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Post by Sandy Bell on Mar 9, 2017 21:58:47 GMT
Sandy Bell turned her pretty tan face towards Volodja upon hearing his voice, saying calmly as tears streamed down her face but with a meek smile on her face that disturbed him greatly, "Don't worry Volodja, the Mist can heal and bring things back to life! It's going to bring our baby back to life," Sandy then focused her attention back to the small glowing cloud, imploring "Won't you please bring our baby back?"
Both Sandy and Volodja were surprised to hear Atticus' gravelly voice say, "Honestly... the harm I have done," then heard the cloud answer as it picked various words from conversations going throughout Fortress Kshaa in the last hour, hearing it say in Wolfram von Eshen's voice, "Analyse the process..." Then Sandy's own voice echoed back at her, "Baby back to life..." Chloe's rich Australian accent added, "Bad idea mate!"
The small cloud backed away from the couple saying in Joy Jameson's voice, "Don't you agree..." Ending in Sandy's own voice again, "Volodja."
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Post by Attila Constantine on Mar 10, 2017 12:00:23 GMT
Lu went silent for a moment and then added, "There's one thing I'm concerned of though. Erika said she heard the scream too. As we both are going through almost the same steps of the Ritual, she might get lost on the visions too. That's why I'll ask you to stay alert and keep watching for us throughout the Ritual. I might be screaming and crying, but that's normal as I'm possibly going to live through someone’s not-so-pleasant episodes of someone else's life and maybe even through their death. What the Guide should do is to keep reassure me that I'm there to merely watch it and that I cannot change the past I'm going to relive. In case Erika falls into visions too, it will be up to you to help both of us."
Attila smiled and said, "Of course I will help you and Erika if needed! Have I let you down yet?!"
Atika chuckled and said, "As I recall, even if you haven't technically let her down yet, the last time you helped...you leaped before looking and a whole wall let YOU down! So this time be more observant and careful before you try to help, please!"
Then she said to Lu, "Don't worry. We will stay quiet, out of the way, and alert while we witness the Ritual, and only help if needed. After all we have witnessed such Rituals back home in Mongolia a couple of times. Although most Mongol Rituals do include plenty of chanting and dancing."
As Lu checked the leaves and found them to be ready for the next step, Lu rubbed them into powder and collected it into a cloth bag.
"And now, let’s go get some sleep," she finally said, "It's late already and I'd rather come to the beginning of the Ritual well-rested and let Erika have her rest too."
The Constantines said their good nights then went to their shared quarters for the night to get some rest, until they were called to meet Lu and Erika in one of the holo-rooms, where they showed up rested and ready to witness the ceremony and help as needed.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Mar 10, 2017 19:57:44 GMT
Volodja Uljanov looked at the cloud which spoke to them in several voices as an experienced ventriloquist. He took Sandy's calloused hands gently into his and pondered about words he just heard. Then he said: "I have seen several strange things so I won't be surprised to see speaking cloud. I can hear several voices this close speak with us. The voice of guilt, represented by Atticus's deep basso, the voice of hope,expressed by your lovely voice, the voice of doubt by Chloe and voice of reason from Wolfram's mouth. Altogether those voices warn us about messing with the course of events..." Volodja frowned, trying to remember something which might had actually happened...or was it only his imagination? Then he said: "I remember someone saying that our baby has already reborn. Maybe that is why this cloud tells us that it's not a best idea? I am not sure...Most of me screams for that miracle, the new chance, the rebirth, but...But seeing that Zombug and it's behaviour reminded me about the dangers of resurrection...What if the baby is going to be without...soul?" Volodja's eyes were full of pain when he said that. But then almost unnoticeable flash of hope appeared into them when he continued: "Maybe we should try again when time is right. Then we can conceive a new life in natural way. A planned life. And be prepared for that. And avoid dangers during the pregnancy. And I hope that our child is going to be perfectly...normal, although she or he is going to have the most unusual mother - you. And quite an eccentric father - me. So I do wish that our child inherits your traits because we already have one airhead in our family...And maybe we should analyse the whole situation, just like the cloud said, starting with the cloud itself?"
