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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Apr 29, 2018 10:45:10 GMT
On his way to Lena (who just jumped off from his reached out hands) Marcel happened to notice one Atticus Batman hanging on a tight spot, face downwards and letting out grumbling sounds.
"Hang on there!" he shouted. That was the only encouragement he bothered to give before stating: "I am not going to pull you up myself. You are too heavy and I am a very busy man."
Atticus grumbled again and not in a most polite way.
Marcel considered the situation and he added mercifully: "But if you last couple of more minutes then I will help you because I feel that I owe you one and I do not like to stay in debt."
Agreeable grumble.
Marcel picked up the rope from the floor, warning Atticus that he can not grab it yet and has to wait his signal. Then he let one end of the rope down to hang by Atticus's side. Instead of trying to pull Atticus out by himself, Marcel went to the drone he just disabled and attached other end to it. Then he shouted that Atticus can grab the rope. Seeing the rope going tense he put his fingers inside the drone and touched some switches and contacts, causing the drone to whirl again. Twirling drone acted like a giant hoisting machine and spun the rope around itself, probably pulling Atticus upwards, although Marcel did not bothered to look because he felt that Atticus is a fully capable to take care for himself and his debt is paid and what is more important - Lena might need him, so he left drone to it's hauling job and rushed to see if Lena is alright...
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Post by Atticus Batman on Apr 29, 2018 12:16:33 GMT
Twirling drone acted like a giant hoisting machine and spun the rope around itself. Seeing the rope starting to move upwards I quickly grabbed it with both hands and as it pulled me upwards I put my feet against the wall and walked up with the momentum of the rope.
Once out of the whole, I looked around but only saw the one drone which was now very tightly secured by the rope and rolling around on the ground. Ignoring it for the time being, I finally took the time to take a very deep breath, wincing in some pain as I did so. So as I looked around to see where everybody went, I mentally asked my EGO; "Dinara whatever is causing the pain, fix it and quick! I have a feeling that everybody else already ran off to face Atlas and I may be needed at my prime soon!"
Dinara grumbled, "Atty! You managed to crack a few ribs and puncture a fricking lung! Until the rib is pulled out of the lung, I can NOT begin to fix that, nor can your Grid regeneration!"
I grumbled but quickly removed my chest plate of armor. Then I walked over and leaned against a wall. As I felt my rib cage and felt to find the rib in question, I heard an extremely loud scream consisting of a mixture of anguish and anger. I instinctively looked that direction but couldn't see who it was from my position although I did have an idea. So I concentrated harder on my work and with Dinara mentally guiding me, I found the correct rib and winced in extreme pain as I touched it. For a second I wondered how I would remove it from my lung, but then I felt a rib right below that one protruding from my chest.
So I unsheathed one of my throwing knives, and using the hole caused by the protruding rib, I stuck the knife in the hole and worked it under the other rib. Then with a little force I managed to lever that rib out of my lung. The pain was excruciating but I managed to ignore it as I removed the knife from my body. Then I pushed the protruding rib back into place. Once that was done, I concentrated and channeled my energies to fully repair the Grid-cloth jumpsuit I wear under my armor. Then with a little more focus I tightened the upper body of the jumpsuit so it would act as a compress to hold my ribs in place long enough for Dinara and my own natural Grid-regeneration to heal them. Once I had done so, I walked back to my chest-plate and knelt down. I pulled a small cloth from it and wiped the blade clean. Then I re-sheathed the blade and put the cloth back in the armor compartment. Next I picked up my armor and stood up. Once standing and still gritting my teeth to ignore my own excruciating pain, I put my armor back on.
As I finished doing so, Dinara informed me the lung and wounds were all re-sealed although she was still repairing the busted and cracked ribs. So as I was still short of breath, I took a very deep breath to refill my lungs, all the while fighting the pain that important action caused. Once I had regained my breathe, I ran towards where Dinara said the others had gone. I just hoped that no matter what I had already missed that I would get there before anybody died. After all if a god must be fought, then I may be the only currently active Protector that may stand a chance. Of course it would be better if I was in a fully nominal state, but some cracked ribs were not going to stop me and never had before.
I just had to keep ignoring the pain, not let on that I was injured, and just channel the anger and pain that I was now (somewhat secretly) feeling into my powers. I was confident enough with myself and abilities to feel that it would be more than enough for me to be able to defeat a 'god' even in my current state. However what I was not confident in, but refused to admit even to myself, was my own survival as given my condition it would be more likely that this 'God' and I would probably defeat each other or that I would keel over shortly after defeating Atlas. Not only that but I most definitely was not sure what to expect when I did finally reach where they all were.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 29, 2018 12:35:24 GMT
But she wasn't. And seeing her in that condition made Marcel to stop and stagger for a moment, His face turned paler as someone stabbed him into his stomach and he whispered only: "Merde!" before kneeling by her side to see if she is still breathing. The worst part was that he could not do any harm to the culprit for harming Lena because the closest thing to resemble Atlas was a huge diamond shaped object which seemed unbreakable. Meanwhile the clinking clanking metallic sound came closer thus becoming and soon everyone who could turn their heads towards the sound source could see a running man, followed by a drone horde. Seeing the huge diamond shaped object in the middle of the large room and hearing words echoing made him realize that he was there where he wanted and was scared to be at the same time. He wanted to be there by the side of his family and yet he was afraid that he might be too late. But he wasn't. He arrived on time to... To do what? What could a man do against omnipotent deity? Especially when that man was the almost only able one in that room. His wife Sandy was on the clutches of drones. So was his daughter Jalina. Belle Starr's unmoving body was stretched out on the pedestal. Lena Marr stared at her burnt hands, blood dripping from her lip. And Marcel Lestrange was by her side staring in turn her hands and the diamond shaped object ready to jump and attack it bare handedly, despite knowing that it would probably mean his end. Atticus Batman was nowhere to be seen. But had Volodja be truly only one man army when he actually had an army of drones behind his back? A hostile army, but when to think in term of physics then their intentions won't matter in certain situations...That thought made Volodja to leap towards the diamond shaped object. Drones followed him immediately. Volodja himself didn't reached the object. His jump was too short so he landed in front of it. But drones who repeated his jump had more power, speed and what's more important - body mass - and they were plentiful so they flew over Volodja's head and chances that the diamond shaped object gets hit by a heavy drone were big enough. First drone smashed to the side of the diamond like a giant fist. Others followed and smashed that object against the wall before they begun to land on top of it. Soon the diamond was buried under a drone pile. Volodja got up to his staggering feet and said quietly: "It's not the first time when creator is defeated by it's own creation. I am not expect you being completely defeated but while you are making your way back to the upper layers of this drone pile, I have at least a minute or two to tell you something, Atlas. Do you know that Belle Starr used to like Votaire's "Candide"? Especially that part where Professor Pangloss considered our world to be "the best of all possible words". I might not share that optimism, but despite of not being perfect this world is our world, and I agree with Voltaire who let Candide to reach to the conclusion that "we must cultivate our garden." Cultivate, not rebuild. Especially when it happens against the garden owner's will. You would know that if you had decency to ask from Belle. But you took a liberty to decide for her what's best. Just like you decided for others without asking their permission first! Sandy's, Jalina's,Whitney's and her sisters. You didn't even bothered to ask are you welcomed here." The drone pile begun to glow. Atlas was obviously trying to melt it to make his way back up like he successfully did to get rid of Lena's gun. Unfortunately for him he didn't consider one tiny but important detail when he tried to use the same method twice. Lena's weapon was relatively small but the drone pile was huge and massive amount of melted metal covered the diamond shape object like unbreakable shell. The glow vanished and heated metal let out couple of quiet Ding! sounds when it cooled down. Sometimes the creation can indeed be stronger than creator. Sometimes a schemer outsmarts himself. And sometimes overwhelming strength turns out to be a weakness. Maybe this was one of those times... Volodja sighed and continued: "I feel obliged to tell you that here is an universe where you are not only welcomed but also needed. A dying universe which needs a kick-start, only you can give. That should keep you busy enough. When you try one thing at the time and concentrate on that then you won't be bored but fascinated by it. You could see the growth and the bloom. I wish that I could do that phone call like E.T. to get you there where you truly belong. But I don't know the right number. And we lack manpower to roll you on board of the space ship if it comes, unless Belle asks Volge to help us with that."  |
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Post by Lena Marr on Apr 29, 2018 18:04:33 GMT
As Marcel Lestrange reached the side of the kneeling Lena Marr, she looked up weakly giving him a feeble smile - a far cry from the strong wicked grin that usually graced her pretty chalk white face. Suddenly the sound of the many crashing Drones first into the semi-solid diamond form of Atlas and then the machine walls of the cavern drew her attention.
