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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 12, 2017 11:11:04 GMT
Unperturbed, Sandy entered with her rifle held up surprising the bridge crew and exclaiming, "Okay where are... the... bad guys?"
Just then First officer Tasha Yar who didn't even look up at the sudden noisy intrusion onto the Bridge said excitedly, "Atika, I think changing the radio wave worked. The ship is slowing down, dropped its shields, and is circling around to the Vigilant's shuttle bay. Now that it's defector shields are down I can successfully scan it! Jesus for a small vessel it's got a ton of firepower but none of it is powered up! Now scanning for lifeforms and... there is one! It's human, but the heartbeat is so slow and the breathing is almost non-existent but whoever it is, they're alive!"
Sazri Kakusi looked towards the new actors on stage and said calmly in his usual monotone, "Aw if it isn't my favorite Meat-bag and the Blast-from-the-past. It seems I must congratulate you both on the nuptials, as well as congratulating Sandy on her promotion to Field-Commander. However as you can see we have more pressing matters at the moment."
Volodja and Sandy looked at Atticus in confusion at first. However upon being called 'Meat-Bag', Volo realized exactly who he was talking to and responded with, "Sazri Kakusi! So if you are here, then could you please tell us where Atticus is?"
Kakusi responded, "Yes it is I, Sazri Kakusi! ... Aw Volosha, that is but one reason that you are my favorite meat-bag. Always a step or two ahead, and always so polite as well. The Fleshling is inside his wifeling's EGO fighting one enemy; the ever-nasty, and more- parasitic-than-me, Governor Skarr. However Sandy, as you heard Miss Yar, we do have an incoming Bogey. Thank you for getting that door open so I can evacuate any non-essentials from the Bridge if needed. However it sounds like, I now need you both to go to the hangars and 'welcome' our visitor. I will clear them to land in hangar bay Zeta. So meet them there, and it sounds like you may need to take a medic with you. Although it does appear that you already have one."
Just then Atika said, "Ummm Captain Yar, Commander Kakusi, we have another incoming signal."
Yar replied with, "From the Starrgazer again?"
Atika responded with, "No this one is from the P.P.S Eagle and, as our main comms are still dark, they have tapped into the Bridge's intercom to contact us."
Kakusi responded with, "Notify the Starrgazer that they are clear for docking in Hangar Zeta, and give them the location. Then patch the Eagle through."
Atika sent the notification to the Starrgazer. Then she patched the Eagle's communication in through the Bridge's intercom. "Vigilant Bridge, this is Poe Dameron of the P.P.S. Eagle. I have Whitney of the ground team on the line and we need a sit-rep, Command."
Atika responded with, "We have made contact with our bogey and are sending a team to meet them now Mr. Dameron. Other than that, no current change. All EVAC prep orders remain. Now please patch in the ground team so they can give their sit-rep."
Poe did so and the Vigilant heard, "Vigilant Bridge this is Whitney on behalf of ground-team leader Attila. I am glad to finally reach you. We are prepping for the possibility of your evacuation, with Attila meeting with Chancellor Cael and Lord Lodja as we speak."
Tasha got on the comm and said, "Whitney what do you mean Attila is the one meeting with them? Where is Commander Widowmaker?'
Whitney responded with, "I think I better put Attila on now, as he just walk in to see if I managed to reach you."
Attila got on and said, "Vigilant Bridge, is Commander Batman there?"
Kakusi got on comm and responded with, "He is busy dealing with our previously unknown threat. This is Sazri Kakusi, filling in for him. What is the problem down there?"
Attila took a deep breathe and then said, "I am afraid that I must inform you that Commander Erika Widowmaker has died in the line of duty. Chancellor Cael has had her body taken to the Palace Morgue and Count Casannuendo will watch over her until Commander Batman is able to come down and see her and Chancellor Cael."
Hearing that, everybody on the Bridge, including Sandy, Volodja, and Kakusi all looked at each other in shock and sadness at the news. Then Kakusi responded with, "Very well, Attila. Please continue preparing down there in case we have to evacuate. I will notify the Commander as soon as I can. We will be sure to have Poe the Pilot contact you if there are any changes on our end."
Meanwhile in Lady's head, When I appeared in her EGO (in a bubble of electric-blue light), Skarr mentally turned to see what happened in the EGO that he was forcibly inhabiting. As he did so, I said, "Damn you are uglier than I remember! As you can now see, you are not the only one who can possess Synthetic and electronic brains. So you will never be able to escape me!"
Skarr snapped, "I am NOT ugly! I am bigger, better, stronger! I have no idea how the hell you can jump into EGOs, however it doesn't matter. It just means, I can get my revenge in a much BETTER way! Once I destroy you in here, that means your head will be vacant. So I can just move into it. Then I can use it to have my fun with your wife. Then I will destroy your ship. Next I will go to the surface and the last thing Erika sees before she dies is her Brother's angry face as he rips her heart out! Then that damnable Volodja will be next! After that it will be Cael's turn to get killed by the Harbinger of Death! It will be so much fun to use your body to kill all my enemies, and to see the looks in their eyes when 'you betray them and rip out their bleeding hearts!"
I responded with, "I am so tired of hearing lectures, speeches and monologues this daking trip! Now bring it on Creepy-crawly!"
As I said that; Skarr, using his spider body lunged at me. I managed to roll out of the way of the attack, but he spun around as I did which caused his HUGE spider-ass to smack me and knock me off my feet. Once he did he started to once again laugh evilly as I started to stand. However what I wasn't expecting was the extremely disgusting thing that happened next. Skarr's huge spider-ass, still facing me, started to shake and then a string of webbing (or at least I hoped it was spider-webbing) shot out and hit me square in the chest. As it hit me, I said, "Well that's just NASTY!!"
Then As I struggled with it, he quickly scurried around, proceeding to wrap me up in his webbing. As he did so, I heard a small feminine child's voice saying, "Daddy! You gotta do something! You can't let that nasty buggy hurt you and mommy! We need you!"
Hearing the voice and realizing it was my baby girl communicating with me, using a type of Grid telepathy that I had used plenty with Kakusi and the Grid piece in Lady's locket (and I suspected my children would also be able to do to some extent), I mentally responded to her with, "It's past your bedtime, now go to sleep young lady! Don't worry. Your mommy and I will be home as soon as we are done here!"
Now that I had made a promise to my daughter, I had to do something for I would NEVER break a promise to family, which is why I tried not to make many promises. So I concentrated and managed to, even in Lady's mind, use my powers to conjure up a bolt of electricity in my hand. Just as it appeared, the electrical bolt morphed into a sword which I used to cut my way out of the web. Once I was out, I looked around Lady's mind for Spider-Skarr and found him scurrying around the outside of Lady's EGO's (MOM's) home. I noticed the door and windows were already covered in thick webbing. However he was now fortifying it, as he started to begin webbing up the whole EGO house.
As he was currently on the roof and looking away from me, I used my sword to cut the webbing loose on one window. Then I peaked in to see why he was so focused on completely covering (and therefor securing) MOM's whole house in his nasty-ass-webbing. Upon looking in I saw my wife pacing back and forth. However before I could tap on the window to get her attention, I saw a huge shadow above me. So I looked up and saw Skarr's spider-ass again, for he was backing down the house. I quickly used my electric-sword to cut more webbing off the window. Then I thrust it upward into the web-hole of that huge-nasty-black-spider-ass. As my sword burned and stung Skarr as it entered his web-hole he screamed in pain. As he quickly turned to fight back whatever stung his hole, I thrust the sword in as far as I could and let go of it. So when he turned and lunged onto me, he was still in extreme pain for my electric sword was still stuck in and burning the nasty spider-ass.
