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Post by Sandy Bell on Feb 27, 2017 1:55:23 GMT
Sandy Bell shook her blonde tresses vigorously asserting to Taffer and Cooper, "No, I'm sorry but I don't recognize him... but during the Pale Wars there were a lot of EMC soldiers stationed hereabouts to protect San Francisco, and really only a small amount became mutants after the terra-forming of the city." "Well, back to square one," Grumbled Law Keeper Cooper. Sandy's blue eyes widened as she remarked pensively, "Not necessarily," Then pointed one tan forefinger to the unconscious EMC soldier's arm patch before saying, "I recognized that patch as the 53rd Artillery Regiment under EMC Colonel Jackson "Wild Jack" Jameson. See my patch is for the 111th Infantry Regiment, the Crazy Aces, who were stationed at nearby Mount Tam but operating in attack roles all around San Francisco with the 53rd often in support. The were experts in their aim, for I don't remember us ever losing anybody to friendly fire when they had our back! Anyhow, I met Wild Jack himself for he was at the ceremony when I was awarded the EMC Medal of Valor for leading the attack on the Votan bunkers on Mount Tam. Don't think we would have succeeded there if the 53rd hadn't softened the Irathiant veteran regiment there before we attacked." Sandy Bell watched the sleeping soldier as she thought out a strategy for questioning him, then said with authority, "Lay him down on the other side of that hill out of sight of the vehicles here but with a nice view of the setting sun. Do you have something that will awake him up but not immediately and doesn't have a bad interaction with alcohol? Good! let me get something from the car and I'll be right with you." As Taffer, Cooper and her lover, Volodja Uljanov struggled to carry the unconscious soldier to where she told the, Sandy retrieved a bottle she had brought with her from the car. She carefully carried the aged bottle of Black Daniels Whiskey that dated before the Pale Wars to where they had laid the man down, then shooed them away with a gesture as she sat carefully down next to the senseless man. Cooper and Taffer left her and returned to where the vehicles were hidden out-of-sight, but Volodja delayed, as he leaned over her asking, "Are you sure you don't want me stay with you?" Sandy grinned and kissed Volodja on his lips while touching his cheek lightly with one calloused hand before answering, "Don't worry, I can handle myself - besides he's an old comrade-in-arms. We have a shared history," Then as Volodja stood up and handed her some smelling salts, she added patting her holstered Magnum pistol, "I have my little friend for protection - and I'll have my EGO transmitting the conversation to you and Taffer the whole time." Volodja returned her grin, then headed towards the others as she watched his back until he disappeared around the hill. Sandy sighed when Volodja disappeared from sight, then turned to the soldier slowly waking him up from his stupor. He awoke with a start, dark eyes wide with fear as he started to sit up quickly but she gently placed both palms of her strong hands on both his shoulders keeping him laying down. "Relax Private," Ordered Sandy, removing her hands from him and picking up the bottle of whiskey by her side, remarking calmly with a grin, "I'm Captain Sandra Belle, but I'm off-duty so you can call me Sandy. You've had a rough time of it. Sit up slowly and then you can share some whisky with me and tell me what you remember. Maybe we can help each other, what do you say?" As the EMC soldier sat up slowly, Sandy opened the bottled and took a swig of it's contents to show him it wasn't poisoned, then handed it to him as she wiped off her thin lips with the back of her hand remarking, "Tennessee whiskey always has a nice bite, don't you think? So what's your name soldier?" The man quickly took several gulps of the brown liquor, then after staring at Sandy with dark brown eyes nodding his head once in assent as if he had suddenly made up his mind to trust her saying as he shook her hand, "Private Frank Dixon, artilleryman, pleased to meet you." His eyes narrowed as he looked intently at her before exclaiming with a grin, "I KNOW you! You're that crazy officer that led the 111th up Mount Tam assaulting that Irathiant hard point! Our Regiment's artillery had been pounding them for days without doing much damage, and I was looking through binoculars assessing damage for my Lieutenant when sure as shooting there you were waving the EMC flag and charging uphill with first your squad following you then the whole damn 111th up that fucking mountain, excuse my French Ma'am. Your helmet had fallen off and your blonde hair was flowing in the wind and you were screaming like a banshee - you were quite the sight! Must have scared the hell out of the enemy too for they began retreating! I thought you were goner for sure when I saw you get shot, but you kept going until you got to the top and then fell. I was glad to hear you survived - sure put crazy into the name of the Crazy Aces that day, I tell you!" Sandy laughed pleasantly as she accepted the bottle back from him and took a long swig before saying with an easy grin, "Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time! But enough about me, what about you?How come you were found wandering aimlessly in this terra-formed nightmare that was San Francisco?" Frank took the bottle back as he watched the sun slowly set over the strange barren gray landscape before him, then took another long swig of the whiskey before exclaiming, "Terra-forming?!?! That makes... sense. We had been warned that the alien enemy had dropped terra-forming bombs elsewhere in the world, so Colonel Jameson had pulled the regiment to the suburbs of San Francisco so if one was dropped there, we would be a safe distance away. I guess he miscalculated, for when it was dropped, I remember everything going bright and then slowly wandering around in an ash cloud nightmare around the ruined neighborhood as my mind slowly became less and less focused until - all of a sudden, just before some civilians picked me up in a Titan, I found myself in a different cloud - a glowing cloud - and my mind was completely clear. I remember standing up after the cloud stopped glowing and moved on. Then I was in a living nightmare with man-like monsters dressed in EMC uniforms shooting at me and my flesh had grown around my dog tags God knows how so I just ran and ran and..." Frank hung his head covering his eyes with both hands and Sandy put a consoling arm around the man saying gently, "You're safe now, although a lot has changed since San Francisco was terra-formed, but those civilians who found you are my friends, are going to get you some medical help, and get your reoriented to our brave new world. I did it and so can you!" As the sun set, Sandy helped the EMC soldier up and led him to where the others were standing by their vehicles where Taffer was briefing Law Keeper Cooper on her conversation with Frank, whereupon Sandy introduced the private to Volodja saying, "This is my boyfriend Volodja Uljanov, who is not only a great guy but a psychologist, and he's going to help you just like he helped me." "Well not EXACTLY like he helped me," Thought Sandy to herself with a grin, and for the first time in a long time not thinking about the loss of their unborn baby, if only for the moment. *****  EMC Colonel Jackson "Wild Jack" Jameson subconsciously rubbed at the dog tags grafted to his chest with one hand as an EMC officer ran up to him and saluted, whereupon he asked, "How many men do we have now Lieutenant Fremont?" "We have a full score now, and that crazy glowing cloud thing keeps releasing more of our guys from inside those creatures - when it doesn't stop to make flowers. Craziest thing I've ever seen! Anyhow sir, Sargent Reeves found an underground warehouse with a full dozen of our mobile artillery pieces with plenty of ammunition and is pretty sure he's convinced a few of the wandering Bio-men soldiers here to join us. Even better news, Corporal Brown climbed up that high spire there and scoped out the area with his binoculars. He said he for sure spotted a Dark Matter fortress not far from here." "Wild Jack" Jameson grinned confidently, then remarked with a grim smile, "Good! We have a target. We have the munitions. And soon by the grace of God we'll have the manpower. First we'll take their fortress and set up a base of operations, then we'll drive those alien devils right out of the Bay Area! EMC forever!" "EMC forever!" Echoed Lieutenant Fremont.  |