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Post by Sandy Bell on Mar 11, 2017 1:54:28 GMT
Something snapped in Sandy's brain at that very moment. Her face went pale and and the whites of her eyes rimmed her blue irises as her lower lipped quivered when she stuttered as she thrust Volodja's hand from hers like it was a burning coal, "N-n-n-no! Th-th-th-this isn't right! It isn't fair! B-b-but it must be my fault! I haven't been the good soldier!" Sandy blurred to the door of the rooftop garden, only stopping once she entered inside to shoot the lock with her sidearm, then continued on until she sped through the garage doors and out into the bleak wasteland. The cloud hovered near Volodja, repeating Sandy's words in Sandy's voice, "Isn't fair!" Sandy sped on until her EGO's blur ran out, then continued to run without blur until her strength ran out collapsing in the grey dirt that dominated the landscape of terra-formed San Francisco. Sandy gasped for air until she noticed a shadow blocking the sun above her and looked up seeing a handsome soldier in an EMC uniform offering her a hand up. "Need some help Captain?" Asked the man with a friendly smile and rugged good looks, "I'm Sergeant Reeves of the 53rd. Glad our scout saw you escaping from the enemy fortress, or you could have been wandering this wilderness for days. Anyhow, you're safe now, and Colonel Jameson is anxious to debrief you." "Escape?" Muttered a befuddled Sandy whose clouded mind didn't clear until she looked down and saw herself clad in her EMC officer's uniform, whereupon her thoughts became crystal clear as she said in a rock steady voice, "Yes, I escaped... I was on a mission to blow up those damned Votans' spaceship, but it went FUBAR! However, I did get important intel if you can get me to a commanding officer ASAP!" "Sure thing Ma'am," Answered the Sergeant helping her up and then supporting her weight as they walked towards the Mutant District, adding, "EMC forever!" "EMC forever!" Answered Sandy enthusiastically, her mind crystal clear and filled with renewed purpose again.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Mar 11, 2017 8:59:24 GMT
Volodja Uljanov stared his empty hand with an equally empty eyes. Then he spread the blanket on the grass and stood up, saying heavily as his silver tongue had transmuted into quicksilver one - heavy and poisonous: "You may rest here, cloud. More comfortable. It's not your fault that I failed again. As a man, as a lover, as a family man and even as a psychologist. You witnessed lot of effort vanishing in a matter of counted seconds. She didn't even looked back, so here I am with nothing in my hands any more. They say that a shell would not land exactly in the same hole twice and yet Sandy left me right here...in this same garden. Twice." Volodja turned his empty eyes towards skies above and asked: "What should a man do now when he lost everything? I guess when you don't have anything, you must obtain something. Somewhere else, not here, I guess. Unlike Atticus Batman who has his memories, children and a job to do...I have no reason to remain here to maintain what's left because I am back in square one with almost nothing, except memories, after trying to have a different life I used to. Every time I run away before this, I had something to return for, but now...there seems to be NONE! Maybe this Paradise lost means that I wasn't meant to have a different kind of life after all. If I can't be lover, a father, teacher nor a preacher, then maybe I can still be the man I used to be - a lone wanderer? Time to find that out! Keep the blanket, could. If you don't need it...then I don't need it either." Volodja turned stiffly away and begun to climb down from the garden, using his skills and protruding parts on the wall...and Ralph's garden hose as a rope. Then he begun his way out of from the Fortress. Empty handed. Leaving even his sapper shovel behind because it was part of the life which was obviously not meant for him. You know how Role Playing Games begin? Protagonists don't have anything else to begin with, than two hands. Then they find first weapon and first piece of equipment and begin their adventure...Now everything seemed to suggest that it was Volodja's turn to continue his...
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Post by Belle Starr on Mar 11, 2017 18:52:45 GMT
Belle Starr woke up with a feeling that she wasn't alone but when she sat up looking around her small trailer home she saw no one. She shrugged her slim but lean muscled shoulders and dismissed the feeling as a side effect of the nightmare she had had. Much like the way the nightmare began, Belle showered and brushed her perfect white teeth and blonde hair, then dressed in her CODA Knight outfit and the vision goggles given her by Vo Kshaa. The similarity between reality and her dream ended when her hailer rang to her "Everything is awesome" ringtone. "Hi Coop! What's up?" Began Belle in a cheerful tone, then listened before replying, "So you want me to meet you at the site of the zombie battle near Fortress Kshaa?... How do I know about that? I was one of those fighting for their lives there with my charge blade! You know me! If there's trouble I'm in the middle of it!... Yeah, I figured you'll want to interview me about that as well as for the job!... Oh, I appreciate y'all telling me I already have the job, but I've gone through some changes since we last met, so don't go jumping to any conclusions until I can tell you what they are - you might decide the risk is not worth the gain!... Okay, I'll let you be the judge of that Coop - and thanks for the chance! See y'all soon!" Belle smiled thinking maybe her luck had changed but the smile turned to a frown when she read the message from Vo Kshaa, her erstwhile lover so immediately sent a message back to him rather than hail him for she wasn't ready for that yet texting, "Vo - Thanks for taking care of Shakespeare! I thought he was a goner for sue! I have an appointment with Coop at the zombie battle site this morning so will stop by to pick up the little critter afterwards," Out of past habit, she typed in "I-heart-U!" but quickly erased it as she was still unsure of her feelings now so instead texted, "Thank you kindly!" She strapped on her Demon Hunter pistol and her Thorne Liro blade as well as picking up her Dancing Lady SMG just to do something else contrary to the nightmare before leaving and locking her little blue home. She hurried to her white Challenger stopping only to say, "Good morning" to some of the early patrons of The Crater. The drive from there to over the Golden Gate Bridge was uneventful until she got close to Fortress Kshaa whereupon her EGO warned her that another EGO was nearby. "Do we know whose it is? Friend or foe?" Asked Belle mentally through the mental link she had with her EGO psyche. "Once a very good friend," Answered Alfred dryly, "The EGO belongs to that very handsome, brave and distinguished HUMAN hero, Volodja Uljanov, a so much better suitor for you than that Irathiant scum - " "ENOUGH DAD!" Belle thought strongly, as she directed the Challenger to where her EGO radar said Volodja's EGO was located. Belle was surprised to see him walking slowly if not dazed unarmed in a wilderness that was dangerous even when you were armed like herself so she pulled up next to him and paced him rolling down her driver's side window and asking with a warm smile, "Need a ride Volo? Kind of a dangerous place to walk around without protection if you know what I mean! You kind of look like you lost your way! Been there, done that so why not let me help you even if it's just to lend a friendly ear!"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Mar 12, 2017 11:11:21 GMT
After sitting in my chair drinking and thinking things over for a while, I got up and went to the bathroom. When I was done in there, I checked on the twins. However they were still sleeping and as it was still too early to wake them, I adjusted their blankets and let them sleep. Then since Misty was still asleep on the couch to take care of them when they do wake up, I decided that since I felt much better physically than I had in weeks, despite the pain from my muscles being somewhat atrophied, I decided to work on those muscles by doing something I hadn't done since Lady's disappearance; EXERCISE.