However when he turned to see what had stung him, that put him close enough that he was able to lunge onto me before I could move. So I was now pinned on the ground next to MOM's white house in her EGO. As I looked towards the window I had cut most of the webbing off, and felt Skarr's claws sinking into my shoulders as I managed to raise my arms to catch his head to holt it back as he kept trying to bite me, the sudden thought came to my mind, "Dak! Is this really how it's going to end? With me breaking a promise to my baby girl and just outside of where Lady is trapped?!"
Then I yelled loud enough that Lady could most likely hear me. now that one window was no longer being insulated by the nasty spider-Skarr-webbing, 'NO! IT WILL NOT END THIS WAY! I WILL NOT BREAK A PROMISE TO MY DAUGHTER AND WILL NOT LOSE MY WIFE TO YOU OR YOUR NASTY SPIDER-ASS-WEBBING!!!"
Then using all the strength that I could muster, I lifted my feet and thrust them extremely hard into his abdomen. Skarr screamed in pain and jumped back. However that move cause him to back into a wall of the house, which forced my electric sword all the way up his ass. Not yet actually knowing exactly why his ass was burning, as he never took the time to look at it after lunging on me, Once it was all in, Skarr quickly spun around and once again aimed that horrible sight of an ass at me as he hoped to wrap me up again. However unfortunately for Skarr, now that the sword was all in, it burned and seared his hole shut as he tried to shoot out webbing. So all it did was bunch up inside him and slowly leak out around the electrified sword causing it to burn and light him on fire. As he ran around in circles trying to put himself out, he slowly burned to death. As I watched him burst in flames and I saw how we withered as he fried, it was my turn to laugh.
Once he was no longer moving, and the fire went out, I pulled myself onto my feet. Then once I was certain that he was dead, I slowly lumbered to the house. I was holding my injured ribs as I did so, and wondering if any injuries I received in Lady's mind would somehow be transferred to my body, when I returned to it. However that thought was fleeting for there where more important things requiring my attention. Such as my wife, still trapped inside that EGO house. However I didn't have enough energy to summon another sword, or even retrieve my other sword (if I really wanted to dig inside a burnt-spider-ass to find it, that is), so all I could do was stumble forward and lean against the wall near the uncovered window. Then I proceeded to knock on it, in hopes that I had uncovered it enough that Lady could not only see out of it, but also open it so I could help her out of the web-covered EGO-house. "*Knock knock knock* Tianna! *Knock knock knock* Tianna! *Knock knock knock* Tianna!"
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Post by Sandy Bell on Oct 13, 2017 19:53:07 GMT
“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”
― Ursula K. Le Guin.
***** Having heard that Erika Widowmaker had died sobered Sandy Bell quickly knocking the effects of the anesthesia drugs out of her mind as she answered the creature inside Commander Atticus Batman's body, "I'll get right down to the shuttle bay with a security detail." After Sandy had left the Vigilant's bridge and contacted security to meet her in the shuttle Bay, she turned to Voldja Uljanov as he brought her some coveralls found in a maintenance closet to put on over her hospital gown, "Not sure what rank the Grid holds but without Commander Batman here I better go meet our guest entering our shuttle bay." Giving her new husband a quick but heartfelt kiss, Sandy opined before heading to the shuttle bay, "You can come with me or stay on the bridge as I'll be fine with my assault rifle and armed security. I think the action might just be in both places, especially with that Grid in charge of the bridge." As soon Sandy and her entourage arrived in the shuttle bay so did the odd looking space craft causing Medic Joy Jameson to exclaim in amazement, "It looks like some exotic bird!" "And it's got a hell of a lot more space than what appears," Blurted out one security officer scanning the rear of the strange space ship once it gracefully landed who continued to say, "It's got an impossible amount of resources crammed in there." "Any life signs?" Questioned Sandy with raised blond eyebrows. "One human - but whoever it is must be in cryo-sleep or a hell of a deep yoga meditation." Said another security officer scanning the front part of the ship. "Weeeeeeel, I guess we better get this tin can open! Wish Lena was here - and I never thought I'd hear myself say that - but I guess we'l have to take a less subtle approach. Anybody got a crowbar?" Asked Sandy with a grin on her pretty tan face. As if on command a door opened from underneath the craft and Sandy with her assault rifle at the ready peered in with inquisitive blue eyes. Looking in Sandy could clearly see from the lights reflecting from the small ship's dashboard into the cramped cockpit the sleeping form of Belle Starr in the single pilot's seat. At least Sandy thought it was Belle, for there was grey hair at her temples and slight crow's feet around her closed eyes so Belle was looking much older than Sandy remembered and Sandy had just seen Belle no more than a week ago.  ***** Once Atticus Batman was certain that Skarr was dead, he slowly lumbered to the virtual house in Lady's EGO device. Atticus was holding his injured ribs as he did so, and wondering if any injuries he received in Lady's mind would somehow be transferred to his body when he returned to it. However that thought was fleeting for there where more important things requiring his attention. Such as his wife, still trapped inside that EGO house. However Atticus didn't have enough energy to summon another sword, or even retrieve his other sword (if he really wanted to dig inside a burnt-spider-ass to find it, that is), so all he could do was stumble forward and lean against the wall near the uncovered window. Then Atticus proceeded to knock on it, in hopes that he had uncovered it enough that Lady could not only see out of it, but also open it so I could help her out of the web-covered EGO-house. "*Knock knock knock* Tianna! *Knock knock knock* Tianna! *Knock knock knock* Tianna!" Hearing her husband's voice, Lady Christianna put her small shoulder to the window of the cottage forcing the webs to break now that the Spider-Skarr was dead or at least gone from her EGO whereupon it shattered and she fell into Atticus' arms looking up at him with a tear strewn chalk white face saying between sobs, "MOM's dead! Telepathic calls don't work! Can't feel her presence! Think Skarr murdered her!" The slight Castithan teenager hugged him weeping and grief stricken because she suddenly felt so very alone in her own mind which she hadn't felt for a very long time. ***** After Attila Constantine gave the team it's marching orders and turned his back to her, Lena Marr stuck her tongue out at him with her arms folded tightly across her bosom.  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 14, 2017 12:22:44 GMT
Hearing her husband's voice, Lady Christianna put her small shoulder to the window of the cottage forcing the webs to break now that the Spider-Skarr was dead or at least gone from her EGO whereupon it shattered and she fell into my arms looking up at me with a tear strewn chalk white face saying between sobs, "MOM's dead! Telepathic calls don't work! Can't feel her presence! Think Skarr murdered her!"
I winced in pain when Lady fell into my arms, however I ignored it as I caught her. I winced again as the slight Castithan teenager hugged me weeping and grief stricken because she suddenly felt so very alone in her own mind which she hadn't felt for a very long time.
After a few seconds of just holding her to me, I whispered, "I know, Tianna, I know. She contacted Dinara but seems to have died while requesting help. I was hoping that I got here in time... but it seems I failed. I am sorry that I was too late to save her, I really am. Everybody loved her. However I am glad I was able to save you."