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Feb 27, 2017 11:28:32 GMT
In the infirmary of Fortress Kshaa, Erika Widowmaker watched and listened to Dr. Orion check Medic Joy Jameson's head wound and re-bandage it as he praised Joy, "You did a good job of cleaning and treating your wound on the scene young lady. Have you ever thought about med-school and becoming a Doctor?" Joy blushed, then answered, "I thought about it Doctor, but never seriously. I come from a long line of military folk, and I'm afraid if I went any other route my family would disown me. Besides, med-school costs a lot of scrip, and I only have what I've saved up so far from this job. When E-Rep downsized, they left a lot of us wherever we were at the time, and my family was too poor to send me the Overland Stage ticket to get back to Dover." Dr. Orion shined a light in Joy's eyes, first one then the other replying, "Well, if you ever change your mind, I'll be glad to recommend you to my old alma mata back on the east coast. You look good to go, but if you don't mind would you please help with these... zombie samples you say... that Commander Widowmaker had kindly brought me... interesting, second such I've had today. First a zombug, now a zombie. Fascinating!" As Joy hopped off the examination table, Dr. Orion walked over to another one nearby that Erika stood over that held the desiccated body of a Raider that looked as if he had been dead for days but which she assured the diminutive doctor had been alive mere hours ago attacking her and her team. As Dr. Orion climbed his foot stool asking Joy for certain instruments as he prodded and probed the corpse, Erika watched intently with narrowed jade eyes waiting until he stepped down before asking any questions. When Dr. Orion did, Erika stood up to her full seven foot height, inquiring with one raised purple eyebrow as she crossed her red clay colored arms across her ample bosom, "Zombug? What is that and what does it have to do with this dead body?" The Liberata doctor continued working as he spoke looking at a tissue sample in the lab's electron microscope, "Well Volodja and Sandy brought into my lab a reanimated dead skitterling found in Ralph's rooftop garden earlier today, and other than species differential, my autopsy results for him and this fellow appear to be identical. The tissue is dead much longer than witnesses said the creature it belongs to died, has five times the normal bio-electricity normally found in a living body, and that energy signature is different than normal, with traces of Grid energy in the mix. Somehow, both corpses have been reanimated, and I haven't a clue how. I suspect the more skeletal samples you brought me from a second human corpse will prove to be the same." "Hmm," Said the tall muscular Irathiant woman, her long forefinger tracing the scar that ran across her left cheek as she thought, "It looks like the Bay Area has a new threat. Please keep me informed as you find out more doctor." "Of course dear lady," Answered Dr. Orion with a smile as he twirled one end of his long handlebar mustache, then asking, "Is there anything else I can do for you?" Erika frowned as she looked down sternly at the short doctor, "Yes you can tell me what Wolfram and Broderick have planned for my brother in the holosuite? The base is a small community and the Fortress grapevine says that they are planning some type of holo-program for his physical and mental therapy? Knowing how those two operate together, I am more than a little worried that their cure might be worse than the malady." "I'm sure Broderick wouldn't do anything to harm Commander Batman!" Interjected Joy. Erika raised a purple eyebrow for a second time as she turned to Joy and asked, "Do YOU know Broderick Smythe?" "Only by reputation... and everybody says he's a computer genius." Began Joy defensively, a red blush beginning to show in her chubby cheeks as she continued, "And I've seen him in the mess.. listened to him from the next table.. and he seems very nice and self assured and... handsome..." Joy's doe-like eyes looked to her feet as she let her verbal assessment of Broderick Smythe trail off as Erika slowly shook her head, replying, "You do NOT know Broderick Smythe," Then Erika smiled slightly, inviting Joy, "But perhaps you will get to formally meet him tonight. I'm to meet my brother and the twins for dinner in the mess, and perhaps Wolfram and Broderick will be there with him. Doctor, why don't you come with us too and tell me what you know about this holo-program as we walk to the Mess Hall for I know you and Wolfram are close friends. I don't think your patients will be going anywhere, and I'm sure Atticus will be interested in your findings as to the zombies so far." When Dr. Orion and Joy nodded their assent, all three washed their hands and headed out of the infirmary to have dinner with Atticus and any other guests he might have gathered there.  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Feb 27, 2017 11:35:01 GMT
I was still sitting on the floor of my home bunker playing with the twins, when I looked at the time. It was getting near suppertime. So I got the twins ready and placed them in their stroller. Then I put on my helmet. Next I wheeled them across the compound and into Fortress K'shaa. Once there, we made our way to the Mess Hall so we could have our supper and meet whoever joins us at our table as usual. Normally Count Casannuendo and my sister, Erika, would join us. As does Wolfram Von Eschen most nights. Sometimes somebody else would also join us or at least stop by to talk to us and to play with or hold my children, but mostly gave me some distance as it had been extremely easy to set me off since Lady's disappearance. Poor Wolfram learned that the hard way when I literally gave him a very shocking experience just for suggesting that what happened in Australia wasn't my fault and I couldn't have done anything different to change what had happened. Although Wolfram kept that incident quiet as he believes in patient/doctor confidentiality, rumors about the isolated incidents that involved other base residents getting on my wrong side the last several weeks had quickly spread across the compound. So it was obvious that I was taking the loss of my wife and my crippling pain extremely badly and it was causing me to get angry at even the smallest of things.
