access to Engineering, sometime during the glided landing!......Guess it doesn't matter now, as we are on the ground, does it?...Besides I still can't get the diagnostics display to work. So until somebody gets into engineering and checks the engines, I have no way of telling what shape they are actually in. As such it could easily blow up on us if I start it again before an engineering crew repairs it!"
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Post by Sandy Bell on Aug 5, 2017 15:41:00 GMT
On the Vigilant's bridge Sandy Bell stared at Attila with big blue eyes before replying to him, "Okay, you and Erika work on damage control on the ship's hardware, and I'll handle the software. First, a stand-down needs to be sounded to all those poor souls in the escape pods," Sandy flicked a switch announcing the all-clear to those in the escape pods so they could leave them, then turned to another console to ask, "Lexy, would you please give me an accounting of all personnel on the ship and tell me if anyone is missing besides those who were in Engineering and left in the Escape Pod. Also, please tell security the coordinates of where that pod landed so they can pick them up." After a moment, the smiling hologram of a Castithan child appeared and Lexy said, "Done and done! Currently missing from inside the Vigilant are the two Synth Sisters Yvette and Brooke and..." Lexy's small mouth fell agape as she gasped, "And Auntie Lady is no longer aboard! Commander Atticus... is going to be sooooo ang... angr... mad!" Meanwhile in Engineering, Atticus Batman said to Whitney, "Alright, the information is now available to you. So just look for yourself!" Whitney's lower lip quivered as he eyes welled with white tears and her pale knuckles turned even whiter as she grasped her rapier tightly her jaw jutting outwards stubbornly as she exclaimed to Atticus, "You're wrong! Skarr loves me! I know it with my heart! And even if you're right... the Sacred Tomes of Harlequin tells us that all it takes to make a bad man turn good is the love of a good woman! I'm a good woman... at least I think I am..." Whitney looked to the computer console Atticus had gestured at and thought about what he said. Whitney was incredibly young and immature even by Synth standards, but she was trained as a scientist and doctor and had the curiosity inherent in both professions. As such, she couldn't ignore unknown information that was put in front of her. Whitney tilted her head as her ice blue eyes went blank and lights began to blink on the computer console Atticus indicated. Ruby turned her cute cherubic face up towards Atticus as she swiped a stray strand of Raven hued hair from in front of her silvery blue eyes as she pleaded, "You have to understand Commander Atticus! We only stepped out of our growing pod a few months ago, but we were in that pod for almost a year learning. Mostly we learned information about the world we were being born into and the information needed to fulfill the roles Father foresaw for us. I learned about diplomacy, Yvette about martial arts, Brooke about survival and tracking and of course the histories of all the races human and alien inhabiting the Earth now. But even then, we had free time to learn about the social graces and information we were curious about. I was fascinated by the philosophers and the mind. Yvette was fascinating with the sensual secrets of the body. Brooke... well, you know how secretive she is about her private life, so I should let her tell you what her secret passion is if she feels it's right to do so." Ruby was interrupted when Whitney's numb hand let loose of her rapier and it dropped to the deck with a clatter after she finished sifting through the computer data on Skarr. Whitney soon joined it as she crumpled to the floor sitting upright and staring into space beginning to sob. Ruby quickly sat next to her putting an arm around her to comfort her while smoothing Whitney's skirt with her free free hand over Whitney's pale legs that were curled under her. "But Whitney... there was so much technological and medical knowledge to learn - Votan, Human, and Synth - that there was little time to learn anything but that!" Explained Ruby sadly as she rocked Whitney gently while they sat and the room temperature fell drastically so much so that it began to lightly snow reflecting Whitney's mood. "I knew she learned about the beautiful intricacies of human dance in the little free time she had, and I guess the idealistic fictions of human romance too. I worried for Whitney once we were born because her only hobbies were pursued by her alone and feared it might lead her astray from the Synth Empire and Father's ways some day. Unfortunately, that day came sooner than later."  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 6, 2017 11:43:23 GMT
Ruby was interrupted when Whitney's numb hand let loose of her rapier and it dropped to the deck with a clatter after she finished sifting through the computer data on Skarr. Whitney soon joined it as she crumpled to the floor sitting upright and staring into space beginning to sob. Ruby quickly sat next to her putting an arm around her to comfort her while smoothing Whitney's skirt with her free hand over Whitney's pale legs that were curled under her.