So I walked over and opened my armor closet. After looking over my armor, I pulled out my "Death" garb and looked it over closely, but finally put it back as I still wasn't ready to wear it yet. I then gave my "Hero" garb the same thought and treatment before deciding against it as well. So in that closet, it left my "Shadow Warrior" garb. So I pulled out my Arkhunter infiltrator armor and put it on. Then I opened the pocket in it that contains Lady's locket. I retrieved the locket, opened it and touched the Grid piece to ensure it was still "alive". Then after seeing it react positively to my touch, I reclosed it. Then I gently kissed Lady's locket before re-securing it in my armor's pocket. Next I retrieved my Collective Predator helm from the armor closet and put it on as well, then checked my shield of choice.
Once my armor and helm were on securely, I closed and relocked the armor closet. Then I punched in the code to open my weapon locker. Once open, I picked up and examined my Amakune blade before putting it back in the locker and retrieving my Thawandeye Surge Nano-Fragger Mk V and checked it's mag. Then I slung it's strap over my shoulder. Next I grabbed and holstered my Monitor Sidearm Mk II after also checking it's ammo. Once my guns were equipped, I started to close the weapons locker, but at the lost second, I stopped and just stared at my Amakune for a couple of seconds before I once again retrieved it. This time securing it in place on my armor, before I finally closed and re-secured the weapons locker.
Then I went back down to my basement and it's holo-training room controls. After looking through it's library of training programs, I decided against one of my usual programs, as I already got a strenuous workout in Wolfram's therapy program, and my body needed an actual exercise workout instead of the usual all out grueling fighting scenarios that my programs all involve. So instead I loaded one of my sister's Calisthenics programs, set to her usual settings, as my body needed the slower paced exercise after neglecting it for most of a month. Then I entered to holo-room and began the Calisthenics workout that this program entailed, hoping that this would be a good first step towards finally trying to pull myself back together, as much as I could without my Snow Angel and"Castithan Heart" by my side. I blamed and therefor hated myself for her disappearance, because it was MY command decisions that took her from me. However during the calisthenics routine, the words Wolfram told me weeks ago and I electrocuted him for saying kept invading my thoughts.
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Post by Kaj Oenfer on Mar 12, 2017 12:24:47 GMT
In the War Room, Chief of Security Remy Lebeau got a report from security that shots were fired near a roof access door, and they were heading to investigate. Kaj Oenfer who was in the War room with Lebeau also heard it and said to Remy, "Swamp Rat, as you are currently in charge down here, I will investigate. So have security close off that hall. Then have a two person team meet me there so that we can investigate the situation."
Remy said to his friend, "Well my vaillant tataille (Cajun for friendly monster), if you are willing to do so den dat be what we will be doin. Bonne chance (Good luck)."
With that, Kaj got up and headed for the hall in question, while Remy Lebeau notified security to close it off to traffic and have a two-person team waiting to assist Kaj Oenfer upon his arrival.