Her hands in excrucuating pain, Lena only dimly heard Volodja Uljanov who had tricked the Drones into crashing into Atlas say bravely "I feel obliged to tell you that here is an universe where you are not only welcomed but also needed... And we lack manpower to roll you on board of the space ship if it comes, unless Belle asks Volge to help us with that."
The Drone bodies turned to slag and the translucent flickering red Atlas phased forward away from the wall unhurt but with a series of explosions occurring in his wake and places on the wall behind him on fire as he raged against Volodja, "You cannot hurt a God little human! A God goes where and whence he wishes. As to what Belle Starr wants, she will see things my way once she is a Goddess. Despite your interference, the transcendence ceremony will go on."
"Once she is a Goddess... meaning she's not a Goddess yet," Muttered Lena, the beginning of a desperate plan taken root in her mind then turning to Marcel who was kneeling next to her so she leaned over and kissed him gently before saying, "You know Pooh Bear, you always were the best part of my life."
Lena had thought about involving Marcel in her scheme but knew that any bullet would not be fast enough to keep Atlas from stopping the implementation of her plan. More importantly, Lena firmly believed Marcel would be destroyed if he even tried and his safety was paramount to her. From the corner of her sky blue eyes, she saw Atticus Batman enter the scene, moving slowly and obviously severely injured under his armor.
"No, Atticus can't help me either," Lena realized silently, "This suicide mission is mine and mine alone."
Lena forced herself from her knees to her feet being careful not to use her severely burned hands as her EGO psyche engaged her blur power but also warning her, "Lena if you survive this strategy of yours - and that's unlikely - you may never have use of you hands again! Please reconsider this..."
"Hope, I release you from your service," Ordered Lena silently thought through the telepathic link they shared. "Run along and take refuge in Atticus' EGO. He's used to lots of company in there so I don't think he'll mind and... Kabule is there! I hope he won't break your heart in the long run but I won't stand in your way anymore. Go and be happy!"
"No Lena just... no. I'm with you in this to the end because it doesn't have a chance of success if I don't keep you on your feet," Lena could feel Hope smile as she added, "I signed on for the long haul sister and I'm your EGO psyche and nobody else's."
Lena sighed and thought back to Hope, "Suit yourself," before blurring to the stone bed that Belle Starr lay sleeping on. Her ghost-like Avatar guessed what Lena intended and merely nodded her head in agreement before disappearing. Lena reached with one burnt hand to painfully pull out Dice, one of her twin Bowie knives, from its leg sheathe but the blackened skin sloughed off her slimy hand and she couldn't keep hold of it. Dice fell noisily to the ground stealing Atlas' attention from Volodja to herself.
"What are you doing little Castithan? Get away from her!" Bellowed Atlas in his eerie voice.
"Not a chance," Sneered Lena through her pain as she used both hands this time to get her other Bowie knife, Slice, out of it's sheathe before using it to adeptly slice Belle Starr's swan-like throat ear-to ear before then plunging the knife into Belle's breast with all her remaining strength.
As red blood gushed our of Belle's pale throat and her breast no longer rose and fell in peaceful sleep, Lena turned to face Atlas and yelled defiantly, "And now you have no reason to stay! Go home you big bastard! We don't need you here messing up our world - our universe! We can do that ourselves!"
"You stupid Castithan whore!" Screamed Atlas angrily, "You have not only destroyed my destined mate but also my linkage to the divine power in this universe. Even after the little man had destroyed the machinery that kept me energized, I could have still made Belle my mate who could keep me here with her own stolen powers. Now all that is gone and I am already being drawn to my home universe. However, I still have enough power in this universe to do this!"
A crimson beam emitted from the circle in the center of Atlas' diamond form encompassing Lena from head to toe and blasting her into the nearest wall. Lena's whole body was literally on fire but she still got to her feet though sheer power of will walking a few steps towards Marcel with one blazing arm outreached towards him before falling on her face. As her clothes burnt off and the skin all over her body blackened from the still burning flames, Lena used the last of her strength to send a message through her EGO hoping beyond hope it would reach him, "I love you Pooh Be-," before everything turned dark for Lena.
Atlas screamed his frustration before his diamond form became a multi-color blur that swooped upwards through the hole in the cavern's roof and into space. As the blur quickly passed the Viglant their sensors registered his passing as the energy net disappeared completely. The Gek in the space station also registered his passing presence as did the sole Gek observer on Pluto. If anyone had been watching, they would have seen Atlas' passage through the rift that then imploded without a sound once he had left.
With Atlas gone, the Drones keeping the Uljanov women captive became inert and fell to the ground. Both Sandy and Jalina Uljanov rolled with the fall and were unhurt in body but perhaps not in soul. Jalina ran crying to her father seeking solace in his embrace. For Sandy, such nuclear family reunions could wait as she ran to the stone pedestal to where her niece lay un-moving. Sandy tore her fatigue shirt to make makeshift bandages to try to staunch the blood flow from Belle's throat and chest but to no avail.
With tears in her blue eyes, Sandy exclaimed in disbelief to no one in particular, "Belle's dead! Belle Starr is really dead!"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Apr 30, 2018 11:14:17 GMT
With tears in her blue eyes, Sandy exclaimed in disbelief to no one in particular, "Belle's dead! Belle Starr is really dead!"