Just then I got a very strong feeling from Kakusi. So I said to Lady, "Dak! Something's wrong and I doubt it has anything to do with the daking Bogey we were investigating, because I can sense it from Dinara and Kabule as well!....Dak! The bogey...and the self-destruct! Give me a second to see if I can contact one of them."
Seconds later, Dinara appeared inside Lady's EGO and seeing me holding Lady exclaimed, "Thank the Gods you are both alright! Please tell me MOM is as well!"
As I shook my head no, I noticed that she had already been crying. Then she replied in shock, "Not her too!"
As I reached over and pulled her into the hug with me Lady, I said, "Wait a minute! What do you mean her too?!"
Dinara looked up to me with obvious sadness and replied quietly, "That is why Kakusi sent me here, as soon as we sensed that you had succeeded in at least saving Lady! I am afraid that....that...that..."
I replied gently with, "What is wrong Pest?"
To which Dinara snuggled into me and Lady tighter as she said quietly and sadly, "Erika....something happened...and Erika died in combat. However Attila reported that Amber was still online and Kakusi allowed me to access Lexy's sensors and check for myself. She is still online but on emergency power. Please Atty! Please tell me that we can do something for my Amber-Baby! We can NOT lose all three of them!!!"
I replied with, "Don't worry Dina, I will see what I can do. Knowing Erika, she probably left some sort of last-will-and-testament on her data-pad, as well as with Amber. So I am sure that once we are able to go down to the surface, you will be able to go into Amber's EGO and find out for sure. However if you can't find anything, then we can always fall back to having Lexy check all of Erika's personal files. Now please calm down."
I held onto Lady and Dinara in silence for a little longer as I tried to ignore all the pain and sadness I was feeling, because I needed to remain strong for my family no matter how I truly felt. Then after a few moments longer, I reluctantly stepped back and said, "Dinara time to go home. Tianna, I'll see you on the other side."
Then I disappeared the same way that I had appeared in her head, in a bubble of blue electricity. After I disappeared, Dinara hugged Lady a little longer, then said to Lady, with worry on top of the sadness, "Atty's tryin to hide his feelings and pain from us again! How can he, Kabule and Kakusi do that?! I just don't understand! The more I try to fight my emotions, the more they come pouring out, but not them!.... and .... and... and ... I am so afraid that if we lost MOM and Erika, that we will lose Amber too!"
As Dinara started crying again, she once again hugged Lady for a few seconds. Then as she sniffled, she said, "I better go now. Atty needs us both by his side, even if he isn't ready to admit to himself that he is hurting.... but can I have one more sisterly hug first, pretty puhlease?"
When I returned to my body, I opened my eyes and looked around to make sure Lady was next to me, with both of us in our Command Chairs. Then I said out-loud, "Yar, what's the daking status?!"
Tasha Yar responded with, "Is that you again Commander Batman?"
I responded with, "Yes!" Then I said, "Dak it! Lexy! How much longer until EVAC and self-destruct?!"
Lexy appeared in her cute little army outfit and responded with, "10 minutes until EVAC and 40 until Self-destruct, Commander!"
I then said, "Yar! I understand the bogey turned out to be a ship, Kakusi gave it clearance to board, Sandy got the Bridge doors open, and Kakusi ordered Sandy and Volodja to go investigate it. Is that correct?"
She responded with, "Yes sir. She had a security team accompany her."
I responded with, "Fine. With Skarr dead, and the mysterious vessel in the hangar, we can cancel self-destruct."
After Tar and I used our codes to cancel self-destruct (as it takes two Command officers to enact or cancel it), I said, "Now that that is done, that will take some stress off of everyone up here. Hopefully Sandy's team will determine that the vessel and it's occupant's aren't a threat. However in case they can't, order EVAC crews to remain on standby until we give them further orders."
Just then I noticed movement next to me, in Lady's chair. So I turned towards her, wincing slightly in pain (which answered my wonderings on whether any injuries I suffered in 'electric' form would accompany me back to my body). However, I ignored what I could tell were broken ribs as, I leaned over to Lady and gave her a hug and kiss.
As Lady returned them, Yar said, "Commander, I hate to interrupt but while you were...'away', we received news from the ground team about your sister. She..."
I continued holding Lady as I said with a little sadness now in my voice, "I know Captain Yar. Kakusi and Dinara both told me. However she is in the caring hands of Count Casannuendo. So I suggest we focus on getting everything up here under control, before we worry about the surface. I am sure our ground team can handle it, otherwise Erika would have ordered them to report to Chancellor Cael instead of putting Attila in charge. However I know Erika must have put Attila in charge. After-all the only way that Lena and Marcel would follow the orders of somebody younger than them, is if Erika or I personally put that person in charge. Now Kakusi said something about getting the comms partially working again?"
Captain Tasha Yar responded with, "Yes sir. Poe Dameron had an engineer and comm officer tap the Eagle's comms into our Bridge intercom system. So thanks to that tap, we can not only communicate with anybody on the Vigilant, but we can also contact the Ground team at the Chancellor's palace if needed. We also now have Engineering working on getting our main comms working again."
Then as I held Lady a little longer, I looked around the Bridge to see just who chose to remain on the Bridge now that the doors had been opened again.
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Post by Sandy Bell on Oct 15, 2017 0:38:36 GMT
As Sandy Bell looked into the cockpit of the Stargazer VI from below, she prodded the leg of the deep sleeping Belle with the barrel of her assault rifle but when Belle's blue diamond eyes flicked open it was Sandy who jumped as Belle said with a warm smile, "Watch where you point that thang pardner" As blue eyes met blue diamond eyes Sandy asked feeling foolish almost as soon as she did, "Is it really you Belle?" "The one and only! Let me get out of this here contraption so we can jaw in more comfort," Replied Belle then climbed out of the cramped cockpit into the Vigilant's shuttle bay, languidly stretching her arms, legs, and back when she had. Sandy had admit that even if she looked a bit older with the gray hair at the temples and the laugh lines around the eyes, the blond woman in front of her was as agile and lithe as the Belle Sandy remembered so Sandy queried, "Where you been Belle?" Bell put her hands on her hips in a confident gesture for which all who knew her were familiar with as she answered, "All over the universe across over a dozen galaxies but... this sounds crazy, but I don't think our universe or our galaxies! Anywho, the threat coming from that universe is a real one to ours, but I'll brief y'all on the danger as soon as we can get the rest of the Protectors together." "Oooookay," Began Sandy, "Although the Protectors' lineup is a bit different than you might remember." "That's okay, whoever you've added needs to know about this danger but first..." Belle asked with a winsome look on her beautiful freckled face, "Do y'all mind taking me to get me some solid vittles? If I recall rightly y'all have a great chef on board the Vigilant and I've been sucking my meals thru a straw for way too long. And if you don't mind," Belle's blue diamond eyes narrowed as a dark cloud passed over her attractive visage, "Would one of y'all contact Vo and tell him Belle's back in town... that is... if he still cares to know..."  |
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Post by Attila Constantine on Oct 15, 2017 11:35:05 GMT
Back in the Chancellor's palace communications room, in the Votanis Capital City, Whitney had received a communication from Poe Dameron (who was relegated to communications liason between the Vigilant and the ground crew until engineering could get the Vigilant's main communications systems working again, as they were using theEagle's long range communicators to act as the temporary comm-bridge between the Vigilant and the ground team), informing her that the self-destruct had been cancelled and the current threat aboard the Vigilant has been down-graded to an orange alert. So all teams were to hold position and await further orders, while Command teams evaluate the actually threat possibilities.