When Kaj arrived at the hall in question, security had it roped off and the two-person team were awaiting his arrival. So the three of them walked down the hall looking for bullet holes but didn't find any until they came to the roof door. Examining it they saw the bullet damage to it's lock sealing it shut. So Kaj had his two colleagues step back and he slammed his shoulder into the door several times until it finally opened. Then he stepped out into the roof garden. He didn't see anybody, however he did notice a blanket near some tomato plants with some sort of odd mist-cloud wrapped around some tomato plants. So he signaled the two security officers to stay inside the building for their safety, as he didn't know what to expect from the odd cloud or even what he was planning on doing, so it was best if they stayed safe inside just in case something happened to him. Then he slowly but calmly walked over to the blanket and cautiously knelt by it to examine it. Then seeing nothing odd about it, he turned slightly on his knee and examined the mist cloud that was laying over the tomatoes. As he did, his ocular implants registered a bio-electric energy coming from it, as if from some sort of sleeping life-form. So out of curiosity as to what the mist is and what may happen if he addressed it, he said softly to the "alien" mist-cloud, "What do we have here? A living and sleeping mist-cloud cuddled with tomatoes? I do hope that means that you are a friend. How ever, I do not suppose you can understand me or tell me what happened up here, can you?... I suppose not, but it would make my investigation up here much easier. Then once I am done, I will leave you to your sleep again, just as long as you mean us no harm. Live and let live, I say. Although my Prime Commander would likely say: Live and let die."
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Post by Sandy Bell on Mar 12, 2017 14:24:14 GMT
Colonel Jackson "Wild Jack" Jameson of the EMC's 53rd Artillery Regiment sat in his camouflaged command tent in the middle of the Mutant District staring at antiquated maps of the San Francisco area that looked not much like the area his scouts said existed today other than the Votan fortress that sat like a dark cancer nearby. He threw the maps off his small rickety desk in frustration and cussed a blue streak just before his Lieutenant came in and saluted announcing that Sargent Reeves was back with the escapee from the fortress. Colonel Jameson was surprised when the Sargent came in with an EMC officer from the 111th Infantry Regiment that he recognized from before what he was now referring to as his "Big Sleep." Jameson was not too surprised that she was here for soldiers of several EMC regiments were arriving all the time with the same story as himself awakened at the touch of a glowing cloud. He had a little under two hundred men under his command now, most from his own 53rd regiment, and had found several EMC caches of weapons and even one with fresh uniforms, so now all were properly equipped for the big push to take the enemy fortress. Sargent Reeves had even convinced about a dozen Bio-Men to join their cause, although their memories seemed garbled too. All he lacked was fresh intel on their objective and he hoped the young female captain could provide him with that. Colonel Jameson smiled when the young woman entered and smartly saluted him saying in a strong voice, "Captain Sandra Bell of the 111th sir, reporting for duty!" "I know you Captain Bell as I was present when you got the EMC Medal for Bravery for the Battle of Mount Tam," Said Colonel Jameson as he returned her salute sitting behind his small desk and gesturing her to sit in a chair in front of it, "At ease soldier. I'm not surprised that if anyone could escape those Votan dogs in a fortress like that one it would be you, but in how in Sam Hill did they ever catch you in the first place?" Sandy sat down as a puzzled look crossed her pretty face saying with narrowed blue eyes, "I was sent in by command to sabotage a space ship they have there, but the rest is a bit of foggy. I can tell you that there are underground passages in the fortress but they are monitored. I can even pinpoint the fortress' hard points for you as well as the automated and manned defenses. They have a pretty good security force although a bit complacent considering there is a war going on. I should also warn you they have human traitors among them. They are led by a big Irathiant bastard named Atticus Batman who has crazy electric powers which I can brief you on and many of them including him have what they call EGO implants that give them special powers. Their human second in command has one of the EGO implants but I only know that guy by the name of Taffer. I'm not sure why but they seemed to have implanted one of the devices in me although I don't know why. I was able to use it to escape them. I can demonstrate those powers to you in my debriefing." Sandy leaned forward as her body tensed and a fire gleamed in her blue eyes asserting, "Any plan you have to attack them count me in as I owe them big time, especially that big bastard Atticus Batman. I can't remember what he did to me but I can feel it in my bones that it was something terrible, maybe the worst torture so unimaginable that my mind has seemed to black it out as well as most of my imprisonment at Fortress Kshaa. I remember enough though sir to help you attack them successfully, I promise you that. However, I would appreciate it sir if you would let me take a special ops squad through the underground tunnels to his bunker and let me be the one who has the honor of cutting the head off the snake!" Colonel Jameson's grin widened as he answered, "I think that can be arranged Captain Bell. However, for the moment, lets go outside and let you demonstrate these powers given to you by the enemy device." ***** At the sound Kaj Oenfer's voice, the mist creature awakened puling itself into the shape of a small white cloud floating about two feet off the ground as it answered the big purple Bio-Man in first Remy LeBeau's voice, " Bonne chance... my vaillant tataille," then echoed Kaj's own voice back to him as it began to glow with an inner bright light adding, "Mean... you... no harm. Live and let live... or... live and let die."