However given the odd incident with some sort of zombies nearby earlier, I was not sure if Erika would be joining us. Nor was I sure if Wolfram or the Count would show up, because Wolfram was working with Broderick Smythe to create a holo-program for me to use tonight in hopes that it will help me mentally pull myself back together, at least enough to walk without much pain anymore, if nothing else; and this morning from my conversation with Wolfram, it seemed like he was planning on having his new friend Count Casannuendo helping him with that as well.
So when we arrived at the Mess Hall, I silently wheeled the twins to our normal table. Shortly after I sat down and took off my helmet, a waiter brought me a bottle of my rum and said he would be back shortly with the bottles for the twins, and to see if I was ready to place my order. After he went back to the kitchen to prep and get the bottles, Misty and her father walked in and came to our table. While Misty and her father held and fussed over my babies, I quietly sipped my rum, as I waited to see if my sister would join us or send me a message to say she couldn't make it and would just see me later tonight, before Wolfram started my all-night therapy session that he had probably been working on all day. I had started enjoying Erika's and my breakfasts and suppers together, even if I didn't always show it very well. So I was silently hoping she would join us, even though I would understand if she didn't as she is filling in for me as Commander while I try to get over my grief and physical pains; as I had done so with Lady and the twins on occasion in the past which I always hated doing and always hoped Lady understood, as it was sometimes required to ensure the safety and continued smooth running of Fortress K'shaa and therefore our home here.
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Feb 27, 2017 19:35:03 GMT
Wolfram von Eschen had an inner feeling that something was not right. he felt it in his guts. To be precise, that feeling was in his empty stomach and already gave signs about it's presence by making Wolfram's stomach audibly growl. That feeling was hunger. He looked the time and realized that they had worked several hours and got lost into the work. And if he had an empty stomach then Broderick was probably hungry as well. Supposedly it was Aristotle who postulated that "Nature abhors a vacuum" Although that postulate was criticized by ancient atomists etc, Wolfram tended to agree with Aristotle in some cases. This was one of them.
"Broderick, my boy," announced Wolfram. "We are going to have a long working night, so refuelling ourselves would be a good idea. They say that man's love comes from his stomach. They are probably correct too, because:
When you go to get a word of advice
From the fat little pastor
He will tell you to love evermore.
But when hunger comes a rap,
Rat-a-tat, rat-a-tat at the window..."
"Who is at the window?" asked Broderick Smythe, cutting Wolfram's singing. Broderick probably never heard about the musical, called "Cabaret" Yet his question was almost correct and what was more important - his timing was correct as well, so Wolfram replied: "HUNGER!" And continued:
"Ooh, hunger!
See how love flies out the door..."
"What's the meaning of this...nonsense?" asked Brody carefully, cutting Wolfram's song once more.
"My boy. That means...that we are going to have a dinner right now. And continue with work later when we have something in our stomachs. Come on!" Wolfram von Eschen grabbed reluctant Brody by his sleeve and dragged along to the Mess Hall.
"Glad to see some nice people," greeted Wolfram enthusiastically when he saw others already having a meal. "May we join you at the table? Dining in good company and having a pleasant conversation are best two appetizers I happen to know."
After agreeable nods and sounds and such, Wolfram von Eschen grinned and said sincirely: "What a joy indeed!" And he nudged Brody in a way that nobody could see it (but it was a gentle nudge), whispering to him: "Say something polite, you goof. These are our friends after all. Verdammt!"
"Ehem...Ee...ee" stuttered-muttered Broderick Smythe and blurted suddenly: "The joy is mine!"
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Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Feb 27, 2017 21:11:58 GMT
For the whole short trip from the battlefield Lu was concentrated on her own thoughts as she followed Batman's Durango. She could not get that distant scream out of her head, especially when she heard it again, or more likely an echo of it, when she touched Durango's front bumper back there in the sinkhole. She wasn't sure she's capable of doing what she planned to do or if it could work this way at all, but she decided it worth a try.
Only when the vehicles stopped at the Fortress yard she broke her mental reverie. The first thing she noted, and it was a definite warning sign to her that Vo who followed the vehicles on his ATV didn't follow Belle immediately but stood at place and followed her only with his eyes.
"Hey brother," Lu said as she gave him a smack on the shoulder, "No time to feed mosquitoes, we've got work to do!"
Vo merely shrugged without looking at Lu, which was a second warning sign for her, as he started to pull the body they collected from the battlefield off the truck's platform. As Lu helped her brother, she noted that he was working mechanically and his thoughts were elsewhere. As they entered the medical wing, Erika Widowmaker appeared in front of them, carrying a hospital cart which was big enough to hold the body and other samples they gathered and offered to carry them to Dr. Orion. Lu agreed as at that point she was happy to have some time to pull her brother to the open air again where she could have a talk with him.
"Now, what happened there? Did she like your gift? Did it work for her?"
"I blew it," Vo muttered as he shook his head.
"It didn't? Look, I understand you wanted to make it all by yourself but if it's some EGO-grade electronics is involved, we can…"
"I blew it completely," Vo repeated and Lu stopped in mid-word as it finally dawned on her what he was talking about, "I've hurt her badly when I lost my memories of her, but when I partially got them back, I managed to hurt her even more."
"I think you're overreacting brother," Lu said as she put her hand on his shoulder again, "Will it help if I talk to her? I think I could work as a middle-man to clear any misunderstandings between you."
Vo just shook his head and stood there staring in front of him until they saw Belle coming out of the door again. Lu watched Belle and Vo sharing a hug and have a short talk but contrary to her hopes, Vo didn't jump into the passenger seat of Belle's white challenger like she expected but merely closed the door for Belle and waved to her as she started her way towards the Golden Gate Bridge.