Finally realizing everything I had just witnessed, I remarked, "What the daking hell?! I sure as hell missed a lot!! Marcel check Lena! "
Then as I walked towards Belle, I said, "Sandy she is part Volge and I have seen them regenerate from nearly nothing before. Of course I have also seen synthetic Belles and heard somebody once made Belle clones. So anything is possible, especially since I can still see her spirit kneeling by her body's side. If everything were over for her, then she would already be moving on. So it is possible....."
Seeing Sandy glance the direction I had been looking, and then give me a confused look that changed to a, 'Have you finally lost it completely?!' look, I took a breathe wincing slightly from the pain. Then I shrugged my shoulders as if to say I must be mistaken.
Then I suddenly stated,"...Wait! If Atlas is gone, then perhaps Lady will already becoming out of the coma he had her in! Last I knew she was still a Harbinger of Life so it's possible that she can help. Volodja I assume you came the direct route. Did you see a cart or something on wheels that we can put Lena and Belle on?!
The quicker we can get them both back to the Dauntless Adventure, the sooner we can get them to the Vigilant so a Doctor can help Lena...and if we are lucky then Lady is conscious and may be able to help Belle since her spirit is still with us! Sandy bandage Belle's neck and chest as best as you can with what we have! We need to get them back to the Vigilant as fast as we can, whether we have a cart or not! So if we have to, then I will carry Belle, Marcel will carry Lena, Volodja will carry Jalina and we will all blur back to the Dauntless Adventure!"
As I gave the orders and helped Sandy bandage Belle as best as we could, I said, suddenly, "This..this cavern! It's Omec tech and a living machine! Perhaps there is still an Omec Rover or shuttle hidden in here that we could use!"
I glanced back at Lena, but knew she would be of no help, so I would just have to see what I could do myself. So I quickly stood up and said, "Sandy just do what you can, I have an idea!"
Then I quickly ran over to the closest wall. Removing a gauntlet I placed my hand on the wall and started focusing on following the energies flowing through the wall. Not far from the alter, I came to a sudden stop, as I felt a slight change in the wall's electrical currents. So I started moving my hand over the wall and found a hidden panel. Removing it, I recognized it as the same type of door controls as on the Dauntless Adventure. So I pushed a couple buttons and a hidden door opened. As it did I looked around and saw a rover just a little bigger than the Garilu. However what caught my idea was the med-tubes laying nearby, that could be set to either work as cryo-tubes or nanite-tubes depending on the current need. So I quickly ran over to them and started looking at them. Some contained dead Omec. One or two (which were obviously set to cry-freeze) housed still-comatose-and-cryo-frozen Omec. However what I focused on were the empty ones that were laying there. Quickly checking them, I discovered two of the vacant ones were hooked to portable generators and still worked, but just how would I use that to my advantage?
I looked back at the rover and had a sudden thought. So I quickly ran to it, wincing in pain as I did so but trying to ignore it. Once in the rover I looked around and noticed that it was a Medical Rover with a compartment made to house and power two med-tubes (bunk-bed style). However it currently lacked tubes, but I knew where to get those, now didn't I? I quickly checked the controls at that tube bunk and saw they were still functional. So next I sat in the Pilot chair and checked the Medical Rover's systems. They all seemed to be working well enough for us to get this out of the Forbidden Zone and onto the Dauntless Adventure. So I quickly put my gauntlet back on and then grabbed a small crate of medical bandages that I saw as I moved out of the rover. Next I stepped back into the main compartment where I quickly moved over to Sandy. As I set the crate of bandages by here, I said, "Here's a bunch of bandages, wrap her as well as you can. Then I need you to go in the room I just found! There is an Omec Medical Rover in there that works. So I need you to power it up, so we can get back to the Dauntless Adventure immediately!"
Then I turned and yelled, "Volodja! I need your help in here now!"
When Volodja came in, I showed him the two vacant but working med-pods and explained that I needed him to help me load them onto the Rover and then I could hook them in place, but first I needed him to help me place Belle into one. He agreed, so we quickly went back to where Belle lay. As we entered, I said, "Marcel, pick up Lena and follow us! I have an idea!"
With that said, Volodja helped me carefully carry Belle into the other room and place her in a med-tube, and I noticed that spirit-Belle was staying with us the whole time even though it was also now obvious that I was the only one here capable of seeing her, but why? Was I finally going nuts, or was it just once again a situation where I saw the dead or near -dead due to my close connection with the being known as the Grim Reaper (or Master Death) as I am his favorite Harbinger for some odd reason?
However I quickly put that thought on the back-burner for I had more important tasks to focus on at the moment. So I closed and activated the tube we had placed Belle in, with it set it to what I decided were the appropriate settings, activating both the cry functions and the nanite regeneration even though I wasn't sure the latter would help given how close to death Belle obviously was considering only I could see her spirit. Then with Volo at the head of the one containing Belle and me at the foot of it, we lifted it and carried it over to the Rover. Once at the Rover we entered and slid the tube into place on the top bunk. Once the first was in place, with Belle safely in it, I switched it to the Rover's power source and double-checked the settings. After satisfied with it's settings and activity, Volodja and I went to retrieve the second. As we did, Marcel came into the chamber carrying Lena, So I pointed to the tube Volo and I were about to retrieve and said, "Marcel place her in here quickly!"
As soon as he did, I closed the tube and set and activated it. Then as I was about to pick up my end Marcel pushed me aside and said, "Allow me Monsieur Batman."
I knew this wasn't a good time to argue, not to mention that with each strenuous activity I was only further aggravating my obviously serious injuries, so I merely nodded. Then once Marcel and Volo lifted it, they followed me into the Rover. Once it was in place on the bottom bunk, I took the appropriate steps with this tube as well. Just then Sandy and Jalina entered. So I closed the doors and said, "Sandy, maneuver us out of this place and get us to the Dauntless Adventure on the double!"
While I had been doing all of this, I kept thinking, "Damn it! Did I just lose another sister so soon after losing Erika?! Dak I hope Lady is alive! I can not lose everyone now that I finally have friends and family! I just can't!"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 30, 2018 16:38:37 GMT
By the tube where they put Lena Marr to recover stood a silent man smoking a cigarette. Volodja Uljanov walked to him and looked seriously into his steely eyes, saying: "I assume that you would like to blame me for everything that happened to Lena. You have a right to do that." Marcel replied with silence. He inhaled heavily and after that let out grey smoke cloud, ignoring Volodja for couple of minutes. Then he bothered to open his mouth and say: "I could blame you. It would be really easy to release my anguish on you. But blaming you for everything would be waste of perfectly good accusations which I can spare for myself. If I had acted faster then Lena would not be in this situation. She beat me by the second and now she is THERE!" he pointed at pod where Lena was put to recover. "Instead of her I should be there!" added Marcel quietly and then he supplemented his remark with following words: "Objectively speaking...You tried to stop Atlas on your own way. And you did it on your way by concentrating on Atlas himself which turned out to be insufficient. I am sure that you could not act otherwise because it would have been acting against your nature. Since I have to be objective then I will add that I am really proud of Lena! She is the one who saved the universe because she did what it takes to save our world. She paid for her heroism too. After the flaming Purgatory, she went through, it would be fair that no charges are pressed against her because she achieved redemption. And now you can return to your family and leave me here. I need to be alone." Volodja nodded silently, turned around and made his way to his wife and daughter. Marcel turned his glance away from him, lit another cigarette from the burning end of previous one and begun stroking the medical pod where his beloved Lena was placed, although he was very well aware that Lena could not feel his touch through the metal...  |
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Post by Belle Starr on Apr 30, 2018 18:36:14 GMT
As Atticus Batman walked towards Belle Starr, he said, "Sandy she is part Volge and I have seen them regenerate from nearly nothing before. Of course I have also seen synthetic Belles and heard somebody once made Belle clones. So anything is possible, especially since I can still see her spirit kneeling by her body's side. If everything were over for her, then she would already be moving on. So it is possible....."
