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Post by Belle Starr on Jan 24, 2015 6:36:58 GMT
Belle Starr couldn't sleep after her and Vo's lovemaking. She was always invigorating by it, but there was a whole other reason to her insomnia this time. If she was right, the mission she had for her team would be entirely different than most of them as ark hunters had undertaken. The loot may be even nonexistent, but the dangers would be just as great or greater. Belle for one loved the idea of exploration with the chance to save innocents but with little to no physical reward, but would the others go for it?
Belle got up and showered, changing into her black Casti business suit with the green coat. It was the outfit she always wore at VBI power meetings, for it leant her an air of authority and confidence, or so she thought. As she left, Belle closed the door of the bedroom carefully so as not to awaken Vo. She didn't want to worry him until she absolutely had to, so until then, she thought he should rest, for both he and she would need his strength later.
She went to the mess hall, made some coffee and grabbed a hard roll which was her usual fare for breakfast. Belle was definitely not known for her cooking, although she enjoyed the fact that Vo was. She took her breakfast, such as it was, to the war room. From there, she checked in with her VBI "office", what she called the secret VBI bunker in the canyon below Overpass, the headquarters of VBI Security Analysis Division of which she was director, and its crack team of hackers led by her second-in-command there, Chloe MacGyver.
"Hey Chloe, still receiving that transmission through the VBI satellites?" Belle asked cheerfully.
"You bet Boss," Chloe answered in a thick Australian accent, "I've been having cut lunches and butchers since this started, and the transmission is always the same! I'm bored shitless listening to it, and I'll be a Bunyip's clacker if it isn't a automated message. You sure you want to go all that way for maybe nothing at all?"
"Positive!" Belle asserted, "I promised Vo once upon a time! You keep me apprised if there are any changes! And don't have too many of those butchers, don't want you drunk on the job!"
"Aw Boss, don't take away all my fun!" Chloe answered lightheartedly, "I think the message is dinky-di, it's genuine I'm sure, but... is it worth it?"
"To me it is," Belle narrowed her diamond blue eyes, "Belle out!"
Belle went back to checking her figures, and the astronomical holo-maps, getting ready for the others to join her in the war room for her presentation. She really did hope it was truly worth putting her friends, her family, in danger again!
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jan 24, 2015 12:51:49 GMT
Laying in bed, still holding Christianna to me, Dinara chimes in, "Hey Atty, I don't want to interrupt the snuggley wuggley, but you did tell me to tell you if somebody was using Base communications to contact outside sources."
I think back, "Who is it and what are they up to?"
"Miss Starr is checking astronomical maps and some various different figures." With a little annoyance noticeable in her tone, she adds the last part, "She also contacted that sex-crazed aussie girl, Chloe!"
"So?"
"What do you mean so?!"
"I mean they work together. You didn't eavesdrop did you?"
"No. I am sure you are right that we can trust Miss Starr. Afterall she has already proven that a few times."
"Then why bother me? And why worry about Ms. MacGyver?"
"I contacted you because you wanted me to keep track of base communications. As for that aussie, she only wants you for one thing, and you know it. That girl in your arms is MUCH MUCH better for you!"
"I will definitely agree. Don't worry, Chloe knew that was a one time thing. As for the girl in my arms, I would have to agree that she is GREAT for me. However, your concern seems like more than just tactical advice."
Just then the hologram of a 16 year old half Irath/half grid girl appears in front of me. I respond with, "Dinara is that you?"
"Of course it is. You know I'd warn you if somebody else appeared!"
I reply with, "I see you finally took a form of your choosing. But why that one? You look like you could be..."
She interrupts with, "Your sister?! Well DUH! Kakusi and I told you! We are family! You and he are brothers bound by your genetics and body. I am your little sister, bound by science and that rage that would have killed you if it weren't for Belle and Doctor Orion and that Gulanee pod!"
"I see..... So your concern and jealousy of Chloe is because you don't want Christianna to get hurt?"
"I do not want either of you hurt by YOUR past sexcapade with Miss Mac-Guy-fucker!!!"
"Wow such language! Look, did Chloe and I hold hands, or spend the night together after that encounter? Did we cuddle before or after?! Did we ever say we cared for the other as more than friends?!?! Was it implied otherwise?!?!?! Did we ever even share a kiss?!?!?!?!?!"
"You know all the answers to those is no!"
"Exactly. I also didn't get her a present, and especially not one I took all the time and care to make just to see her smile, like I did for Christianna! It was strictly sex with Chloe. I believe I have been doing a good job so far of making sure MY Snow Angel knows I genuinely need her around and may even love, her even if I can't say it to her yet! Wow! You really are being an annoying and nosey little sister, aren't you?!"