"Maybe she's right," Vo said sadly as he came back to Lu, "Maybe she really needs some time to gather her thoughts together and find out who she is and I'm just getting in her way."
"That last part was unnecessary," Lu noted pointing a finger at Vo's chest, "Don't even think of taking the blame on yourself for everything. Shtako happens. And sometimes if you try to do something good, shtako happens more frequently. Give her some time. Something tells me when she needs you, you'll know it immediately. And speaking of that something that tells… I think I could use your help. I've tried to ask Taffer and that Lawkeeper guy but they seemed to be too busy with something. So I have no other choices but to try again with you. Can you point me to the place where Grazbi plant grows?"
"There are greenhouses North of Seascape Farms in Sausalito," Vo said scratching his head, "It's not too far so let's go, I'll show you. But could you please tell me what do you need this hallucinogenic plant for?"
"Well, in fact I'm not looking for Grazbi per se, but for Ditarra plant," Lu replied, "But it only gains its properties when it grows close to Grazbi. I think I felt something unusual while we watched those zombies, and I think the Gyatu ritual could help me know what it was. Also I'll need an assistant in this ritual."
"I'll gladly assist you If you tell me what to do."
"No, I'd rather ask someone else for it. You see, the Ritual includes mixing the blood from both participants, but we are clones and our blood is just too similar. I don't know if it may have negative consequences or not but I can't risk."
The trip to the greenhouse and back was mostly uneventful as Lu's weaponry was enough to scare off raiders without spilling their blood. Soon Lu and her brother returned with their prize which consisted of leaves of the Ditarra plant and even special loot in a form of a hookah they found in the greenhouse.
As they arrived back at Fortress, Lu entered the Mess hall and looked around searching for someone she could recruit as an assistant for her ritual.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Feb 28, 2017 3:09:56 GMT
After agreeable nods and sounds and such, Doctor Wolfram von Eschen grinned and said sincirely: "What a joy indeed!" And he nudged Brody in a way that nobody could see it (but it was a gentle nudge), whispering to him: "Say something polite, you goof. These are our friends after all. Verdammt!" "Ehem...Ee...ee" stuttered-muttered Broderick Smythe and blurted suddenly: "The joy is mine!" Erika Widowmaker smiled slightly as she sat at the large booth, gesturing to Ralph the Cook to push another table to enjoin theirs to accommodate the new arrivals in the Mess Hall saying to the aged doctor and the young man with him then pointing to the equally young female medic, "Glad you could both could join us. Speaking of joy, this is Joy Jameson, Atticus' personal medic. Brodie come sit by us and tell us all about this holo-program you and Wolfram had planned for my brother. You don't have to spoil it by giving the details, just assure myself and Joy you have followed the proper safety protocols." Joy first looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an incoming car, but she began to relax and smile as she listened enraptured to Brodie talking about his two favorite topics: His work and himself. When Erika felt that Atticus was not in any real danger from the machinations of Wolfram and Brodie she let her attention wander to the others. Atticus was playing with the twins in their cribs as he and the Liberata Count were discussing the art and beauty of the sword as a melee weapon. Wolfram listened taking it all in which was his wont as Vo Kshaa and his sister were speaking in low tones with each other about some kind of Irathient ritual. Even though her next comment was for Atticus, Wolfram, Brodie, and Joy, the withering gaze of her narrowed jade green eyes were on Vo Kshaa as if to say, "I KNOW you slept with some other woman than my best friend Belle thus driving her away from her family," but remarking coolly out loud, "Now that Belle has left us, Medic Jameson needs SOME task to fill her time, so I insist she supervise when Atticus is in the untested holo-program you two have concocted - just in case something goes wrong, she can pull the plug so to speak!" As always, Caprice was the more lively of the Batman twins, using a table leg to begin to pull herself out of her stroller, so Erika picked her up and began to rock her in her arms, saying to the other pair of twins at the table, "You know, I was an elder with my tribe, so I could probably help you in any Iranthient ritual you might be interested in, and would be glad to help you explore your heritage"  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Feb 28, 2017 9:03:12 GMT
"I do wonder...if there are more wandering soldiers like him," wondered Volodja Uljanov for a moment, but concentrated his attention to this specific one, saying: "Hello, soldier. Looks like that you have came far away from home...as we all." Private Dillon looked to the young face of Volodja but saw that his eyes were quite old for such a young looking man. Something undefinable told to Private Frank Dillon that just like Captain Sandy Bell and himself, this...Volodja had smelled the powder and blood. Maybe not here in USA and certainly not in Pale Wars, because of his young looks and foreign accent, but somewhere else. Volodja stepped right to the hottest topic what might be in soldier's mind who's last memories are connected with the war he was in: "If you wonder who won the war, then I have to say that it was the common sense and reason which prevailed at the end. We made peace with Votans and now we are trying to survive the dangers of the world by working together. I know how straightforward and unembellished it might sound, but sooner or later you would found it out yourself, so it's better when it happens sooner while you are among friendlies. Gives you time to adapt the idea. But you don't have to take it as an end of the world and the era of humankind but a beginning of a new one, where you have to find out about intentions of Votans..or humans instead of shooting them first. It will help to avoid lot of trouble." Volodja remembered well that when Volodja met Sandy, there was a moment of misunderstanding which ended not only being beaten up, but also being tied up by her. Luckily for him these ties between them formed more than one way in longer perspective, so he took Sandy's hand and held it lovingly between his, while he continued: "Everything might be confusing for you at first. Especially when you are going to meet some non human members of our little organization - Paradise Protectors. Some are veterans of the Pale Wars just like you, but instead fighting us, they fight along our side now. The future is in our hands, so we are going to help you to accommodate with the new world. I tled that we all are away from homes...sort of. That is why we have built a new one. Let me tell you about everything a bit..." Volodja smiled encouragingly. Just like his beloved girlfriend Sandy Bell, he forgot their great loss for a moment, so his smile was sincere not artificial, when he gave Frank Dillon short introductory lecture about contemporary history, beginning with the end of Pale Wars....  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Feb 28, 2017 11:49:28 GMT
I merely nodded as, Erika Widowmaker smiled slightly as she sat at the large booth, gesturing to Ralph the Cook to push another table to enjoin theirs to accommodate the new arrivals in the Mess Hall saying to the aged doctor and the young man with him then pointing to the equally young female medic, "Glad you could both could join us. Speaking of joy, this is Joy Jameson, Atticus' personal medic. Brody come sit by us and tell us all about this holo-program you and Wolfram had planned for my brother. You don't have to spoil it by giving the details, just assure myself and Joy you have followed the proper safety protocols."