Belle Starr stood staring at him with wide eyes then replied with a warm smile, "Of course I'm okay Atticus, I..." Then she looked down to see that her body was as transparent as a ghost realizing that she was in fact just that.
Seeing Sandy Bell Uljanov glance the direction Atticus had been looking and then give him a confused look that changed to a, 'Have you finally lost it completely?!' look, he took a breathe wincing slightly from the pain. Then Atticus shrugged his shoulders as if to say he must be mistaken.
Belle had just wondered why only Atticus could see her when she felt a firm hand grab hers and immediately turned with a hopeful look asking, "Vo?" However it wasn't her Prince Charming Vo Kshaa but in fact a handsome man with long brown hair and a neatly trimmed beard wearing farmer's garb smiling back at her. Furthermore they stood alone in a furrowed field covered in snow.
"You aren't Vo!" Exclaimed Belle with disappointment as she swiped an errant lock of blonde hair from in front of her blue diamond eyes.
The Bearded Man gave a pleasant laugh before replying, "No I'm not."
"Is he here?" Belle glanced around the snowscape searching furtively both hoping to find him but also hoping not to see him because that would mean he was dead too.
The Bearded Man's face turned grim as he answered, "He may be... there have been a great many newcomers here recently; so many that even I can't keep track. As you know, the world since the Pale Wars began is a turbulent and dangerous place."
Belle grinned replying, "Well, at least it's our world still!"
The Bearded Man smiled back saying, "Yes, your Protectors won quite a victory today but not without loss. You should be quite proud. You have left quite a legacy with their creation."
Belle's beautiful pale face reflected her surprise often forgetting her actions began the world peacekeeping force that was the Protectors. When she brought Vo, Taffer, and the others together it was to discover the source of the Volge teleportation powers for her own advancement in the Von Bach Corporation. Later she brought into the organization Lady Christianna, Atticus Batman, Volodja Uljanov and even rescuing Sandy Bell Uljanov from her entrapment since the Pale Wars. Still later the small team grew into a mighty organization devoted to Peace with so many others joining, many of whom died to further those goals like her good friend Erika Widowmaker.
"So I'm dead now," Said Belle with note of resignation in her voice then asking, "What happens next?"
"I guess that depends on you Belle," Replied the Bearded Man. "But let me ask you a question? Don't you think you deserve a rest? You have done much to make the world a better place."
"Yeah, but I had a whole passel of things still to do!" Answered Belle as she watched the sun begin to set over the frozen field.
The Bearded Man laughed again and his laugh calmed Belle's soul as he remarked, "You would be surprised how many who find themselves here say that but the fact is like in most cases there are others to continue your good work. It's your turn to rest... but if you still feel that way later, we can always revisit the question. Far be it from me to say that resurrection is impossible."
The two shared a friendly chuckle as Belle watched the setting sun reflect pink on the snow then she let the Bearded Man pull her hand gently and lead her towards the sunset but said in passing, "I hope my friends put on my tombstone, 'Belle helped more than she hindered' but I don't think I ever told anybody that! Funny how when your time has come your remember all the things you should of told your loved ones but forgot to do so until it's too late! I hope my friends know how much I love them and how they were more family to me then my own kin!"
"They know Belle, they know," Reassured the Bearded Man as he led her into the sunset.
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 1, 2018 11:56:04 GMT
After Sandy had piloted the Omec Medical Rover out of the 'living' cavern, it wasn't long before we reached the edge of the Forbidden Zone. As we neared it, I said gruffly with a tone that was even really sharp for me, "Sandy veer to the east. I discovered long ago that there is a hidden tunnel big enough for a vehicle. It will come out near a small Raider roadblock. Just go around it and if any Raiders are there run over any that are in the way."
Sandy Nodded and turned the direction I had told her. As we got there, she looked at me questioningly, so I responded with, "That vine wall. Drive through it. It is a holographic wall that I put up a while back when I 'acquired' a holo-emitter that could work in this harsh environment unhindered, and no I will not elaborate further on it. So don't ask."
After a pause, Sandy drove through as ordered and sure enough the holo-wall flickered as we drove through it proving that it was indeed a hologram. Sandy drove the Rover through the short tunnel and through a holo-wall that was at the other end. As we emerged and drove past the roadblock , we noticed that the Raiders were too busy dealing with a hellbug invasion to even notice us. Some skitterlings did scurry in our way, but they were no match for the rover as it plowed over them and Sandy guided it back to where the Dauntless Adventure was waiting. As we headed to the Dauntless Adventure, I notified Wolfram via EGO that we needed the hanger opened and it's land-ramp lowered right away because we were coming in hot with wounded.
As we reached the ship, the ramp had just finished lowering and we could see Attila standing inside by the open door. So Sandy immediately drove it up and into the hanger. Once we were in I contacted Joy to come to the hangar and examine the wounded, while Attila retracted the ramp and re-closed the hangar door. Then I told the others, "I will go to the bridge and get us into the air. We will meet with and dock on the Vigilant. From there we will return home."
I then went to the Dauntless Adventure's Bridge. Once there, I sat in the pilot's seat and powered up the ship. Then I lifted it up and back into space. The Vigilant was already Orbiting the Earth when we got into space. After Atika got Kaj's confirmation that we were clear to dock, she turned to tell me and I nodded in agreement. Then I slowed the Dauntless Adventure and steered it into the Vigilant's Hangar Bay. Shortly after powering the ship down, I turned to Atika and said, "Notify Doctor Quinn of our wounded."
Hearing that, Atika turned back to her comm station and did so. In the meantime I got on the Dauntless Adventure's ship comms and notified everyone that we were aboard the Vigilant and free to exit the Dauntless Adventure. Then I told Atika, "Contact Kaj and inform him to set course for home now that we are back onboard. I know Doctor Quinn is more than capable but the sooner we can get everyone back to the Fortress and Doctor Orion the better. In the meantime I am going to go see how Lena and Belle are doing."