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Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Mar 12, 2017 21:16:50 GMT
As Lu smelled a smoke from burning leaves of Ditarra plant, she took a deep breath and closed her eyes trying to concentrate on the moment when she touched the Dodge's front bumper and had a strange feeling of being not herself. To her disappointment, she didn't feel anything special. She held her breath and tried to concentrate once more. As nothing happened to her again, she exhaled and opened her eyes. But instead of Erika sitting next to her, she saw Atticus Batman. An Enraged Atticus Batman. An Enraged Atticus Batman who was charging at her. She instinctively reached with her fingers where the shield button was located on her Pulverizer, but to her dismay, her favorite weapon was not in her hand at the very moment she needed it. She screamed as Batman's hand hit her, throwing her far away from him, and a sudden bout of pain hit her as she crashed into an old wooden building. She tried to catch her breath, but her vision faded into black quickly.
"I had to revive you, as it was starting to threaten your life," She heard Her EGO's voice in her head. Lu tried to move, but her whole body was in pain as if was indeed used as a cannonball to break a wall with.
"What have you seen?" She heard calm Erika's voice.
"Atticus has attacked me…" Lu mouthed as she started to regain her consciousness and the pain subsided a little. "Made a mistake… left my EGO's running… No painkillers Klimi! Do nothing! At All!"
"I'm not sure it's a good idea," Klimi replied in her head, "Your vitals seem to be…"
"Shut down Klimi. Shut. Down." Lu growled as she tapped five times at the back of her neck where her EGO unit was located, the fifth tap being longer than others.
"Tactile code accepted. Permission granted. Shutdown imminent. See you later," Klimi replied in a suddenly calm voice contrary to the worried one she had before.
"Don't know who I was at that time and why I saw Atticus," Lu said as she pulled herself to the hookah. "Let's try again…"
Before Erika could say something, Lu grabbed the hookah again and took a deep breath.
"I wish you luck Lady and please remember you're not alone as we're still around and waiting for you to return safely back to us," Lu heard Taffer's voice before she plummeted down into the water. Lu tried to swim up but something was steadily pushing her deeper into the water.
"What do you see Lu?" She heard Erika's voice again which calmed her down and reminded her she's been there to watch.
"Taffer addressed me as Lady," Lu said surprised that she can talk freely while under water, "I'm entering some submarine… right through the wall! Trying to create some chaos on board… feel disappointed no one reacts to it… being carried by crew members somewhere… see Atticus fighting… helping him… Watch your six girl! I can't turn around!"
"You can't change the past Lu," she heard Erika's voice again, "Just watch an tell."
"That beast killed her…" Lu said as Erika's voice helped her distance from what was happening, "What a nice rabbit… or is it a squirrel? In a middle of a wasteland now… growing flowers… feeling disappointed that the people I rise turn into mindless zombies… A roller coming by just hit me, running away… trying with mutants… It seems I… she is successful with turning a mutant back into a human… healing more of them… now it's some kind of a greenhouse… Hey, Sandy's here! She's pleading for something… about her child… running away… Volodja's climbing out too… Now I see Kaj, the Bioman!"
Suddenly Lu found herself in a holo-room again with Erika watching her closely.
"Let's go!" Lu exclaimed as she jumped up on her feet. "It's Lady! She's with Kaj now, in a greenhouse! Call Atticus!" She tried to rush out to the exit but her head started swirling from a sudden movement, she stumbled and fell into Attila's arms.
"My EGO," she managed to mumble before drifting into darkness, "Tap it with my hand… four short… one long…"
She although thought there was something that she found disturbing at the field where she were reviving mutants in her vision but she didn't have time to tell before the scene changed.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Mar 13, 2017 6:14:33 GMT
Volodja's glance slid over postapocalyptic landscape. He wasn't looking at anything particular, but everything the landscape contained - few Votan plants, dust clouds on hills, arisen by whirling wind, a lonely Hellbug, minding it's own business... "It's hard to accept the ride offer," he said. "When one goes elsewhere. And "elsewhere" means "nowhere special" and "everywhere" at the same time. Maybe it will be easier to define the word "elsewhere" by it's hidden connotation - "not here." During my short walk I already managed to ponder about motives of lonely fixer uppers, who never stay into one place, but move one. Maybe they do it because they are needed somewhere else, but...Maybe they do it because they don't want to see what happens after they came and tried to fix things up. People don't usually want to see the loss of their child. I stayed and thought that I managed to achieve at least something, but I failed. Royally! Not very long ago I dared to think that I was someone who had a steady life and human relations. Now I am all alone, my relationship with Sandy got an abrupt end when she said that it wasn't right and run away from me. Without looking back. Probably because of something I said and done. I dared to be sure that we achieved something together, but I failed. Again. Despite of our efforts. Now I am trying to figure out who I am. Besides being a royal failure as a human being and unsuccessful fixer upper. I guess I have to define myself through negotiations like - I am not a family guy or a worlds greatest lover or a professional - until I am able to learn who I truly am. I guess I'll be a leaf, floating on the wind from now on. Lost, as you said. The wind will carry me. Everywhere. Anywhere! As long as it cares. I belong nowhere. This point, I have reached Is the breaking one. If I can't stay. Then I must be gone. But I'm lost on my way. Sorry about trying to poetic and philosophic and using metaphors like "Leaf lost it's roots". Probably I failed in that area as well. They are not very original, you know."