I glared at my sister when she called Joy my personal medic as I found the young woman quite trying at times, not to mention that I rarely accepted medical help from anyone, so I hated the idea of a personal medic as it just made me feel even more old and decrepit than I already did. However Erika pretended not to notice as she asked Brody to tell her about the holo-program that he and Wolfram had been working on. So I sat quietly and listened despite disliking where I thought that medic comment was going.
Joy first looked like a deer caught in the headlights of an incoming car, but she began to relax and smile as she listened enraptured to Brody talking about his two favorite topics: His work and himself. When Erika felt that I was not in any real danger from the machinations of Wolfram and Brody she let her attention wander to the others. I was playing with the twins in their cribs as the Liberata Count and I were now discussing the art and beauty of the sword as a melee weapon. Wolfram listened taking it all in which was his wont as Vo Kshaa and his sister were speaking in low tones with each other about some kind of Irathient ritual.
Even though her next comment was for me, Wolfram, Brody, and Joy, the withering gaze of her narrowed jade green eyes were on Vo Kshaa as if to say, "I KNOW you slept with some other woman than my best friend Belle thus driving her away from her family," but remarking coolly out loud, "Now that Belle has left us, Medic Jameson needs SOME task to fill her time, so I insist she supervise when Atticus is in the untested holo-program you two have concocted - just in case something goes wrong, she can pull the plug so to speak!"
Hearing Erika finally say where she was going with her earlier comment about Medic Jameson, confirming what I had assumed, I once again glared at my sister. However when she expressed her opinion that Medic Jameson should supervise the untested holo-program so she could stop it if something goes wrong, I realized that it was because my sister was as worried about my health and safety as Lady would have been had she still been here with me. So even though I still disliked it, I calmed some and went back to my discussion about the arts and the beauty of the sword as a melee weapon which led to my feelings that all the melee fighting styles and all the other various fighting styles I had mastered were all art forms in their own rights as well.
As always, Caprice was the more lively of the Batman twins, using a table leg to begin to pull herself out of her stroller, so Erika picked her up and began to rock her in her arms, saying to the other pair of twins at the table, "You know, I was an elder with my tribe, so I could probably help you in any Irathient ritual you might be interested in, and would be glad to help you explore your heritage."
I heard Erika's comment which caught my attention. So I looked at her, as I calmly said, "Sister Dear aren't those rituals usually quite time consuming?...Don't misunderstand me. I know helping Vo and Lu with their problem is probably just as important as my therapy and if it involves an Irathient ritual you are probably one of the most, if not the most, qualified individual on base to help them. I am not objecting...especially since I seem to take up a lot of your time these days even though I don't mean to and do NOT want you to start resenting me for it, which is one of the reasons I hope Wolfram's therapy helps tonight. Not to mention that from Lu's tone it sounds like it may be extremely important to them. I won't even object to you wanting Jameson to supervise my therapy as I do agree with your reasoning behind it. So I understand even if that means we must miss our nightly conversation. I just need to know if that means that I need to find a baby-sitter for the twins tonight. Then I will go back to my conversation with our little friend and leave you to your conversation of Irathient Rituals."
As Erika answered me, I reached over and tickled Caprice, who was still being rocked in her Aunt Erika's arms. Then noticing Cosmin lifting up his arms, as if to say he wanted attention too, I scooped him into my broad arms and I rocked him gently on my lap, as I listened to my sister's response, before returning to my conversation about weapon and battlefield art forms with Count Casannuendo.
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Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Mar 1, 2017 21:04:07 GMT
Vo could not miss Erika's withering gaze as well as didn't need one to know that he alone was the reason why Belle left the team and the Fortress. He also knew that if one's going to participate in the ritual, their mind should be clear of any disturbances, and he clearly was the disturbance for Erika now. So he excused himself from this family meeting and stood up. Lu tried to stand up too and say something but he put his hand on her shoulder and shook his head. As she remained sitting at the table and following him with her eyes, Vo exited the mess hall and aimed his steps towards his room. If anyone could see him right now, they probably would be surprised seeing him walking just like that, without using Blur or riding a pallet jack or using any other improvised means of transportation throughout the base.
Lu sighed when Vo left the room and turned her head back to Erika.
"You see, it's not much about my heritage but more of… someone else," she said choosing words carefully. "When I was traveling among Spirit Riders, our priestess, Dilaha Patigyekpu told me one could see through someone else's steps on their life path through the ritual of Gyatu if they were 'touched'. When we were watching the crowd of those zombies, I thought I've heard a distant scream in my head. Next time I heard an echo of it when I touched the front bumper of Batman's Durango, and also for a moment I felt as if I was someone else but it was so brief that I could not catch any specific detail. I don't know if it means I was 'touched' this way or not, but I think I can give it a try and maybe I could see something that helps us understand what happened there. I would be glad if you help me with this ritual, but I also understand that you have many duties to keep this facility operating and I shouldn't take you off them. In fact, I know how this ritual is performed. I've already found the recipe of Sabdi which I'm going to make from Ditarra plant I've gathered, I found and learned the prayer. Correct me if I'm wrong, but the ritual is just this: my assistant should draw the symbol of an eye on my forehead with Sabdi powder, then with a prayer we pour some of our blood into a bowl with another portion of Sabdi and then we breathe into the vapor of the mixture. I think I can do all this myself, but I need the assistant to prevent me from harming myself when I am in trance and also to hear what I say in case I don't remember what I saw after that. Vo offered his help, but I think our blood is almost identical and it can have a negative effect, and also he is… not in a goon emotional state now. I think Attila Constantine can help me if you have… well, too much on your plate now. But of course I will be glad if you help me with it."