However I didn't get far for shortly after stepping out of the Bridge and into the hall, I felt feint. So I stumbled into the Dauntless Adventure's now-empty break room and sat in a chair just before I lost consciousness. my EGO, Dinara reached out for help as she realized immediately what had happened.
Dinara immediately contacted Volodja's EGO Sophie pleading, "Sissy...SISSY! Atty...Atty is unconscious in the Dauntless Adventure's break room! He has suffered severe internal injuries and blood-loss, but you know Atty! He just would not listen or let up until the mission was over and he was certain we were all safely back on the Vigilant and heading home! I now have his wounds sealed, so he will recover soon, but he should be moved to the Vigilant's Infirmary and into Lady's room! Even if they are both unconscious I know their close proximity will help calm both their unconscious minds! Trust me on this! Look Volodja and Sandy are the co-first Officers, so I know I should notify them both directly, but I also know what loss Sandy is feeling after what happened to Belle, and I am not sure Mr. Volo would hear me given what his family has been through. If Atty stays in the break room I can probably have him recovered and back on his feet in a couple hours. However if he gets Medical help and is near Lady, I think that will be cut down to an hour at most, but hopefully doing that will actually shorten his recovery more than that, especially if the Doctor hooks him up to his Grid-electrolyte IVs as well!! So puhlease Sissy! Puhlease get through to Mr. Volo so he can get Atty to Medical and Lady, where he needs to be! PUHLEASE!"
Meanwhile on the Vigilant's Bridge where Kaj Oenfer was currently unaware of my unconsciousness, after Atika had given Kaj my orders, Kaj ordered the Vigilant's navigators to take the Vigilant home to Fortress K'shaa.
While all of that was happening, my eyes fluttered behind my helm to show that I was im deep REM sleep.
So when I opened my eyes, I realized I was once again sitting on a barstool in the Purgatory Bar in Limbo. However this time was unusual for me because for once Kabule and Kakusi weren't there. Just then Death appeared behind the bar. So I snapped, "I don't see the others! So why aren't they here?"
Death responded with, "They are not here, because I do not see a reason for them to be. So they are back in your mind where they currently belong."
I responded with, "So they aren't dead or near death, but what about me. Did I finally die? Is that it? My consciousness died but they survived and one of them will take over my body?!"
Death responded with, "What is with all the Atty-tude? It is nothing like that. Your are not dead either."
I said, "Then just why the daking hell am I here?!"
Death stated, "That is simple enough. You were near death but your EGO and Grid have already stopped you from dying. However the truth is I did not bring you here. You are here because you willed it. So ask what it is that you want. Then you can go back to your body to recover and I can continue with my rounds."
I snapped, "Fine! Belle, is she dead dead or can we bring her back?!"
Death responded with, "I can not answer that."
I snapped, "Can not or will not?!"
Death replied with, "Must we go through this again? You already asked that same question twice before. Once with Lady and once with Erika. So you know my answer is: BOTH. Besides as Belle's situation involved 'special circumstances', she was not on my list but somebody else's and that is all I will say on the matter. So is there anything else, my Harbinger?"
I responded resignedly with, "I was afraid you would say that. Just one more thing...Lady?!"
Death responded with, "As far as I know she is not currently on anybody's list, but our lists can change in an instance so I can not guarantee that."
I responded with, "Daking figures! Fine I am ready to go back, so I can see Lady!"
With that I returned to my body but remained asleep as my body was trying to recover from everything I had put it through.
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Post by Lady Christianna on May 2, 2018 2:09:14 GMT
Shortly after the giant Olmec machine was damaged and Lena Marr murdered Belle Starr in the Forbidden Zone, Lady Christianna woke up with a start in the Vigilant's infirmary. An alarm must have sounded in the nurse's station for Dr. Micha Quinn hurried into Lady's private patient's room shortly after.
"Hela," Greeted Lady as she began to remove the electrodes stuck all over her chalk white body that were monitoring her health status.
"Don't do that," Scolded Dr. Quinn, "At least not until I've checked the monitors."
Lady stopped watching with curiosity as Dr. Quinn narrowed both her green and brown eyes while they scanned the instruments before stating in a matter-of-fact manner, "You appear fit as a fiddle - a perfectly healthy girl of your age - but..."
"But what?" Asked Lady, her white eyebrows arching high above her wide pink eyes.
The human doctor frowned before answering with a warm smile, "There's no sign of either the Grid or the singularity energies that formerly permeated your every cell Lady. I don't know how or why, but you're a perfectly healthy but now normal Castithan teenage girl."
A pretty pout crossed Lady's slim angular face as she first looked to the pendant that her husband Atticus Batman had given her when they were betrothed finding that it no longer glowed blue. Then she lifted a small palm up, her brow furrowing in concentration as she tried to conjure up a flower there but to no avail.
"Powers gone," Admitted Lady with a sigh then with her Mona Lisa smile in place shrugged her slim shoulders now concentrating on immediate concerns, "Hungry."
Dr.Quinn looked at her antique watch given to her a long ago by her father confirming, "It's about lunch time for me too and you seem fine - just let me get those electrodes off you and that IV drip too and we can go to the mess hall together - but don't overdo it. A change of clothes for you is in the closet"
As they were eating a small lunch together, Dr. Quinn chatting about her childhood in Kansas and Lady listening intently, it was announced from the bridge over the loudspeakers that the Dauntless Adventure was arriving in the Vigilant's main hangar. A big grin crossed Lady's face as she exclaimed happily "Atticus!" while leaping out of her chair and running to that hangar as fast as her short legs could carry her.
So enthused was Lady that although Dr. Quinn had much longer legs she had trouble keeping up with Lady as she hurried to her husband. Although her powers were gone, Lady's EGO radar worked just fine so she soon located him in a hallway off the Dauntless' bridge collapsed in a chair there. Lady's smile turned upside down a she hugged his shoulders only being able to do so because he was sitting and she was standing.
Dr. Quinn got on comms and quickly contacted the Vigilant med-bay calmly ordering, "Commander Batman has collapsed at my location just off the Dauntless Adventure's bridge. Bring a med team and a stretcher here, stat!" Then turning to Lady saying in all sincerity, "Atticus will be okay! He's a tough cookie."
Lady concentrated with all her might hoping to be able to cure him of his ills like she could before when she had her Harbinger of Life's powers but nothing happened so she began to cry mumbling through her tears, "Tough cookies crumble too!"
*****
Meanwhile in Atticus Batman's EGO mindscape, Lady's EGO psyche Amber ran to Dinara, Atticus' EGO psyche, embracing the smaller Irathiant woman in a bear hug and kissing her passionately before swinging her around as they both giggled then saying enthusiastically, "Oh Dinara I missed you so much!"
Then with a mercurial switch in moods to a more serious one, Amber reassured Dinara, "Now don't worry! Lady has brought medical help and we both know Atticus has recovered from much more worse wounds than these! Anyhow, I'm kind of glad he is out of it at the moment - don't look at me that way, I like him but... I don't know how he is going to react to what I'm going to show you and which I've wanted to show you for some time now but with one thing after another I just never got a chance to. I need to run it by you and see if - I don't know - maybe lose the memory for his sake."