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Post by Kaj Oenfer on Mar 13, 2017 10:52:47 GMT
At the sound Kaj Oenfer's voice, the mist creature awakened puling itself into the shape of a small white cloud floating about two feet off the ground as it answered the big purple Bio-Man in first Remy Lebeau's voice, " Bonne chance... my vaillant tataille," then echoed Kaj's own voice back to him as it began to glow with an inner bright light adding, "Mean... you... no harm. Live and let live... or... live and let die."
Hearing Lebeau's and then his own voice coming from the mist cloud, Kaj remarked, "Interesting no ability to speak so you must use some kind of mimicry to repeat the words of others that are within your "hearing range" as a way of communication?...I am not sure if you understand exactly what the Swamp rat said as I do not even understand his Cajun gibberish most of the time. However I suppose it does not matter as I get the feeling that you meant them in the same friendly way that he does and that you really do mean us no harm. So at least that is a start. How ever I do still need to figure out who's blanket that is, who shot the door lock and why."
Kaj then glanced around and seeing some foot prints in the dirt heading to the ledge, he got up and investigated them and getting near the ledge he looked down but didn't see anyone or anything unusual. However where the footprints ended at the ledge he did see fingerprints. So perhaps whoever they belonged to was stranded up here when the lock was shot and forced to climb down. Now he just had to figure out whose prints they were and why the person didn't just call security or the War Room for help.
So Kaj stepped away from the ledge and walked over and once again knelt by the mist-cloud. Then he continued with, "I will have to figure out who was up here with you and where they went before I can leave you to your sleep as promised. I am sorry for that. Now my friendly cloud, I am afraid that I forgot my manners slightly and did not introduce myself yet. I am Kaj Oenfer. How ever most of my friends just call me Kaj. If you would like, then you can do so as well. So do you have a name Little One or should I just call you Cloud?"
Meanwhile back in the holo-room that the Irathient Ritual was taking place in... Suddenly Lu found herself in a holo-room again with Erika watching her closely. "Let's go!" Lu exclaimed as she jumped up on her feet. "It's Lady! She's with Kaj now, in a greenhouse! Call Atticus!" She tried to rush out to the exit but her head started swirling from a sudden movement, she stumbled and fell into Attila's arms. "My EGO," she managed to mumble before drifting into darkness, "Tap it with my hand… four short… one long…" She although thought there was something that she found disturbing at the field where she were reviving mutants in her vision but she didn't have time to tell before the scene changed. Hearing Lu's words about re-activating her EGO, Attila continued to hold Lu steady while his sister Atika gently grabbed Lu's hand and used it to tap Lu's EGO in the way ordered. Then she released Lu's hand and Attila gently lowered her to the ground and knelt behind her holding her up in a sitting position as he had his EGO scan her to make sure that her EGO, Klimi came back on and was working on helping and reviving her.
Back in Atticus Batman's holo-training room, He had already done some warm up exercises. Then he had done some running. Once his running was finished he started going through some various different fighting style routines: Such as Tae Kwon Do, Krav Maga and Tai Chi, as focusing on some fighting techniques in various styles had usually helped him calm down and focus when he had been mentally troubled in the past. So he was hoping that now that he was physically capable of doing such exercises, despite some residual pain, that such method would once again help him find and maintain his calm.
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Post by Belle Starr on Mar 13, 2017 21:05:35 GMT
Some things just happen at the same time...
*****
"Sorry about trying to poetic and philosophic and using metaphors like "Leaf lost it's roots". Probably I failed in that area as well. They are not very original, you know," Said Volodja Uljanov.
Belle Starr looked at the sad man in the road through her virtual vision googles and the open window of her white car before replying, "What I do know is heroes have feet of clay, but nothing ventured, nothing gained, and neither of those statements are original either! Listen, nobody has failed as much as me, despite having all the advantages a Post-Apocalyptic world could give me! I always had a full stomach and a roof over my head, got a swell EGO device and superpowers out the ying-yang and still I manage to screw it all up! Still, I think I've learned more from my many failures than my few successes but that doesn't mean I still won't have failures! That's life... and I still don't want to embrace the alternative, not yet anyway!"
Belle turned from the man in the road, looking through the front windshield of her car into the bleak grey landscape of the San Francisco wasteland, "Sometimes I think it would be so easy to drive into the sunset never to be seen again like some old time cowboy film hero. I could start over, maybe buy that small bookstore in Freedom or just work there as a clerk, spending my free time just reading, drinking tea, and discussing classic books with that nice old English gentlemen there! However, I know our friends need me here, warts and all, failures and successes, because I know there have been times where if I hadn't been here, my friends would have died - just like there have been times if you weren't here your friends would have died - I would have died!"