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Mar 2, 2017 0:50:30 GMT
"I think Remy and Chloe can cover in the War Room until Taffer gets back, and my brother is well on the way to recovery, so I will be glad to help you with the ritual," Erika Widowmaker said with a slight smile, but her red clay colored face became serious a second later "It is very possible to lose oneself in that ritual, so it is better to have an experienced guide, and Atika has admitting not having much contact with her native people having been brought up by humans. However, I think it would be a good idea to invite both the Constantine twins not only to serve as emotional anchors for your journey but so they can learn first hand about their Irathient spiritual heritage." Erika then turned to Misty and her father asking, "Misty, would you mind baby-sitting Cosmin and Caprice tonight while Atticus has his holo-room treatment tonight? They both adore you, and Caprice seems to be less the escape artist when you are present." Misty brightened, and answered with a smile after getting a reassuring pat from her father, "Of course Miss Widowmaker! I just need to get Papa to his room first, and I told Belle I would look after Shakespeare in her room. Poor little thing was dying when I left him, so I'll probably need to give him a good Christian burial! Matter of fact, we're finished eating, so please excuse us." Misty and her father stood up and left the Mess as the first to leave their Dinner party,whereupon Erik turned to Lu and said, "I'm ready to start the ritual when you are, or if you wish to wait until tomorrow, I'm fine with that as well. By the way, I heard that scream as well when the vehicle I was in hit a strange glowing cloud. Even more disturbing, the scream sounded vaguely familiar, but I can't place where I heard it for the life of me." ***** As their vehicle headed to their next destination, Sandy Bell leaned her blonde head against Volodja's broad shoulder and fell fast asleep. For the first time in a long time, her sleep was dreamless, and she did not whimper or scream in her sleep as she succumbed to the exhaustion of a busy day. However, she did snore a bit. ***** Belle Starr's white Challenger pulled into the parking lot of The Crater, narrowly missing the Vendor unit there. All eyes were on her as she sashayed into the bar, both those of long time patrons and newcomers to the area, for Belle was still a beautiful blonde even without her blue diamond eyes, and many a man and even some women at the Crater had hoped that she would go home with them, but those who really knew her knew she was a one-man woman, and that man would always be Vo Kshaa. Once over the shock of seeing her after a long absence and dressed in casual garb and the strange googles that allowed her to "see," the regular patrons and the bartender yelled with a resounding cheer, "Belle!" Belle put on her most pleasant face, and answered with a toothy smile, "Hi y'all! Glad to be back home!" then turned to the bartender and asked, "You have my keys Bart?" "Sure thing," Bart answered, reaching under the bar and tossing two keys on a unicorn key chain to her adding, "And everything is exactly as you left it." Catching the keys in one hand, Belle's grin widened as she said before leaving the bar, "Thank you kindly!" Belle had paid a pretty price to keep her little blue trailer sacrosanct, but it was her castle, and therefore worth every penny to keep it so. She unlocked the lock as well as the traps around it, then entered the small trailer. The air inside was stuffy, so she turned on the air conditioner as she locked the door and set the traps again, for she knew she still had many enemies in the area. She sat on the edge of her single bed, taking off first one boot after another, thinking on her appointment with Law Keeper Cooper at the Iron Demons Ranch in the morning. She didn't have a doubt that he would accept her as a Deputy Law Keeper for she was a good friend of Ara Shondu, the defacto Governor of Paradise, although Belle would never think of using her ties to Ara to get the job. Belle's lack of concern over getting the job was because she had done jobs successfully for him before, and though they didn't always see eye to eye on all matters, such as on the topic of Atticus Batman, they had mutual respect for each other. Belle leaned back on the bed grabbing the small dingy white one-eyed Teddy Bear that was her only memento of her childhood and held it tight to her bosom. As she stared at it, she grew drowsy and soon fell asleep still clutching the stuffed toy, and not sensing the tell-tale glimmer of a teleportation. A Volge Trooper stood over her bed, smaller than most of his kind, staring curiously at her with golden eyes. Once it was assured she was sleeping soundly by the gentle rising and falling of her chest, it sat down cross legged at the foot of her bed just... watching her. When she awoke in the morning, he would be gone with no trace left that he had ever been there. ***** And in the Mutant District of the San Francisco wasteland, the little glowing cloud turned mutant after mutant back into healthy human EMC soldiers - when it wasn't beautifying the area with bush sculptures, fountains, and flower gardens.  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Mar 2, 2017 12:52:02 GMT
Misty and her father stood up and left the Mess as the first to leave their Dinner party, whereupon Erika turned to Lu and said, "I'm ready to start the ritual when you are, or if you wish to wait until tomorrow, I'm fine with that as well. By the way, I heard that scream as well when the vehicle I was in hit a strange glowing cloud. Even more disturbing, the scream sounded vaguely familiar, but I can't place where I heard it for the life of me."
Without even looking toward my sister, as I already knew she would dislike my response to what I heard her and Lu say about the scream, I said sadly, "I thought it sounded like Lady's scream but my sister insists I need to come to grips with the fact that Lady isn't coming back...and I know I caused her death and the deaths of countless others in Australia due to my bad command choices. So perhaps this mystery scream wasn't her and it was just my grief and hopeful wishing making it sound like it to me. Even though I know we will be together again someday...."
At about that moment the Constantine twins and Kaj had all three walked in talking to each other and decided to stop by the table to say hello. So as they started talking to the others, I seamlessly went right back to my conversation with Count Casannuendo as if I had never paused from it, while I continued to gently bounce Cosmin on my knee, occasionally biting my lip to keep from wincing in the pain that such a simple fatherly act was causing me.
When Erika and Lu started talking to the Constantines, they pulled up chairs and sat down to listen to the two women. When they were filled in on what Lu was needing, both agreed to help. Atika because she truly did want to learn more about her Irathient heritage, saying, "I may be Mongol by adoption and am proud to be so, however my brother and I are Irathient by birthright, just as our late parents were....so even though we don't know much about them, I would love to learn more about our Irathient heritage. Then I can truly be both and not just one or the other!"