Whitney called Attila back in and informed him of what was going on. So he contacted his team on their team communications channels and informed them that EVAC was now on standby. So that meant his team whas on standby. THen he continued on to say, "Team as we are on standby and awaiting further orders, the chancellor has aranged for some rooms for us provided we are willing to at least clean up the roooms we are using. So once we have finished with our preperations down here, in case of EVAC, then we can get some rest in our 'guest' quarters until further notice. So once all of you are done with your taks, report back here. The Chancellor has some cooks working on some sort of dinner for us, and then those who need rest will be shown to their 'guest' quarters."
Once he was done addressing his team over their channels, Attila said to Whitney, "If anybody needs me, I will be down in the Morgue seeing if Count Casannuendo needs anything."
Once Attila had finished his current preparations, he went down to the Morgue to see how the Count and DInara were both holding up. When he entered the morgue, he said, " Giacomo, My friend. It is Giacomo isn't it? ......Anyway, we do have a guest room for you upstairs if you need the rest, and I can sit down here in your place while you do so. However I can tell you would rather not leave Erika's side until Atticus can come down to the surface. So I did a little asking around and, according to some of the Chancellor's men, there is a small breakroom down here with a sofa in it that could be slept on, or if you prefer there is a small rollout medical bed in the supply closet down the hall that I could wheel in for you .That said, if you would rather have somebody keep you company, I am happy to sit down here with you, and we can have some food brought down for you."
Attila stopped for a second as he listened to his EGO talking to him. Then he said, "My EGO Ganbaatar believes that Amber is not only in mourning over losing her mother, but she is also afraid of what is going to happen to her now that she is no longer needed. So Gan wants to keep Amber company for awhile, and agrees that you could use some company as well. So it's settled. As I am not currently needed elsewhere, I will sit with you and keep you company. Meanwhile Gan is going to keep Amber company as he feels she could use some company as well until Atticus and DInara can come down to see her and Erika." |
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Post by Lena Marr on Oct 15, 2017 17:28:00 GMT
Atilla Constantine said over his team's comms, "Team as we are on standby and awaiting further orders, the chancellor has arranged for some rooms for us provided we are willing to at least clean up the rooms we are using. So once we have finished with our preparations down here, in case of EVAC, then we can get some rest in our 'guest' quarters until further notice. So once all of you are done with your tasks, report back here. The Chancellor has some cooks working on some sort of dinner for us, and then those who need rest will be shown to their 'guest' quarters." Lena Marr was leaning under the dashboard of the seventeenth vehicle she had hot-wired exclaiming, "WHAAAAAT!?!?!" before jerking up hitting her head on the steering wheel. As a growing welt began to appear on her chalk white forehead Lena mumbled to herself, "Make up you drekking mind 'fearless leader', you arrogant shatko-head!" Once Attila was done addressing his team over their channels, Attila said to Whitney, "If anybody needs me, I will be down in the Morgue seeing if Count Casannuendo needs anything." Right after Attila left the room, Lena contacted the Synth Sister Whitney in the team's makeshift OPS center asking, "Where is Mister Constantine anyways?" "He's gone down to the Morgue to check on the Count," Answered Whitney truthfully." "Thanks for the info!" Answered Lena in a cheerful voice then switched off her comms turning to face where Marcel leaned against a wall taking a cigarette break and saying coldly with unblinking sky blue eyes staring impassively, "Hope our fearless leader is checking out if there is a cold chamber down there big enough for both him and his ego! We both know that the logical choice to be team-leader after Erika bit the big one would have been you Pooh Bear! You are sooooo much more smarter and skilled and savvy and just downright super than him and worth every scrip note Atticus would have had to pay for you to take the job!" The an evil grin crossed the young Castithan woman's pretty face has she opined in a low voice to Marcel, "You know, Attila-boy wouldn't be the first SOB squad leader to find himself deceased due to friendly fire if you know what I mean!" Hope, Lena's young dominant EGO psyche interjected in a worried voice, "I hope you don't mean that Lena!" although the fact that Lena didn't answer her made her worry more.  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Oct 15, 2017 17:57:42 GMT
Volodja Uljanov listened sad news and when Sandy left to check the landing space ship after giving him a heartfelt kiss which helped him to recover from the shock, caused by them, he retreated into shadows for a moment to have a moment of silent grief on his own. Erika was usually an opposite of him - Volodja was quite known of being undisciplined, unconventional and other "un" words while Erika was very disciplined and preferred order in most of the time - but she was a friend and Volodja respected her and now he found himself thinking that he missed an opportunity of getting to know her better...
After spending quite r some time in shadows, Volodja returned to the light and followed Sandy's footsteps. He watched quietly how Belle unpacked herself from the metal cocoon of the space ship and stretched herself. Then he walked by Sandy's side and putting his arm around her, said seriously:
"I do wish that your return could occur in more peaceful moment. As Chinese would say and they actually said: "Nìng wéi tàipíng quǎn, mò zuò luàn lí rén" ("寧為太平犬，莫做亂離人") which translates: "Better to be a dog in a peaceful time, than to be a human in a chaotic period." We are having such a period right now but despite of having...interesting times, we are glad that you are back! I believe that Atticus would be glad to see you just like we are when he returns...Just like you he went to the trip but when you went to see the outer space, he headed into the inner space of Lady Christianna."
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Marcel Lestrange listened Lena's opinion and replied to her after some consideration: "Friendly fire can wait, but accidents may happen. I believe that one might happen right now. The young Commander is about to visit the ice chamber, right? The best cure for hot headedness happens to be cold and young people are sometimes so careless. I bet that he pushed the door too hard and it got locked behind him and now he has to spend some time in cold with that annoying Count. Half an hour or even a hour. It will not kill him, I assume, but it does make miracles with hot temper and teaches valuable things like being polite and not overly confident and not upset Honey Pot! But if they do freeze then...Not our fault!"
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Inside the preservation vault otherwise silent Count Giacomo Casannuendo expressed his warm gratitude to Attlila Constantine for joining him. They weren't aware that Count's warm words might be soon their only source of warmth if Marcel is allowed to make his "prank"...
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Post by Lady Christianna on Oct 16, 2017 16:26:43 GMT
"About the time we can make the ends meet, somebody moves the ends." - Herbert Hoover
*****
Lady Christianna thought about her virtual hug with Dinara and how much having an EGO psyche's friendship had meant to Lady over the years as she sat on the Vigilant's bridge next to her husband when she suddenly she looked up to him with imploring pink eyes asking, "May I have Amber as my EGO - if she wants. Think Erika would approve."
*****
As soon as Sandy Bell reported the situation to the Vigilant's bridge, she and her security squad escorted Belle Starr to the Mess Hall.
In the Mess Hall of the Vigilant, Belle had the crew mourning Erika's death there laughing as she regaled them with stories of their road trips such as, "So I'm falling down drunk in Laredo with her and Lady and I say - with more than a little slurring - 'Give me the keys! I'll drive the next leg of the trip! Y'all can just sleep in the back!' and she says, lifting a purple eyebrow and giving me one of those looks of disapproval that only Erika can give with those big jade eyes of her - she says, 'Belle you are drunk and in no condition to drive' whereupon I say 'Hogwash' and fall flat on my face unconscious only to awake hours later in the back seat with her driving looking at me through the rear view mirror with that slight smile of hers that said 'Told you so' without really doing it!"