Belle laughed a bitter laugh before turning back to Volodja and saying, "Whether we like it or not, whether we want it or not, our friends need us and we need them! You know when I was living with Vo in Boston working for VBI, away from y'all and missing y'all everyday, the VBI executives would talk about fixer-uppers in a whole different way! They would buy up old Brownstone homes from poor people, refurbish them, then sell them for exorbitant prices, not caring what happened the people who once lived there! First, you can't fix-up all the people, although people in your profession give it the old college try! Second, you're always gong to have more failures than successes because it depends on the person you're trying to fix up much more than you and some people are just too broken to be fixed! Third, you are always going to care about the person because if you didn't you wouldn't even try and that's who you are and that's a fact, so face it!"
Belle reached over and opened the passenger door before saying with a warm grin, "Why don't you come with me? Idle hands are the Devil's workshop and all that! I have a new job as a Deputy Law Keeper with a new mystery to solve, and you have the best detective skills of anybody I know! Who knows, if you do a good job, maybe Coop will offer you a job too, so what do you say?"
*****
In Fortress Kshaa not far away, Erika Widowmaker checked to make sure Lu was okay, before having her EGO contact Atticus' as she blurred towards the roof saying telepathically as she ran, "Atticus meet me in Ralph's rooftop garden - and bring Lady's pendant!"
*****
Already in the rooftop garden, the Cloud "listened" as Kaj said, "I will have to figure out who was up here with you and where they went before I can leave you to your sleep as promised. I am sorry for that. Now my friendly cloud, I am afraid that I forgot my manners slightly and did not introduce myself yet. I am Kaj Oenfer. How ever most of my friends just call me Kaj. If you would like, then you can do so as well. So do you have a name Little One or should I just call you Cloud?"
The Cloud glowed brightly and moved within an inch of Kaj's large purple nose and said in Belle Starr's voice, "Yang!"
*****
In the Mutant District not far from Fortress Kshaa, Captain Sandra Bell led a cheer with her new ten men squad of hand-picked EMC veterans yelling, "EMC FOREVER! EMC FOREVER! EMC FOREVER!... "
*****
Far from Fortress Kshaa and across the Golden Gate Bridge, naked in their underground bedroom, Lena Marr kissed Marcel Lestrange passionately before grinning wickedly and yelling enthusiastically, "DO IT AGAIN!"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Mar 14, 2017 10:54:05 GMT
In my holo-training room I was in the middle of a complicated Krav Maga technique when I mentally received my sister's EGO message, "Atticus meet me in Ralph's rooftop garden - and bring Lady's pendant!"
Upon hearing the urgency in her tone and more importantly the mention of Lady's pendant, I lost my concentration and put to much emphasis into my follow-through of the technique and stumbled forward. I managed to catch my balance before falling though. Then I quickly left the training room and went upstairs. I checked on the twins and Misty agreed to watch them a while longer, asking if she could take the twins to the Mess at the usual time for breakfast so she can eat with her father while taking care of them.
After I gave her permission to do so whenever she and the twins are ready for breakfast and giving her a temporary access code to my home bunker, I headed towards the main door to head to the rooftop garden as my sister insisted, but at the last second something compelled me to stop at my armor closet. Upon doing so I entered my code and opened it. Then without even thinking about it, I removed my weapons and leaned them against the closet. Then I removed my "Shadow Warrior" garb and put it in the armor closet. Next I removed my modified and repaired Harbinger armor that I had worn in Australia. I stared at it for a few seconds, then put it on. I then put the helmet on and secured it. Once it was on, I felt as if I had finally been reunited with a long lost friend.
Afterwards I removed Lady's pendant from the "Shadow Warrior" garb and after looking it over for a second, I secured it in my "Harbinger" armor, as close to my heart as possible. Then I re-locked the armor closet. Next I re-equipped my blade, before opening my weapons locker. At which time I placed my Thawandeye Surge Nano-Fragger Mk V shotgun, Monitor sidearm and current shield in it, before removing my Legendary EXL pistol, Triple-shot Fragger Mk II shotgun, and Legendary EXL Darkest hour shield.
I thought briefly about the pistol and shield as I usually only wore them with my hero garb, however I have grown quite fond of them and feel most comfortable with that specific shield and pistol. So I went ahead and equipped them anyway. I stopped for a second to look over the Triple-shot to assess it's battle-readiness, as I hadn't used it since the battle that had put me in a year long coma, a couple of years back. Then I equipped it as well. After putting on all my chosen gear, I also retrieved my Calling Bird sniper rifle and equipped it as well, also missing it as it had become my favorite sniper rifle the moment I had gotten my hands on it. Next I re-secured my weapons locker.
There I stood, fully armored and a LOT more well-armed than I had been in weeks, seeing as I didn't even start carrying a basic side-arm again until just a few days ago. However now once again in the armor that has become synonymous with who I have always embraced myself as; and others have either feared or respected (The Harbinger of Death); and wearing my favorite weapons again, some of which I hadn't touched in a long time for one reason or another, I felt like I was finally truly finding myself, perhaps for the first time. Then I left my bunker home, and activated blur as I started running through the compound, jumping over a still smoldering bonfire as I did so. From there, I quickly entered the fortress proper, and started towards the rooftop garden as quickly as my tired and recently underused bones and muscles would allow.