Attila on the other hand said, with as much boyish charm as he could, as usual hoping his Mongolian accent would add to it, "If it involves you three, and helping Lu in any way that I can, then count me in. However....it won't involve another wall possibly falling on me will it? I mean Lu's gratitude was definitely more than worth it and I wouldn't object to more...but my sister and Lu would both probably kill me if I played catch with another wall so soon after getting a clean bill of health from the last time. So I think I would prefer not playing wall catch again anytime soon, since that would prevent me from getting to ever see any of your lovely faces again."
Atika chuckled and winked at Lu and Erika as she said in a sweet girly tone to her twin brother, Attila, "Ah, he loves us! He really loves us! ___ However that doesn't mean you will get to earn another hug or kiss from any of us lovely women anytime soon, Tilly!"
Attila blushed slightly and looked away as he mumbled very quietly, "What?!....Why?....I mean.....I don't....I didn't...well...just...one?....I suppose not...but I can still hope...can't I?..."
Atika burst out in a giggle fit, which Caprice quickly started giggling along with, as Atika still enjoying her brother's embarrassed discomfort said, "Aaaaah! Isn't my brother just so cute when he is as red as Ralph's tomatoes?"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Mar 3, 2017 8:50:42 GMT
"This bush," said tall man in a cape, pointing at aforementioned plant which begun to blossom when giggling cloud passed by. Few hours later it caught an attention of group of settlers who gathered around it, trying to find an explanation to sudden blossoming. "This is more than a bush!" "Looks like a perfectly normal bush to me," doubted one of his listeners, bear like farmer, in denim overalls and spat to the dust. "You simpleton!" snapped tall one. "This is NOT a bush!" "What is it then if not a bush?" asked plumpy woman. "This is a SIGN!" declared tall man, caught by sudden religious inspiration. People in Paradise were already used with razor storms, Volge attacks, Dark Matter soldiers, Votan fauna and flora. But now they saw an ordinary blossoming bush which was a common sight before Votan invasion, Pale Wars and Terraforming. Rational explanations had better things to do than find their way into heads of local farming community. When reason sleeps then beliefs will be awaken, because people want to believe in something and when they meet something unusual, hidden floods of thought, like conspiracy theories or irrational beliefs, tend to break to the surface. Unlike scientific explanations, which are usually somewhere else, they usually have some time to pay attention to people who are witnessing something extraordinary. And now one of those farmers - that tall caped man - had a stroke of incoming awakening. He stepped to the religious level of explanation of origin of the bush and declared: "I had a dream! The seven lean, ugly cows came and all were chewing gum! Then seven healthy ones appeared and said: "Moo! Moo!" It has to mean something! We are witnessing sudden blooming bush after seeing nothing than a dead or transformed nature before. The new era is about to come! All praise the Mother Snickers!" he yelled. "You mean Mother Nature!" someone corrected him. "Whatever! Praise the bush, damn it! To your knees!"  |
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Mar 3, 2017 14:54:52 GMT
Erika Widowmaker was worried about Atticus Batman. She could tell her brother was still in pain, but knew when he was in his murderous rage her was as healthy as much as he ever was, so that if Wolfram could get the two sides of his nature to merge, Atticus would be well on the way to recover although she knew he would never get over Lady's death anymore than Erika herself had gotten over her own husband's death many years ago. Erika also knew that if she accompanied her brother and the others to the treatment holo-room, she might be tempted to interfere if things in Atticu's treatment got dicey even though she knew Wolfram was the expert and she always respected expertise. Still the temptation would be there, so she chose to avoid it by occupying her attention with Lu's ceremony. She could help Lu and the Constantine twins in their Irathient education, and they in turn would be helping her. "Lu, let me know the when and where of your plans, and I'll be there," Erika stood up, putting the twins I their stroller, then saying authoritatively, "But for now I will take the twins to the Batman Bunker and wait for Misty there. You Dear Brother, need to go with Wolfram to begin your treatment. May the Gods be with you in all your endeavors." Erika's jade gaze centered on the Count for several long seconds, a demure smile crossing her face as she gave him an almost imperceptible nod, then pushing the stroller elegantly left the Mess Hall in several long legged even strides. ***** The little cloud was tired - tired of glowing and even tired of giggling! It had changed all the mutants it could find, the few remaining having run away too far to chase. Furthermore, the cloud had almost depleted it's energy reserves, and needed rest to recuperate. To do so, it needed - wanted - to go home, and home for it was the small rooftop garden on the roof of Fortress Kshaa. The tiny cloud turned invisible and traveling in a blur arrived at the fortress in record time. Sneaking as if cloaked, Fortress Kshaa's sensors could not detect her as she made her way to the rooftop, and Ralph the Cook had electronically fooled those there so that prying eyes could not see the more exotic and often illegal herbs he grew there with the rest of his crops. As the cloud settled on top of the garden's topsoil, it grew visible looking like a morning fog over the glistening plants, and if anyone had been there to hear, they would have heard a quite audible sigh of contentment.  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Mar 4, 2017 12:03:44 GMT
"Lu, let me know the when and where of your plans, and I'll be there," Erika stood up, putting the twins in their stroller, then saying authoritatively, "But for now I will take the twins to the Batman Bunker and wait for Misty there. You Dear Brother, need to go with Wolfram to begin your treatment. May the Gods be with you in all your endeavors."
As Erika took Cosmin from me and placed him in the stroller, I reached over and grabbed my cane that I had hanging from it. Then I said, "Thank you Sister Dear. Wolfram agreed that my treatment would be in my basement's holo-training room as the basement was built to handle a 2 megaton nuke and I had Chris's team re-enforce all the internal walls, viewing windows and doors down there to do the same thing. That way if I get...let's say too over-stimulated in my holo-training then I won't destroy anything other than the holo-equipment and monitoring cameras in the holo-room. Chris even told me that he went as far as to place non-conductive materials in all the walls, windows and doors to prevent me from damaging anything outside of my holo-training room. So I could take them home and wait for Misty, if you preferred. However since you volunteered, I suppose I will just continue to sit here and talk to the Count until Wolfram, Brody, and Joy are ready for me, as you did want me to give him a chance and try to get to know him better. That way they will have whatever time they need to finish the program and go over it with Joy while the Count keeps me distracted with his various odd and sometimes WRONG opinions on weapons and fighting style art-forms. So since the twins may already be upstairs asleep before I walk through the bunker to get to the basement for my therapy, hold on a second."