The audience of officers and crewmen laughed and then started reminiscing about Erika but instead of grieving over her death they began celebrating Erika's life which was what Sandy thought was Belle's purpose all along while Sandy watched Belle thinking to herself, "If this isn't Belle Starr, it's a damn good replica for what she is doing for the crew's morale is just like what Belle would do. Cheerleader through and through!"
*****
Lena Marr grinned a wicked grin as she said to her partner in crime Marcel Lestrange, "So Pooh Bear, how are we going to off - I mean prank - the boy wonder?"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 17, 2017 9:43:15 GMT
On the Vigilant's Bridge, Lady Christianna thought about her virtual hug with Dinara and how much having an EGO psyche's friendship had meant to Lady over the years as she sat on the Vigilant's bridge next to her husband when she suddenly she looked up to me with imploring pink eyes asking, "May I have Amber as my EGO - if she wants. Think Erika would approve."
I looked into my wife's imploring pink eyes and smiled slightly as I responded with, "I suppose that if Amber is fine with it, then I am as well, provided that it doesn't go against any last wish or will that Erika may have had. However I do agree that she would probably indeed approve of it as well. I just...hope she didn't suffer long in the end."
Then I turned my head and looked towards the main view-screen and started going over my current EVAC plans, in hopes that nobody saw the electric blue tear sparking as it dripped down my blue-mask -covered cheek as I mentioned Erika.
Just then Dinara, my EGO psyche, used the Bridge's hard-light-holo-emitters to appear in front of us and squeed in excitement at what Lady had said. Then the teen EGO ran up and hugged Lady tight, saying, "Oooh Do you mean it?! REALLY ?! Would you really?!"
When Lady nodded slightly, Dinara squeed again, exclaiming happily, "I know my Amber-baby and I would both love that, and .... I think Erika would too, since it will make Amber happy! Then when you and Atty are... uuummm ... (the EGO-girl turned red as she embarrassed herself but continued, hoping to get her foot out of her mouth with) ...well...you know ... uuuuuummmmm .... couple stuff, Amber and I will be able to also uuummm ... you know... spend time together and still be there if needed! I promise we will never shirk our responsibilities as your egos if you really do that! Honest!"
Then Dinara finally went quiet as she stood there and beamed at Lady. While that was happening, I got lost in my thoughts for a minute or two. I came out of my thoughts shortly after Dinara and Lady were done talking and Dinara had returned to my head. Then I silently got up and walked over to Atika's post, wincing only slightly from pain, for Dinara and my natural Grid healing were doing a great job at healing the damage I had endured in Lady's EGO during my battle with Spider-Skarr. Once I was at Atika's station, I had her activate the Ship intercom, for it's intended purpose, so that I could broadcast a ship-wide message over them. Then I picked up the mic and made my announcement.
"Attention Vigilant! This is Commander Atticus Batman! I am sure word has already gotten around about what may have transpired in the Votanis Capital City. I would love to say that it is merely a rumor .... however I am afraid that it is true that there has indeed been a death in our family. So with a heavy heart I regret to inform you that Commander Erika Widowmaker has died an honorable death in the line of duty. So please give her a moment of silence."
After a minute of silence, I continued with, "That said ,she died as she lived; an honorable warrior. So that is how she would want to be honored, so that is what I request those of you off-duty do now. Honor her the Irathient way. First a toast in her honor, followed by epic tales honoring our fallen Comrade and family."
I handed the mic back to Atika. Then, mentally fighting to maintain my composure, so that I don't look weak (or at least not as weak and useless as I felt) to my crew, I put my helmet back on to hide my face again ...and just in time, for the tears started silently dripping down my face just as I had finished securing my helm in place. Next I turned and silently walked back to my Command chair and sat silently by my wife, trying to maintain my appearance as a strong, confident and undaunted Warrior and Commander, and the man she fell in love with. However as I did so, I also subtly took my wife's dainty hand into my huge and heavily armored one, and gently squeezed it for my own reassurance.
Moments later the Engineers that had came in to work on the comm station, shortly after Sandy had forced the Bridge's main doors open, said, "Commander the comm station and main comms are all working again."
Hearing that I contacted Sandy on our usual comm-channels, now that they were working again, and said very gruffly, "Field-Commander Bell, this is Commander Batman. I need your daking threat-analysis report on this 'Starrgazer' and it's captain, NOW! Do you recommend that I give the daking EVAC order or cancel it?!"
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Oct 17, 2017 10:11:29 GMT
I believe that those pipes contain some freezing gas to keep the bodies fresh. Hope that they have some liquid nitrogen stored there. And then someone accidentally lets that gas into the freezing system with all those leaky pipes and then there will be a gas leak and...Horrible how careless people tend to be during revolutions. They abandon their primary duties and then everything becomes so accident prone," said Marcel Lestrange, grabbing Lena by hand as they begun to walk towards the morgue.
"You see," he whispered when they reached into their destination and examined the cooling system. "Those pipes look like that they can break by themselves." And he reached out his tan muscular hand and pulled one of the pipes. Then he begun quietly pendulate it, trying to break open joints and seams, so gas could flood into the morgue.
"Quietly, Pooh Bear," warned Lena because Attile Constantine and Count Casannuendo were quite close to them and might hear sounds of Marcel's sabotage act. Marcel stopped for a moment and peeked mourners. They were sitting there and Count was listening Attila's words of consolation so they did not paid much attention to the mundane noises. That enabled Marcel to break couple of pipe joints more or less open. The pressure of the gas had to take care of the rest of the process and cover any traces of sabotage, creating an impression that somebody accidentally let such amount of gas into defective pipes that they couldn't handle it any more and broke open. After becoming satisfied with the results, Marcel left the pipe alone and pushed the door shut, separating Attila and Count from the rest of the world.
"Just as I thought," he said. "Door went suddenly shut and closed those poor souls inside. Nobody can hear their voices now. And some dumb worker is going to replace the gas reservoir with the new one and turns the gas valve too much and lets too much of freezing gas into the system and somebody gets very very cold. Series of unfortunate coincident events"
He replaced the gas tank, turned the valve as planned and checked the pressure. After everything was done Marcel was about to lit another smoke but when he tried to catch the flame with the end of his cigarette, he didn't noticed that Lena's alabaster white hand adjusted pressure some more, letting even more gas into the morgue and thus she begun the cryonic process which could result with turning Attila and Count into couple of giant popsicles because the temperature there could reach into the depth which is needed for cryopreservation.
"Let's go, Pooh Bear," she whispered, taking his barely lit cigarette away and hiding it into her pocket to avoid leaving any clues. Then she grabbed Marcel by his hand and dragged him away from the control room. "We need an alibi."
They begun to move like couple of shadows to avoid getting caught in the scene of crime. Unnoticed by anyone, The Diabolic Due made it to the crowded areas and only after reaching into the daylight, they begun to make as much noise as they could, so people could remember seeing them far from the morgue...
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 18, 2017 12:39:52 GMT
After I contacted Sandy and she gave me her report, I canceled the EVAC orders. Once that was done, I ordered navigation to take the Vigilant back into a low orbit above the Votanis Capital City. As the Vigilant started moving back towards Earth to take up a stable orbit, I said, "Atika open a channel with the Chancellor's Palace for me."