Amber held one red clay colored hand palm up towards Dinara and a small bluish hologram appeared there. The hologram was easily recognizable as Atticus' dead sister Erika Widowmaker wearing her army fatigues and boots as she stood at ease speaking. From the words that were said, Dinara soon realized that this was Erika's long awaited will and testament.
Much of it was about how much Erika loved her children and how she wished that she could be there to watch her grandchildren grow up but if they were hearing this the Gods must have other plans for her. Then she spoke of how proud she was of her friends in the Protectors and the good works they were doing. Erika had a special message to her good friend Belle Starr, hoping she would reach her goal of civilizing the Volge but that neither she nor the Protectors should forget how important they were to each other and to never abandon their close friendships for such relationships were priceless. Near the end she spoke fondly of her new friend Count Cassanendo and how she would always treasure their short time together.
Finally Erika addressed Atticus stating with the slight smile that was how she signified extreme happiness stating how she was so glad they had been reunited and got to know each other but then turned serious admitting, "And now I must tell you of the great family secret I have harbored from even before I met you again. I should have told you then but... I guess I felt how most big sisters do and felt I should protect you even now that we are both adults. I've felt guilty once I discovered you were alive that I didn't do more to protect you when you were a child - I should have looked harder and longer to find you but - that's neither here nor there, I should not have kept our family secret to myself."
The hologram of Erika Widowmaker could be seen to take a deep breath before continuing, "Once my clan had convinced me that my family was dead, I made it a priority to find out everything I could about all of them in Votan Collective and E-Rep records alike along with some that predated both governments before the Pale Wars when our races were getting along peacefully together. I have all of what I discovered copied on a series of data disks in a footlocker hidden under my bed in my quarters at Fortress Kshaa if you would like to peruse them yourself."
Erika's hologram took a second even deeper breath before revealing, "Here's the synopsis of what I found: There wasn't much on you as you were only a baby when we began the trip from Irath to Earth but there was a lot as to both father and mother. Father was a clan leader and political icon for our race and mother a well know spiritual shaman thus both were welcomed upon the bridge of our ark ship whenever they wanted to be there however... during the trip something must have happened. As we neared Earth's orbit, visual tapes show that... father went mad! He charges with a Votan blaster in hand onto the bridge yelling about something - the audio tapes were ruined - and shot everyone on the bridge including the Indogene pilots and... how do I tell you? I guess just by doing so! Mother can be seen coming onto the bridge holding her hands out in supplication trying to calm him down but... he just shoots her down before then crashing the ark ship onto Earth's surface."
Looking incredibly sad, Erika's lips pursed before saying, "Looking at our father's actions and my son's as well and after consulting several Irathient shamans, I have come to the conclusion that the Gods have cursed as they sometimes do the men of our family with insanity - including you I'm sorry to say! It would explain your sudden mood shifts and quickness to anger with sometimes disastrous results. But My Brother you are strong and can overcome this curse! Do not let Gyargye (the stomach and house of emotion) overcome Gyabire (the brain and the seat of intellect) and Gyagbe (the heart and the source of vitality) in your spirituality. I just wish I was still able to help you do so. Stay safe My Brother and may Lady help keep you from straying from the path of the righteous always!"
As the hologram disappeared, Amber looked at Dinara with large jade eyes and asked, "What should I do with this Dinara? Atticus always seems on the edge of rage and I don't want to be the one to push him into the abyss of insanity!"
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 3, 2018 11:38:40 GMT
As the hologram disappeared, Amber looked at Dinara with large jade eyes and asked, "What should I do with this Dinara? Atticus always seems on the edge of rage and I don't want to be the one to push him into the abyss of insanity!"
Dinara looked at Amber with shock for a few seconds before finally speaking. "I am glad you are here again. I know he will wake up at some point cuz Kakusi and I healed all his wounds, it will just take quite awhile for us to reproduce all the blood he lost, but since Lady brought a medical team they can get him to the Medical Bay where Doctor Quinn can treat him as well."
Then as Lady hugged Amber again she said, "Amber-baby I am glad you like Atty and I know he has issues but he does see you as his niece and my girlfriend as he has already proven by constantly fighting for you and US. So even though he is rough around the edges don't forget he does love all of his family even if he has a hard time showing it. Although....you should also be glad neither of us are Kabule. Their relationship is so complicated especially after their confrontation several hours ago!...but that doesn't matter right now. What matters is Atty and his recovery."
Then after giving Amber a quick kiss Dinara said cautiously, "As for this family secret, Atty does have a right to know. However he is as stubborn and protective of his family, if not more so than his Sister. So knowing him he will keep that secret to himself, more to protect his son than anything, and he will only tell Lady if she asks him about it because he will keep things from her if he feels it is safer that way, but he would NEVER lie to her..."
Then Dinara looked into Amber's eyes and said with resolve, "Besides I don't have any doubts about Atty when it comes to this. Obviously his father went insane and lost it based on what Erika said. Cael has sanity issues as well. However Atty is different. He lost his sanity long ago and as a way to cope created Kabule to keep him company and protect him. Kabule may be plenty of bad things and may embrace almost every vice ever known but he has always been there to help Atty in some way even if it constantly puts them at odds.
Atty on the other hand was in an extremely dark place his whole childhood while Kabule was in control of their body, and the unpredictable things that happened where usually because Atty took control for a little while. His old clan, the Dawn Patrol, gave him some needed stability when he joined them and made himself their protector, though he still also chose to maintain the role of loner. However after he met Belle the first time he discovered not everyone saw him as the monster he saw himself as.
Then went they met again years later, he saw a kindred spirit in her as she did in him and they opened up to each other. That is when he truly started caring about anything. Then after Belle introduced him to Lady at the Overpass there was something about the young girl that he just couldn't shake even though they only met for a few seconds. When Belle brought him in and he had that first surprising kiss with Lady he realized he never wanted to stay completely in the darkness anymore as he wanted to be near her if she would allow it. Discovering Erika was his sister just re-enforced it as he wanted to prove to all three women, as well as to himself, that he could be the nice hero that he felt they wanted him to be.
So he of course tried fully embracing the light after that and we all know that ended badly. However he has since realized he can not be the saint that he thought they all wanted him to be no matter how hard he tried. So instead he decided to keep being himself and fully embraced the shadows and although he has moments where he oversteps that edge between good and evil/light and dark, on an instinctual level something always ends up reminding him of who he wants to be for himself, Lady, the twins, Erika and Belle. So he always ends up back on that line. I know Erika was always worried about him fully losing it, however he did that long ago, way before I was his EGO and has since adapted and found an uneasy balance on that grey line of the shadows.