"But Whitney... there was so much technological and medical knowledge to learn - Votan, Human, and Synth - that there was little time to learn anything but that!" Explained Ruby sadly as she rocked Whitney gently while they sat and the room temperature fell drastically so much so that it began to lightly snow reflecting Whitney's mood. "I knew she learned about the beautiful intricacies of human dance in the little free time she had, and I guess the idealistic fictions of human romance too. I worried for Whitney once we were born because her only hobbies were pursued by her alone and feared it might lead her astray from the Synth Empire and Father's ways some day. Unfortunately, that day came sooner than later."
Atika quickly sat down next to Whitney to help Ruby calm her, as I said calmly to Ruby, "Ruby, I understand you are young and don't hold it against you. Most people weren't forced into adulthood at a very young age like Lena and myself were....and I am glad for that. I can't not say what all happened in Lena's life, but I do know, I would NOT wish my childhood on anybody. Like I said, you have an advantage over me. You have sisters to help and look after each other. I did not even know I had a sister until fairly recently, although as you have already witnessed, I will do whatever is in my power to help her when she wants or needs it. Your young age would also be why, even if I did have to fight Whitney, I would have done everything that I could to stop her without killing her.
I can even see the beauty in dance, although I must admit I find the intricacies of the different martial arts and weapons styles more beautiful, such as the elegance and grace Whitney displays with her handling of the Rapier. Not many around here understand the skill and finesse required to truly master such an elegant weapon. However I also do not have a problem with Whitney's idealistic fantasies of romances either. Actually I kind of envy her for that, as I grew up believing that there was no such thing as romance or even true love. However after meeting Lady and the others, I have learned otherwise and because of that and I am not sure Whitney is entirely wrong. She just missed something."
Then I said to Whitney, "I am sorry that I had to be the bearer of bad news and don't beat yourself up too much. Skarr is not worth it. Besides from what I have seen so far, you are right that you are a good woman. You're sisters agree or they wouldn't have risked their lives to talk you down...and obviously so does Atika. Otherwise she wouldn't have risked pissing me off, by stopping me from raising a weapon at you.
As for those Sacred Tomes of Harlequin, I have no knowledge of them. So I can not say much about them, but knowing Volodja, if he was still in here, he might know what you are talking about and be able to give us quite a sermon about them. However as I was once considered a VERY bad guy, and some still feel that I am in many ways which I do not deny, I think I do have some insight on what you just said about those tomes, telling us that all it takes to make a bad man turn good is the love of a good woman!
That would be that although it proved true when it came to me and Lady, there is one thing that they either didn't mention or you missed. In order for the good woman to have a chance of her love turning the bad man good, then the man in question would need to have at least a little shred of humanity left. I may not of had much left back in my darkest moments, but no matter what I always refused to willingly do bodily harm to a child and eventually I did manage to develop a sense of justice and honor...even if some still disagree with my methods. However have you or your sisters personally seen any proof that Skarr does still have any humanity that you can nurture back into the light? ...I know that I have not.
Anyway, you can sit there as long as you need, or have Atika take you to some place you would feel more comfortable. However I need to get the engineering crew in here now to check the engines. I also need to notify the Bridge that we need to send a security team to find our escape pod and your missing sisters."