When she did, I contacted the Chancellor's Palace, saying, "Come in Votanis Collective. This is Commander Atticus Batman aboard the P.P.S. Vigilant."
When Whitney answered she responded with, "This is Whitney. How can I be of service Commander?"
I responded with, "Inform Attila that we have things under control. So EVAC has been canceled. Also inform Attila and Chancellor Cael that once we are in orbit, I will take a small team to the surface to meet with the Chancellor and Lord Lodja in person, as we have things to discuss."
Whitney responded with, "I will do so right away Commander."
Once I ended the communication, I said, "Tar as I need to go to the surface personally, you will be in charge up here. Lady and I are going to go make preparations now, so you have the Bridge. I will be sending two shuttles down. One with my team onboard and the other to pick up Attila's ground team."
Then I contacted Poe Dameron to inform him that I am sending two shuttles to the surface together. One piloted by him to get the ground team, and the other piloted by Lady with my team onboard.
Then I stood and offered Lady my hand. Once she was standing I headed out of the Bridge with her by my side. As we walked out of the bridge and towards our quarters, I contacted Sandy and said, "Sandy, Lady and I are going to the surface. I would like you and Volodja to accompany me. So I think you should invite our 'guest' to accompany us as well. Meet us on the Ghost-bat once you are ready."
After Sandy responded, I ended the communication and continued towards my quarters. Once in there, I sat at my desk and started to clean my sidearm, to try to distract and calm myself. Lady came over and gently leaned over my back and started to remove my helmet. However I gingerly placed my hand on hers to stop her, because I could feel the tears still coming down my cheeks and I was afraid of what she would think if she saw her strong and unstoppable husband weeping like a child ... a lost and unwanted orphan. Wimpy and unwanted little Ithmah, punching bag of the Omec Colony. Of course I also knew that if she decided to continue removing my helmet, that I would let her. So I braced myself for whatever her response may be once she saw my tear-streaked-mask-covered face.
Meanwhile back in the Chancellor's palace, Yvette and Brooke were in the communication room with their sister Whitney, when Atticus had contacted her. So once Whitney had ended the communication, Yvette said, "So where is our adorable team leader anyway?" Whitney responded with, "He headed to the Morgue before dinner to see how the Count was holding up and I haven't seen or talked to him since." Yvette replied with, "Alright. Well Brooke and I will go check on them and fill in our adorable leader, while you relay the Commander's message to Chancellor Cael and Lord Lodja." After Yvette and Brooke left the communication room, Whitney got up from her chair and went to the throne room to inform the Chancellor and Lord of Atticus Batman's impending visit. As she walked back to the communications room, she ran into Lena and Marcel. So she told them what Atticus had said. Then she returned to her post in the Palace's comm room.
Minutes later, Yvette and Brooke had arrived at the door to the Morgue. However it was quite cold to the touch and it's window seemed to be frosted over. So Yvette had to use a little force, but managed to force it open. Once she did, the two Synth sisters looked inside and saw the Count and Attila still sitting there talking. Although it was obvious that they were getting quite cold. Icicles had even started forming on parts of Attila's Volge Engineering armor. So after the two walked into the icy room and over to their icy comrades, Yvette smiled and said, "Well you two look Colder than a hair on a polar bear's ass!" When Brooke looked at her sister curiously, Yvette responded with, "What? It's a saying, isn't it?" Brooke merely shrugged her shoulders as she wasn't sure of the answer, herself. Then the girls held their hand s out to the popsicle men. As the Synth sisters helped Attila and the Count to their feet, Attila with his teeth chattering responded with, "Wha-wha-what's a po-po-po-polar b-b-bear? ... Nev-nev-never-mind th-th-that. I-it's f-freeeeezzinggggg in h-he-here. S-so le-let's g-g-go next d-door to the bre-break-r-room s-so we c-can -w-warm up. Th-then y-you can tell us wh-what y-you need." After the sisters helped them out of the freezing room and into the break-room, Yvette rummaged through some cupboards until she found some tea bags, while Brooke heated up a pot of water. Then after the girls handed a steaming hot mug of tea to each of the man-sicles, Yvette filled them in on what Commander Batman had told Whitney. |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Oct 18, 2017 18:57:33 GMT
As Atticus Batman and his wife Lady Christianna walked out of the bridge and towards their quarters, Atticus contacted Sandy and said, "Sandy, Lady and I are going to the surface. I would like you and Volodja to accompany me. So I think you should invite our 'guest' to accompany us as well. Meet us on the Ghost-bat once you are ready." "Rodger that," Answered Sandy, then turned to Belle Starr and Volodja Uljanov saying, "Commander Batman would like us to meet us at the Ghost-bat shuttle to go to the surface to talk to the lawful authorities of the Votan Collective." Suddenly a small voice from behind them asked, "May I come with you please? I feel I have some apologies to make on the behalf of the Synth Empire." Sandy turned to see the smiling cherubic face of Ruby, the Synth Envoy, not looking any worse for wear from her being controlled by Governor Skarr so Sandy returned her grin answering, "Well, that's up to Commander Batman but I can't see a reason why he would refuse, so come walk with us to the shuttle bay and you can ask him." With that said, the group walked to the shuttle bay and stood by the "Ghost-bat" waited for the Commander and his wife to arrive. That arrival was not delayed, for Lady didn't push him to remove his helmet knowing that her husband was a proud man not wanting anyone, even her, to see his grief over the loss of his sister.  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 19, 2017 13:01:35 GMT
With that said, the group walked to the shuttle bay and stood by the "Ghost-bat" waited for the Commander and his wife to arrive. That arrival was not delayed, for Lady didn't push him to remove his helmet knowing that her husband was a proud man not wanting anyone, even her, to see his grief over the loss of his sister.
Since I had touched Lady's hand to imply I didn't want my helmet off she silently respected my wishes and instead hopped her cute butt up onto the edge of my desk and sat there smiling and watching me as I resumed tinkering with my weapon,. After I had finished tinkering with my side-arm to calm myself some, I stood up and Lady hopped off the desk, and I offered her my hand. Then we left our quarters and walked to the hangar holding hands, Lady's presence by my side of course calming and relaxing me more than any sort of distraction exercises I have ever come up with.
When we entered the hangar, I walked over to the Eagle and talked to Poe for a few seconds, and then Lady and I walked over to the Ghost-bat. As Lady and I walked up to them, I looked over Belle and Ruby as Ruby repeated her request to me. I responded with, "I am to arbitrate a treaty between Chancellor Cael and Lord Lodja. Of course we are also going for a more personal reason as well, and that is so Chancellor Cael and I can discuss Erika Widowmaker's last wishes.
So as long as you respect the wishes of Lodja and his people and do not try to push the Synth Empire on them, and don't interfere with my family business, then I don't see any harm with you going. It may even benefit you to learn a little more about how they choose to live. Not to mention learning something about Irathient funeral rituals. So enter and take a seat."
Then I said to Belle, "Not sure how you ended up out here, when the last we talked you were headed into Paradise's Forbidden Zone, however it is good to see you again. I just wish it was under much better circumstances but such is life in our chosen professions."
Then I said to everyone, "The Eagle has clearance to depart first, with us right behind them. So I hope everybody is ready because Lady and I are going into the cockpit to prep the Ghost-Bat for launch. Then we are departing for the surface immediately after we get our launch clearance."