Meanwhile still on the rooftop garden, the Cloud "listened" as Kaj said, "I will have to figure out who was up here with you and where they went before I can leave you to your sleep as promised. I am sorry for that. Now my friendly cloud, I am afraid that I forgot my manners slightly and did not introduce my self yet. I am Kaj Oenfer. How ever most of my friends just call me Kaj. If you would like, then you can do so as well. So do you have a name Little One or should I just call you Cloud?"
The Cloud glowed brightly and moved within an inch of Kaj's large purple nose and said in Belle Starr's voice, "Yang!"
Kaj thought for a second, recalling that yin and yang were often used to reference one's dark and light sides. So he responded with, "Seems fitting enough. Alright Yang it is. How ever that is an interesting coincidence, as our Commander sees himself as the darkness, or in this case the Yin if you will."
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Mar 14, 2017 13:24:41 GMT
As Erika Widowmaker arrived at the rooftop garden on top of Fortress Ksaa, she wasn't sure what she was expecting, but she was sure it wasn't the sight of the big bioman Kaj Oenfer talking in low tones to a human-sized glowing cloud floating three feet off the ground. Her brother Atticus Batman arrived on the scene shortly after her, armored and armed to the teeth, but what happened next surprised her even more than the initial sight on the rooftop. The glowing cloud grew even brighter rushing and encompassing Atticus until he disappeared from sight for the white light from the cloud was that blinding.
"Yin! Yin! Yin!.." The cloud kept saying in Belle Starr's voice.
Suddenly the small cloud became less bright and it bounced back to the tomato patch of Ralph the cook's vegetable garden, still yelling it's chant of "Yin", leaving Erika startled by the sight of Atticus bedecked in flowers. Small colorful wild flowers bloomed all over Atticus' armor and even his weapons. A small smile formed on Erika's face at the sight, but no sooner then it did then the artillery barrage began. The first shell fell squarely on the tomato patch and the small cloud and when the smoke cleared, both were gone. The second shell fell near Erika, knocking into the air and off the roof and to the ground far below.
Erika could feel that she was broken up badly inside, but before she lost consciousness, she heard the artillery shells falling all around her as well as small arms fire, with one thought dominating her last ones: Where were the sounds of the automated defenses?
*****
As Belle Starr waited for Volodja Uljanov to answer whether he was going with her or not, someone else slid into the car seat next to her, adeptly taking her Demon hunter pistol from her side holster and aiming it at her as a squad of soldiers dressed in crisp EMC uniforms and armed with automatic weapons surrounded her car and Volodja. Her mouth dropped, looking at the handsome man seated next to her in an EMC uniform with Sargent stripes who smiled in a friendly manner at her.
"Excuse me Ma'am," Began the man in a pleasant voice, "I'm Sargent Reeves of the EMC, and I'm afraid you and you friend have wandered into a war-zone. We are going to have to take you into protective custody until the battle is over. Sorry, but if you and your friend will just come peaceably with us, I'm sure our commanding officer Colonel Jameson will explain everything to you."
****
As Captain Sandra Bell broke into the Batman Bunker, she was not a happy woman. Half th men of her handspicked squad of EMC battle hardened veterans were already dead, and they had yet to confront the great villain himself, Atticus Batman. She had lost two men in the tunnels beneath Fortress Kshaa before they got to the juncture where she could disable the fortress' automated defenses, then lost three more to the automated defenses of the Batman Bunker that had a separate energy source before they could get inside the building itself. Now she had just five men left to kill the bastard, and although she rationally thought they should do it with ease as he was only one man, her gut instincts told her that it may not be enough. She and her squad had no illusions that this wasn't a suicide mission as thye would never escape alive through the way they had comin and it would be a killing field if they tried to escape from the outside. However, she really thought she would have most of her squad when she confronted the so-called Harbinger of Death.
As Sandy listened to her armed soldiers go from room to room yelling clear as they searched each one, she was surprised when her squad sergeant yelled for her to come to him. She found him looking into a closet, his gun pointed down at a young mulatto pre-teen girl huddled on the floor with two obviously alien babies. She slung her SMG and sat on her haunches watching the frightened babysitter as her young charges cooed and played with each other when the sergeant asked, "You want me to execute the aliens and the race traitor?"
Sandy scoffed with a look of disdain on her face, "The EMC does NOT kill children," Then said to Misty with an easy grin, "Nobody is going to hurt you child, but you stay in this closet no matter what you hear going on out here, okay?"
Misty shook her head vigorously in affirmation, whereupon Sandy stood up and closed the closet door ordering her squad, "Nobody hurts them no matter what, whether I'm alive or dead, understand?"
As her remaining five squad members nodded their understanding, Captain Bell went around stationing them at strategic places in the room facing the front door ready to ambush whomever might come through it.
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