I then signaled the engineers to come in and examine the engines, as I walked over to the comm system. Then I used them to contact the Bridge. Once somebody there answered and put Sandy on, I said, "Sandy, I believe I have things under control down here now. I already have some engineers in here looking over the engines. So, if you haven't yet, then you need to send a security team to retrieve our engineering pod and coordinate a team to go find the sisters, Brooke and Yvette....Also please have Wolfram or Volodja come back to engineering. Atika and Ruby may need either Wolfram's fatherly advice or Volodja's silver tongue to help calm Whitney after the upsetting news that I just had to give her."
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Post by Sandy Bell on Aug 6, 2017 14:31:41 GMT
"Women are wiser than men because they know less and understand more." - James Thurber***** In the Vigilant's Engineering, Commander Atticus Batman said, "Sandy, I believe I have things under control down here now. I already have some engineers in here looking over the engines. So, if you haven't yet, then you need to send a security team to retrieve our engineering pod and coordinate a team to go find the sisters, Brooke and Yvette....Also please have Wolfram or Volodja come back to engineering. Atika and Ruby may need either Wolfram's fatherly advice or Volodja's silver tongue to help calm Whitney after the upsetting news that I just had to give her." "I've already sent a security detail to get our people in the escape pod. Lexy is not sure about the location of the two missing Synth Sisters, but we know they can make themselves virtually invisible to our sensors whether they intend to or not," Reported Sandy Bell then nervously bit her lower lip before stating the bad news about Atticus' wife, "There was one other person who vanished from the Vigilant: Lady is missing sir!" After hearing what Atticus said as to her revelation, Sandy contacted the elderly psychiatrist Wolfram Von Eschen and her new husband Volodja Uljanov by ship's intercom asking them to report to Engineering to help with the Synth Sister Whitney situation there then added by her EGO's private telepathic channel to Volodja, "I love you Hubbie!" With that said, Sandy turned to her console to begin planning a search grid to find Lady and the missing Synth Sisters, when Erika Widowmaker interrupted her preparations by saying authoritatively, "I'll lead the search team on the ground. It's the least I can do for Atticus and my sister-in-law." ***** Lady Christianna lay on her back on the rocky ground with her head hurting and her eyes closed tight against the glare of the noonday sun. She could feel the warmth of the sun on her eyelids which only tended to emphasize the pounding behind them. When the voices began to speak they started as echoes until her mind could comprehend what they were saying. "Is she alive?" Asked a strong feminine voice. "I think sooooo..." Purred a second voice, obviously female but with an unusual accent that Lady knew she had heard before but not sure where and when. "Well, if she isn't, I'm not going to be to the one to give her husband the bad news," Joked the first voice with a merry laugh, "But the regular heaving of her chest proves she's breathing even though she is looking mighty pale!" "Sister," Began the second voice in a serious tone, "She is Castithan and they naturally look that pale..." "I know, I know," Interrupted the first voice in exasperation, "Jeesh Brooke, we got to work on that sense of humor you're lacking!" Lady then felt a cold wet compress on her forehead that served to sharpen her senses immediately. Her pink eyes fluttered open seeing whom she now expected to see, the Synth Sister Brooke who was kneeling swabbing Lady's face with a wet cloth looking concerned and Yvette standing above them both with her arms crossed and a big grin on her pretty face. What Lady didn't expect to see was the huge centipede as big as an Overland Stage bus rearing behind the two Synth Sisters' backs. ***** On top of her lover Marcel Lestrange in the armory closet, Lena Marr heard Sandy's intercom message and whispered to him with a wicked grin on her beautiful chalk white face, "Hey Pooh Bear, it looks like the action is in Engineering! My spider sense tells me that there is an opportunity there that shouldn't be missed!" Then yelled to Volodja who was just outside the closet's door after hearing an EGO message to him which she wasn't supposed to hear but which she was always scanning for with her own EGO, "Volo! Congrats on the nuptials! About fraking time! And I'm going to assume my wedding invitation got lost in the mail or I might get offended! BTW, have you and Sandy registered a China pattern anywhere?" 
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