Then without waiting for any responses from ANY of them, I entered the shuttle and sat in the co-pilot's chair, with Lady not far behind me. Once she took her place in the pilot's seat and started going over everything, I once again reached over and squeezed her hand lovingly. Then I silently started going over my preparations as the co-pilot.
Before long the Eagle had left the hangar and we got clearance to follow. Lady expertly piloted us out of the Vigilant's hangar and followed the Eagle towards our landing zone near the Chancellor's palace. While the others aboard were most likely talking, I had zoned out everyone's presence (except Lady's) as I brooded in silence by Lady's side in the cockpit.
When we finally landed and departed, we discovered that Cael and Lodja had both sent a small group of honor guards to greet us. Lodja's was led by Apparition, and Cael's by General Kima. I signaled Poe to exit the Eagle as well. Then our greeting party showed us all to the palace. As we entered, Chancellor Cael and Lord Lodja greeted us,. However I merely responded with, "Everything else can wait. Where's the Morgue?!"
After Cael told me and offered to accompany me, I responded with, "Lady is all the company I need right now. However we will talk once i have seen Erika. However my people here would appreciate your hospitality for the time being."
Then I said to Sandy, "I will be a little while. So meet up with Attila's team. Then make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the Chancellor's hospitality."
Chancellor Cael of course responded politely and gave me directions to the Morgue. Then he turned his attention to Sandy and the rest of my group.
As Lord Lodja struck up a conversation with Volodja, I took Lady's hand. Then as the two of us started to leave the main hall Attila came in with The Count, Yvette and Brooke. Seeing us Attila said, "Atticus we were told you had landed. If you two are heading to the Morgue, I suggest you bundle up. The whole room is quite frosty. If Yvette and Brooke didn't come down to see us when they did, we might have been snowmen by now."
I nodded then silently as Chancellor Cael ordered one of his men to get us some warm coats. I silently declined as my heavy armor would keep me plenty warm. However I did wait until Lady gave me confirmation that she was now bundled up enough. Then I once again took her hand and the two of us quietly went down to the icy Morgue. Shortly after entering, I glanced at the numbers on the cold chambers and walked to the one that Count Casannuendo had told me Erika would be in. Shortly after opening it and seeing Erika's face, I felt dizzy. Then leaning against the wall next to the cold chambers, I blacked out.
When I opened my eyes again, I looked around and not only wasn't I in the Palace Morgue anymore I recognized that I was in the 'Purgatory Bar' Limbo, which is where I always ended up during a 'near-Death' experience. Speaking of Death, I saw him standing at the Bar. So I walked over to him , but before I could snap at him, He raised one boney hand to silence me. Then he said in his bone-rattling tone, "Relax for once. You are fine, to your wife and EGO, you will just appear to be in a shock-induced coma from facing the reality that your sister is indeed dead."
I snapped, "And just what am I, really?!"
He responded with, "You are being granted a privilege that I grant so few. However my favorite death-bringer, has more than earned it."
As my aura flared with my sudden anger, I snapped, "And just what daking privilege is that Bone-head?!"
He chuckle, then said, "To put it simply, my beastly one, you will be given the chance to say your final farewells to your sister. As you know, time passes differently here.
Your sister is still in her own transition place until she is ready to move on to her after-life. She knows and has acknowledged her own death, yet she still is not yet ready to move on from her transition area for her own reasons. So we can go see her there, but if you prefer NOT to see her then I can send you back right now. However this is your one and only chance to see her one last time and say your final farewells."
I calmed as I said solemnly, "Fine. Lead the way to her."
Death nodded. Then he walked over to a door leading 'out' of the Limbo Bar and opened it. He gestured me to walk through and followed behind me. Upon entering, I was instantly transported to where Erika was to ready herself for her after-life.
Upon seeing Erika, I looked at her and watched her as I said to Death, "Why would she even WANT to see me? It's my fault she's dead! I should have been there to save her!"
Death simply said, "You can NOT save everybody that you want. Just as you can not kill everybody that you want. There must always be balance and no matter how much you wish it, you can not control or change that balance so easily, if at all. Now go see Erika before I change my mind."
I glared at him, then I turned my attention back to my Sister and started towards her. However as I got closer to where she was, I stopped again, as I was afraid that she wouldn't want to see me and more importantly that she would confirm my suspicions that her death was indeed somehow ALLL MY FAULT and I therefore failed her when she needed me most. So I stopped and watched Erika for a few seconds trying to get the nerve up to see and hug my sister one last time. Then once I had finally gotten up my nerve, I once again approached her as I said, "Sister Dear, I am .... I am soo sorry for not being there when you needed me! I should have been there for you instead of on the daking Vigilant! ... I ... I .... I failed you ... I keep failing everyone .... You and Lady both act like I am a daking hero, and for some damn reason plenty of others even see me as one! However I sure as hell don't feel like one! How can I be, when I keep failing at it?!"
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Oct 22, 2017 7:25:55 GMT
Erika Widowmaker sat in lotus position with eyes closed and incense lit before a small altar to her Irathiant Gods. She was relaxed dressed in clean pressed fatigues and neatly polished black boots with her freshly oiled favorite Magnum pistol strapped to her side not that she would ever need it again. Still, she would have felt naked without it so there it was on her belt giving her the comfort that only a weapon can give a warrior Once Atticus Batman had finally gotten up his nerve, he once again approached Erika as he said, "Sister Dear, I am .... I am soo sorry for not being there when you needed me! I should have been there for you instead of on the daking Vigilant! ... I ... I .... I failed you ... I keep failing everyone .... You and Lady both act like I am a daking hero, and for some damn reason plenty of others even see me as one! However I sure as hell don't feel like one! How can I be, when I keep failing at it?!" Erika's jade eyes flicked open immediately as a slight smile crossed her thick lips and she leaped up to embrace him and whispered into his ear, "Brother Dear, You have nothing to apologize for. You have never failed us or our family - and I died as I lived - an Irathiant warrior and Votan patriot! Now let us not waste time with talk of failure or disappointment, for you are neither and I will have nothing of it!" Erika released the embrace but held on to both his hands as she looked him in the eyes while her smile grew wider and her large eyes glimmered with pride, "I am so proud of the man - the hero - you've grown up to be! My only regrets were that we weren't reunited sooner but I've treasured the time we have had together and... that I didn't tell you our family secret sooner... but I don't want to waste my few last moments with you on that as Amber has my holo-recording." Suddenly there was a knock on an ancient wooden door that suddenly appeared out of thin air. It slowly opened showing a bright light with a small Irathienat girl silhouetted from behind and the figure of a smiling Irathiant man with kind eyes holding a swaddled infant girl sucking her tiny thumb behind the young goddess who announced cheerfully, "Time to go!" Erika smiled happily at the Goddess and even more so at the couple behind them embracing Atticus once more and kissing him on the cheek then stating reassuringly to him, "Know that I'm happy being reunited with the husband and child I have missed for so long. Please watch over the family I leave behind for you are their Patriarch and I know I'm leaving them in good hands. Know also that I love you unconditionally and forever. That will never change!" As Death stood in the shadows watching the family drama a small even brighter light appeared next to him as the glowing form of Lady Christianna materialized next to Death saying with a pretty pout, "One second Bub. Just found each other. Take me instead." Before Erika could protest, Death put up a bony hand palm forward stopping all potential debate as he mulled over the offer out loud, "A Harbinger of Life for a mere mortal, although a brave and virtuous one. Hardly seems a fair trade on my end," Then Death turned to Atticus with a toothy grin and asked in mischievous mirth, "How about I let the Harbinger of Death decide? So Atticus, would you rather lose your sister or your wife? Your choice - but be sure and entertain us with reasons for it!"  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 22, 2017 12:46:14 GMT
Erika smiled happily at the Goddess and even more so at the couple behind them embracing Atticus once more and kissing him on the cheek then stating reassuringly to him, "Know that I'm happy being reunited with the husband and child I have missed for so long. Please watch over the family I leave behind for you are their Patriarch and I know I'm leaving them in good hands. Know also that I love you unconditionally and forever. That will never change!"