However that explosion he was in that fully activated me and merged him with Kakusi and fully gave Kabule his own sentience (so-to-speak) turned out to be a good thing because the three of us help make him a more complete person mentally. Then after falling in love with Lady and gaining two sisters, an adopted and a biological one, has helped him further. As I have just said, He has since realized that he lives on that fine edge between sanity and insanity/ between good and evil / between light and dark, and he has fully embraced his existence as (what he calls himself) a Shadow Warrior. I admit I do sometimes worry about him for various different reasons but he seems to be at his best when he is walking that line and occasionally zigzagging across it but not straying too far from the shadow where he is at his best."
Dinara paused to take a breath as she considered what she was about to say, then continued with, "Heck Atty is in this current situation because he put his life on the line to save his family. He didn't just make a self-sacrificing act in hopes of saving the world from him like he used to, but he actually risked his life to save Lena and when he was hanging above what he thought was certain death he...don't tell Lena as Atty would hate me for it if she knew this but...he was actually fine with his last act of heroism being that he was giving Lena another chance at her own life. Even though they seem to find pleasure in irritating each other, he does seem to see something in her that he likes or he would have killed her long ago.
Umm anyway MY Amber-Baby I went off on a long tangent but yes I do think we need to tell Atty. However I think it would be best if we do stack the odds in our favor when we tell him...Another words we should wait until he is with Lady and their cute little tykes. Then we should appear in holographic form and tell them together. Then Lady will know, as she deserves to know it all as well, and since all of Atty's main sources of stability will be present it is less likely that he will have a major outburst.....Oh they now have Atty in the private room in the Med Bay that Lady was in! So that's good! Now to do something I have been needing to do since...since I saw you die several times in that stupid Circus world!"
With that Dinara surprised Amber by taking control and very passionately kissing Amber hard but lovingly. Then she pulled Amber down onto her bed and just snuggled into her with a smile on her pretty little Irathient face. As Dinara laid there with her head on Amber's chest feeling Amber's breasts gently rise and fall with her breathing as they held each other, Dinara said quietly, "I have missed you and this sooo sooo much Amber-Bay! I am so very glad I have you back! Soooooo___You wanna hear something really really weird? Not only did Hope develop feelings for Kabule in that Circus but they were real and she still loves him but that isn't the weird part...No the weird part is that...I think he actually loves her too, in his own messed up way that is....but the weirdest part...The weirdest part is that there is some sort of relationship or something going on Between Lena's personality, Lust, and...wow I still can not believe I am saying this as I didn't know he could feel anything...but Lust and Sazri Kakusi! Isn't that the WEIRDEST thing that you've EVER heard, Amber-Baby?!"
Meanwhile the medical team had arrived in the Dauntless Adventure's break-room and put me on a stretcher. Then with Lady holding one of my huge hands they whole time, they put me on a stretcher and carried me to the Vigilant's infirmary. After taking me into what was Lady's private medical room, they transferred me onto the bed that already had clean sheets. Then after Doctor Quinn had a couple of orderlies remove my heavy armor and weapons, she dismissed them. Once they had all left and closed the door; with only Doctor Quinn, Lady and myself left in the room; Doctor Quinn retrieved a tray of bandages and surgical scissors. Then she came over to me and looking at the Grid infused-full-body-jumpsuit that I always wore under my armor, Lady and Doctor Quinn could see that the whole chest area was dark purple from it absorbing so much of my blood.
Seeing the fear in Lady's eyes upon seeing how bloody my jumpsuit was, Doctor Quinn kept a straight face and assured Lady yet again that things would be fine. Then Doctor Quinn reached out and tried to open my jumpsuit with no luck so she said, "Crap I forgot Doctor Orion had warned me that when that Grid-cloth is intact it will not open for anybody but the Commander, since it is a part of him. So I guess I will have to cut it off, but I will try not to cut more than I have to as I know he feels pain whenever it is damage."
Then as Doctor Quinn grabbed the scissors and started to reach towards my chest with them, Lady gently placed her hand on the doctor's and said simply, "I'll open it."
With that Lady slowly reached out and grabbed the jumpsuit where it opens. As she was told there was no trace of my Grid influence left in her, she wasn't sure it would open for her either. However she did not want to see more pain inflicted on me than necessary so she had to try. So After Lady took a deep breath and held it in, she tugged on the jumpsuit. Upon feeling and seeing it open as easily for her as it always has, Lady finally let out the breathe. Then finished opening the jumpsuit for Doctor Quinn. As Doctor Quinn looked at my now uncovered but bloody chest, she grabbed a cloth and some antibacterial solution from the tray and was about to clean my chest of some of the blood, but Lady held out her hand and looked at Doctor Quinn with her big pink eyes.
So seeing the look in Lady's eyes, Doctor Quinn handed her the cloth and said, "Alright go ahead and clean off his chest while I connect with his EGO and get a full workup on him."
Then Doctor Quinn looked at her data-pad after connecting to my EGO's diagnostics of my body.
While Doctor Quinn examined my EGO's information and glanced at my chest on occasion to see if Lady's cleaning of me revealed any injuries, Lady proceeded to slowly and methodically remove the blood. However upon feeling Lady's soft little hands touching my chest, my eyes fluttered open and I said quietly, "Did somebody mention cookies?"
Then seeing Lady looking at me with her hands still on my chest, I smiled and said, "Don't look so sad. I will be fine. However with how hectic things have been lately, I had to find some way to get some time with you and this was the best I could come up with...and I must say I am enjoying the sponge bath that you are giving me Snow Angel, but how about a kiss now that we are both awake?"
With that Lady kissed me. At that moment Doctor Quinn still looking at her data said, "Good to hear that you are awake already Commander. Based on your EGO's information, it looks like all your wounds are healed. However you did lose a lot of blood. So I will have to give you a blood transfusion. However as you are so against medical aid unless absolutely necessary, we don't have any Irathi/Grid blood in the banks, which means hooking you to a Grid-electrolyte IV during the blood transfusion, as there is no chance of any of us having the same blood match as you but your children and they are way to young to donate.
However on the bright side your Grid physiology will convert any blood in your system as needed and feeding it with the Grid-electrolyte treatment will speed it up. Furthermore thanks to the fact that your sister and you who were a matching blood type, ignoring the Grid essence of course, and the fact that the Vigilant does still have her last blood donation in our bank, that will also decrease your recovery time. I do so love all of Orion's thorough notes. They are very helpful especially where you and your unique physiology are involved. So allow me a moment to go get her blood and a Grid-electrolyte IV. Then I will hook it up and give you two some privacy."
Upon giving her diagnoses, Doctor Quinn left long enough to get a nurse and the blood and IV. While she was gone, I looked at Lady's pendant and reached out and opened it. Touching the piece of Grid-cloth in it, I said, "Poor little guy. It looks like he gave all he had. No problem." With that I concentrated and absorbed him it back into my body with the finger touching the cloth piece. As I did so, I opened my other hand palm up, and as I absorbed the dormant piece, I made a duplicate piece appear in my open hand. Once done, I picked the glowing piece up and put it in Lady's pendant to replace the piece I had absorbed. Then I reclosed the pendant, and moved my hand up to gently and lovingly trace Lady's neck and jawline with a finger tip.