Erika nodded and I slowly stood up and moved over to the stroller, then I gave my children each a hug and kiss goodnight, just in case I don't have another chance to before they fall asleep as I wouldn't want to wake them just to hug or kiss them. After I did so and handed Caprice her stuffed hulker from Lena and hand Cosmin his favorite blankie (also from Lena), I returned to my seat. As I sat down, Erika's jade gaze centered on the Count for several long seconds, a demure smile crossing her face as she gave him an almost imperceptible nod, then pushing the stroller elegantly left the Mess Hall in several long legged even strides.
After watching My sister and my children leave I turned to Wolfram and said, "Alright I don't know exactly what you have in mind, but I do suggest you three monitor my therapy from outside my holo-room either through the one-way viewing window or the viewing monitors down there that are hooked to the cameras in the holo-training room as I like to record my training sessions so I can view them later to see what I could do differently if I ever face such a situation again.
There is also a button outside the holo-room next to the viewing window that Chris installed months back because Lady sometimes wanted to watch my training sessions. So when he installed that viewing window for Lady, I also had him put in a safety shutter that could handle anything I throw at it as well and it is hooked to that button. So if you think I am about to shatter or crack that window hit the button and close that shutter. The only three ways to re-open it are that button, a button on the control panel the viewing monitors are hooked to, and the manual release which can only be accessed from a panel under the window from the outside of the holo-room. I also suggest you completely secure the holo-room's door from outside as well. Honestly I always set up my training programs so the door locks from the outside as soon as the program is started and doesn't unlock until it ends. So the only way to open it early is if somebody opens it from outside the room, that way I can not get out and hurt somebody if I end up giving into my instinctual side."
After Wolfram said what he had to say, I gestured to the wait staff to bring me another bottle of my rum. Then I went back to talking to Count Casannuendo about weapons and battle art-forms as I knew such topics could keep me busy for however long Wolfram and Brody needed. I just hoped Casannuendo was up to the task of keeping me busy with such topics as tonight was the first time I have willingly talked to him for a lot longer than just a couple of minutes. As I finished off my first bottle of Irathient rum, the waiter brought me a second, as well as another sandwich at both Wolfram's and Joy's insistence as they felt it would be best for me to get as much sustenance in my system as I could handle before I report to my holo-training room for my 'therapy'.
Just across the table The Constantine twins continued to talk quietly with Lu not only about how they could help her, but also about anything else they could think of. When their food arrived they ate it as they continued their conversation with Lu, making sure that she knew that if she left before them all she would have to do is contact one of them when she was ready for their help and they would both be there. Meanwhile Kaj had finished eating and had nothing else to do. So he got some extra sandwiches and some of Remy Lebeau's favorite non-alcoholic bayou beverage. Then he went to the War room to talk to and hassle his Cajun friend, and fill in however needed for the night. |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Mar 4, 2017 16:43:20 GMT
Small group of arguing farmers was wrapped into the dust cloud when a car passed them by. But that didn't finished their dispute about the bush. "Maybe this car was also a sign," mocked on of them. "Behold the four wheeled chariot!" "This car is an ORDINARY car." Tall man was unflappable like a sequoia tree. "Cars will come an go but this bush..." "You speak about this bush as it was the most unusual thing in the world. Quit beating around it and tell us what's so special about it? It's not like that the bush is about to talk to you!"Suddenly the bush begun to waver and let out long and sad moan: "MOOOH!" Everyone turned towards it. Tall man was about to open his mouth to say something like: "I told you so" but everyone begun to giggle until they burst into laughter and pointed their fingers towards the bush. One of the farm boys was hiding in it. He was the one who moaned there like a cow who caught tonsillitis from drinking cold water. "I can't stand it any more!" laughed bear like farmer, quivering on the ground. "Look at his face." The face of the tall caped man became long and red and he muttered something like: "No prophet is accepted in his own country" while rest of the crowd just laughed and laughed and laughed, making him turn away from them and leave to look for people who are willing to listen him... The car headed towards Fortress K'Shaa. Volodja Uljanov was on driver seat, listening melodic snores of Sandy Bell who's head still rested on his shoulder. For him it was a music. Not only because it was Sandy who snored there but also because it was a sign of deep and healthy sleep - something she needed, but didn't received during few last weeks. After few more riding minutes Volodja passed the main gate, stopping the car there so guards could inspect it and put his forefinger to his lips when guards wanted to ask about their leave. Wireless telegraph of rumours had spread the word about Sandy and Volodja and their loss and the exile, so obviously they were curious. Guards noticed sleeping Sandy and understanding smiles appeared to their otherwise strict faces. In the garage Volodja left his seat, pulled Sandy's car door open, took her to his arms and carried through corridors and hallways until they reached to their chambers where Volodja lowered Sandy gently to their bed and removed her weapons and other items without disturbing her sleep. After looking her lovingly, Volodja sat behind his desk, thinking about strange events which lately occurred, while his hands draw plans for the renaissance style fountain they could put into Ralph's garden to put Zombug's tunnel into good use. Then his chin dropped to his chest and he fell asleep too...  Count Casannuendo's chin was pressed against his chest as well when he put one of his hands against his heart and made a bow to Erika Widowmaker who gave him a smile before leaving the Mess Hall. After having a long look at the door which Erika used, accompanied with a long sigh, the Count turned his eyes towards Atticus Batman and continued conversation about the noble art of sword fight. He was quite satisfied when he managed to find a conversation partner who actually UNDERSTOOD the importance of the sword fight. And he was Erika Widowmaker's brother as well, so... Wolfram von Eschen observed that conversation with a somewhat crooked grin of a scheming satyr on his face and pulled boasting Broderick Smyth up from his seat by his collar, saying: "Time is the essence, my boy! we have lot of work to do, considering the fact that we are going to stay up all night, ready to interfere and add more challenges if needed. You can advertise your...qualities to lovely Ms. Jameson on your way back to your working station. I believe that dear Count will be a real dear and will send Herr Batman to the playing ground when he is ready to fell asleep. Meanwhile we are going to continue with construction works..." |
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