I hugged Erika back, and said, "And I love you unconditionally and forever and would give my life for you if I could."
As Death stood in the shadows watching the family drama a small even brighter light appeared next to him as the glowing form of Lady Christianna materialized next to Death saying with a pretty pout, "One second Bub. Just found each other. Take me instead."
Before Erika could protest, Death put up a bony hand palm forward stopping all potential debate as he mulled over the offer out loud, "A Harbinger of Life for a mere mortal, although a brave and virtuous one. Hardly seems a fair trade on my end," Then Death turned to Atticus with a toothy grin and asked in mischievous mirth, "How about I let the Harbinger of Death decide? So Atticus, would you rather lose your sister or your wife? Your choice - but be sure and entertain us with reasons for it!"
I glared at Death and snapped, "I would rather they both live, and you take me instead. However I also know that you would refuse. So there is no choice to make, even if I wish I could alter it. Erika has lived her life, and has already embraced her death, and her body is already in the process of shutting down. She seems happy and at peace with it, even if I am not.
Lady is still young, her friends and family still need her. She deserves to live her life for as long as she may have left. Then there is that balance you and your kind all respect and demand. So let's discuss that for a second....
Balance topic 1: A fallen hero. In this case, my wonderful sister. I hate to see her go, however she is ready to join her loved ones in the after-life. She has already made her decision before Lady and I even came to visit. So as I love and respect her more than I ever thought I would anybody, before my path was altered to meet the Protectors, it is not my place to decide her fate. It is all hers to decide. I can only give my opinions, and my opinion remains that IF there truly can be a substitute to take Erika's (or Lady's) place then it should be me and we all know it.
So the actual Solution is this: When a hero falls, one will always rise to replace them if needed. I may NOT see myself as a hero, nor will I ever. However it seems that in the last few months, as Erika has been slowly pulling herself off the proverbial battlefield, I have been pushed out of my wonderful darkness and thrust into the light. So it seems that destiny has already decided that as the older hero of our family grows ready to leave the mortal coil, that her younger and more vengeful brother would take her place as the hero and maintain your precious balance.
It seems your balance even had a way of affecting that, for while Erika was the Warrior of Light there had to be a Warrior of complete Darkness to counter her and maintain that balance and that turned out to be Skarr her ultimate nemesis. With her and he both gone, that balance remains.
I am a shadow warrior and am therefore destined to have enemies both in the darkness and the light. So it seems that would make me the most neutral hero that you Gods could seem to find .... A shadow Warrior who fights to protect the forgotten and downtrodden - but as a creature of the shadows never truly ever siding with good or evil, but with those that are on the side of his version (my version) of justice at the moment. However with my unique relationship with the dead, and the Gods working in the Expiration Enforcement Agency such as yourself, I would not be surprised if your Superiors have her visit me should they ever feel I may once again be starting to stray from the path that all of you are trying so desperately to guide me toward!
Topic 2: The Harbinger of Death and his form of justice running unchecked with no balance to ensure that as I take lives as I see fit, that life be allowed to once again find a way to be reborn on the exact schedule that you daking Gods have set!
Solution: Already put into place by one of your colleagues, on the life-side of things. That was to make Lady the Harbinger of life. So if you take her, then you will be responsible for throwing off the balance that all of you gods and demi-gods must keep in check, for there will be nobody on Earth keeping control of the life-bringing in order to counter my life-taking. So the most obvious solution to keep that from happening, is to NOT take Lady. Not to mention that you did state not long ago that you only handle the death-side of things which puts the Harbinger of Life out of those in your, Expiration Enforcement Agency's, realm of control for balance reasons. So you can NOT take her, as the Harbinger of Life's fate is in the hands of those in the Department of Life-and-rebirth, which YOU and your colleagues have NO say in!
Besides you have stated before that altering the names on your list, without the proper approval, could have extremely dire consequences which would of course destroy your precious balance. So ... even though it pains me to lose either one, there is no choice but to stick to the actual name on your list. That being Erika Widowmaker. So that said, all I can truly request is that you shut your claptrap and allow my beloved wife and I, a moment to say our final farewells to my beloved sister as she had requested, before Tianna appeared."
Death merely nodded his understanding but said nothing as he gestured toward the door where we could see a small Irathient girl silhouetted from behind and the figure of a smiling Irathient man with kind eyes holding a swaddled infant girl sucking her tiny thumb behind the young goddess.
Seeing the gesture, the goddess responded, and as she was talking, I turned my gaze from Death to the young Irathient Goddess, and glared at her as she said, "Glad to see it is settled. I know mortals find death hard, however it must be done in order to ensure balance and allow new life to be born at the proper time. You can have a very short moment,but as you can see, it really IS time for Miss Widowmaker to go to ensure that a new life can be brought into this world as promised. So please do make it quick."
Then the goddess shivered slightly in discomfort and said, "Wow my grim friend, your Harbinger really is quite intense and SPOOKY!!! Perhaps more so than you or even those Egyptians you work with, Osiris and Anubis."
Once it had been agreed that Death would stick to the name on his list, I turned to Erika and said, "Sister Dear, I wish we had found each other earlier as well. However it seems Volodja's and Belle's daking Shakespeare was right when he said,
'All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,'
(Full passage)
It appears that this is your curtain-call, as it is a new child's turn on stage. I do wish it were me in your place, however the Gods' precious daking BALANCE seems to daking prevent that! Anyway I guess our time is almost up. So I better make this quick. ... I love you and am glad to have met you and learnt that I was NOT abandoned as I grew up believing. I have enjoyed having a loving big sister and hope that I will continue to make you proud long after your death, even though I still don't see why everybody thinks that I am a daking hero!..."
I then hugged Erika as I continued with, "Even with no memory of my childhood, I still somehow remembered your face, your touch and your lovely singing voice and just how much you cared for me. So I will NEVER forget you again. However you are right, that I must let you go, as it is your time and I can indeed see that you are as ready as you say. However .... even now I refuse to say goodbye. So Good Journey. ----- Oh and one more thing, Amber's well-being, as you already mentioned her. Lady has requested that she be allowed to be Amber's new host. So while you are still here, we would like to formally ask you how you would feel about Amber becoming Lady's new EGO (as Skarr seems to have killed MOM), so Lady and Amber can watch over each other ........ and keep each other company on the occasions that Dinara and I can't be there with them."
Then I deepened the hug and rested my head on Erika's chest with her holding me for as long as we still had, while she responded to me. Then once our time ran out I would give her a loving kiss on her forehead just before she broke the embrace. Then I would turn and hold my wife in a very loving embrace.
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