When Doctor Quinn came in with her nurse, they hooked me up to the Grid-Electrolyte IV. Next Doctor Quinn began the blood transfusion. Once she was happy with the progress, she dismissed the nurse. Then Doctor Quinn said, "Alright you two, it looks like you will be fine as long as you allow both treatments to finish and get some rest while that is happening. That means keep the affection to PG at most, although I'd prefer it stay G-rated until we have gotten more blood and Grid-electrolytes into your stubborn ass. So just cuddling and gentle kissing, as you need to take it easy for once Commander. I will be back to check on you in 30 minutes."
After saying that, Doctor Quinn left the room, shutting the door behind her to give us privacy. Once the door was closed, Lady removed my mask. Then I pulled her down onto the bed next to me, where she snuggled into me as I gently and lovingly kissed her on the lips and forehead.
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Post by Sandy Bell on May 3, 2018 14:22:52 GMT
Sandy Bell Uljanov stood watching the two Olmec cryogenic healing pods placed in a part of the Vigilant's infirmary not often visited. In the pods were two people who had become huge parts of her life as a Protector. The first was blood kin, her niece Belle Starr, who Sandy first met as a host to her body-less spirit when Sandy was first revived long after the Pale Wars. Because of those peculiar circumstances and after she regained her body that was in stasis, they both were physically in their twenties and later became more like close sisters than like aunt and niece. In the second pod was neither a relative nor even a friend but a sometimes ally who Sandy had grown to respect and, although she would be loathe to admit it, even like in some ways.
Lena Marr was everything that Sandy was not. Sandy had been brought up in the middle-class suburbs of pre-Pale Wars Miami later earning her mechanical engineering degree in San Diego before joining the EMC as an officer when the Pale Wars began. Lena grew up streetwise on the streets of Post-War Lima as a child prostitute and thief then later became a spy and assassin for the Votan Collective. Sandy was a soldier with a single-minded devotion to duty and cause who then took that commitment to her personal life as well. In many ways, Sandy was the epitome of law and order whereas Lena was exactly the opposite. Lena was a mercenary who thrived on chaos and personal gratification, who up until recently was as promiscuous and hedonistic as a person can be.
"Until recently" being when she met her criminal partner and present lover, Marcel Lestrange. If Lena was fire, Marcel was ice with a cool demeanor that somehow balanced Lena's often mercurial mood changes. Somehow they seemed to make it work. Most surprising to Sandy though was they appeared to be just as much in love and devoted to each other as Sandy and her husband, Volodja Uljanov were.
Sandy's blonde eyebrows shot up over her blue eyes as she spotted Marcel sitting in a shadowed corner somehow unnoticed by Sandy when she entered the room but now watching her with intense grey eyes that made her uneasy and to feel like she had to give an explanation for her presence so she blurted, "I'm... um ... just here to check on Belle and - you know - make sure the pods are all secure. I... I've asked the Synth Sister Whitney to join me here as she is our resident scientist right now and her people have a lot more experience dealing with Olmec technology then we do."
Right then Whitney entered the room with a cool air allowing Sandy to give a sigh of relief at having someone else in the room with her and Marcel. With a demure smile on her pale beautiful porcelain doll-like face, Whitney's long white ponytail waved to and fro as her ice blue eyes quickly checked the monitoring devices on the two Olmec pods. With a satisfied nod, she then turned to the other two people in the room to give her report.
"I'm not an expert on Olmec technology, but we have blended Votan, human, and Olmec tech in Synth City. I have helped repair the geothermal generator that runs most of the city and it is primarily Olmec in origin," Confessed Whitney as she turned to Marcel and reported, "However I know enough to say confidently that Miss Marr will recover completely in time. The pod is already replacing her burned skin with new skin. Although her EGO tells me that she is worried that Lena will not regain full use of her hands, I don't think that is true considering the Olmec technology involved. Mr. Lestrange, I firmly believe she'll be up and about as usual in about a week with full use of her hands."
Whitney's smile faded as she gently touched Sandy's arm with one pale hand in an attempt to comfort and admitted sadly, "The pod carrying Miss Starr is working properly but I'm afraid it won't do much good other than preserving her body perfectly. It appears that all life signs are gone I'm sorry to say. My condolences Mrs. Uljanov. I wished I had gotten to know her better. Miss Starr seemed to be a very nice person."
"She was, Whitney, she was," Sandy replied absentmindedly as her mental focus was on the small metal headband with two blinking lights affixed to Belle's forehead which she pointed out to Whitney while asking, "And what of that machine? Is that Olmec?"
Whitney's pale brow furrowed as she searched her data-banks for a few minutes before saying, "No, in fact my references confirm that it is of human origin and in fact was invented by the Protectors and identified by designation: Dream Machine."
Sandy's tan visage looked grim as she remarked, "I thought I recognized it. Belle once told me that after Vo Kshaa disappeared the first time she became addicted to the Dream Machine as it was the only way she could be with him then. Belle showed it to me after she broke the addiction and later confessed she kept a smaller version in her duffle bag to remind herself that she was vulnerable and to never succumb to it's temptation again."
"Miss Starr must have succumbed," Surmised Whitney as she stared intently at Belle's body.
"I don't think so," Answered Sandy slowly shaking her blonde head in disagreement then explaining, "Belle was a strong person when she put her mind to it. My first guess is someone else hooked her to the Dream Machine when she was unconscious - probably the same person who had her on the IV in that cavern in the Forbidden Zone and kept her body safe there. My second guess is that person was that small Volge servant of hers - the one Atticus calls Chicken Bob. Furthermore, my third and likely last guess is that it was the Dream Machine that connected her to the giant Olmec machine in that cavern that somehow allowed her to leech powers from Earth's other powerful entities like our own Harbinger of Life, Lady Christianna. That was how Belle's avatar was able to travel to Atlas' universe and unfortunately also drew him here to ours."
"Why would this Chicken Bob attach such a dangerous device to Miss Starr?" Queried Whitney with one raised snow white brow.
Sandy spread her tan arms wide as she explained, "Its only guesswork on my part and we may never know for sure but I believe he thought he was saving her life. Look at the scorch marks on Belle's clothes. I saw similar scorch marks all over the Volge encampment in the Forbidden Area. I bet they got caught in one of those weird but deadly electric storms that are prevalent in the Forbidden Zone. Belle got hit, the rest of her Volge followers scattered, maybe even the ground collapsed under them, but loyal Chicken Bob took Belle where we found her salvaging equipment - including the Dream Machine - from the campsite. Not knowing much about humans, he probably attached all kinds of equipment to Belle until he found the right combination that would appear to both keep her alive and comfort her."
"That's a lot of assumptions," Whitney commented with both white eyebrows held high in an expression of doubt.
Sandy laughed before replying, "As Belle might say, that's often the basis of a good yarn!"*
* Dictionary definition: yarn
yärn/ Submit
noun (informal
) - a long or rambling story, especially one that is implausible.
Synonyms: story, tale, anecdote, saga, narrative.
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