Dinara giggles then says, "I sure hope so! Gotta make sure my big broth' Atty and even Kakusi butt, are being cared for and know they are loved!"
"We know you love and care for us. You don't need to notify me of Belle using communications...However you might as well notify Belle and see if she can help us find some trustworthy personnel to run and maintain the base for us, full time. I will see that they are paid."
"Ok message sent. Now back to our conversation! I do not just mean loved by Belle and me as sisters. I mean that beauty in your arms already proclaimed that her heart was yours, so by her especially! Think about that!"
As Dinara's holographic image fades away since she is done making her point, I think about the last thing she said, with Christianna's head on my chest still, her ear near my mouth, and without realizing it, I whisper, "I know my Snow Angel Loves me. I love her too." Then I just lay there trying to continue to just enjoy her next to me, not realizing that she might have heard me say I love her, until I NEED TO get up.
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Post by Belle Starr on Jan 24, 2015 17:19:08 GMT
Belle Starr looked at the giant digital clock above the door into the war room, seeing that it wasn't too early, and it wasn't too late, so she willed MOM to send a message to her team mates' EGOs, "Sorry to interrupt your rest, but we need to discuss a possible mission! Please assemble in the war room ASAP, although you may want to stop by the kitchen and grab some food on your way! Thanks y'all!"
Belle, with a glint of mischief in her diamond blue eyes, then played through MOM to the others' EGOs the whole song of "Everything is Awesome," - the LONG version!
"Belle! Really! Act your age!," Admonished MOM, her EGO's psyche.
"Aw MOM, I'm only funning! They can mute it when they get tired of it!" Belle thought to MOM, but then reflected, "I'm only 21 years old! Most people my age are enjoying music, joking and partying with their friends! And here I am planning a mission to space to save innocents, trying to change the organizational culture of a worldwide corporation from within, keeping an inner monster in check, and maybe sending my friends to their deaths! When did I get so old? Don't answer me MOM, it was a rhetorical question!"
MOM didn't, but if Belle could have seen MOM's image in the small white cottage in the vast white of her EGO, she would have seen a very sad expression on the visage of her mother.
Belle's team mates filed in slowly, some with food, others without, taking seats around the war room. Chris Robet came in first with his pet hellbug Tim at his heels. Chris looked a bit bewildered as was his penchant. She often wondered why he stayed with the team, for being an E-Rep soldier would be a much safer occupation then being a team mate of hers. Belle thought that maybe he was an adrenalin junkie, for certainly the team's adventures surely fueled that addiction, but she didn't think he looked the type, not did he seem one prone to self destruction. A possible problem for another day thought Belle. Belle frowned at the hellbug's presence, but she trusted Chris' ability to control it, so she said nothing, even when it hissed at her when they went by her to take a seat. She merely nodded her head at Chris, thanking him for coming
Atticus and Lady Christiana came next hand-in-hand, looking very much like Mutt and Jeff, two mismatched friends from a comic strip originating in 1907, one being very tall and the other very short, whose humorous stories she had read in the old used book store of Papa Boudreaux's friend in N'Awlins. Lady held tight to Atticus' large hand looking happy as a clam, as the expression goes. Belle was never sure what that expression meant, but she didn't have time to reflect on it now. They sat next to each other, Lady still clinging to his hand, as Belle expected. She smiled at them in recognition of their presence, inwardly hoping neither of them would be too emotionally hurt in their relationship. Knowing both their pasts, she knew they would have an uphill battle if they were to make it work, and she didn't have much hope it would. Belle hadn't said anything to Lady's father, one of Belle's earliest friends in the Bay Area, and she didn't feel it was her place, but dreaded the time he found out. As a leader in her clan of ark hunters, he might set the whole clan on Atticus and then Belle would have torn allegiances indeed! Another problem for another time thought Belle!
Finally Vo came in, the lanky Irathian bringing in a platter of food for the team, making sure Belle ate a POW sausage and egg biscuit sandwich before she began her presentation. They kissed at the lectern, she still kicking up one foot as they did, looking both sweet and humorous doing so in her Casti business suit. As Vo sat down flashing his lopsided smile that always reinforced her confidence, Belle tugged on the lapels of her green suit jacket and swiped her always errant blond bangs from in front of her big blue eyes with one pale hand before she began speaking.
"First, thank you all for coming" Belle began standing behind the lectern that held her note pad, which she didn't need and wouldn't refer to, but which was reassuring by it's presence. "After our less than stellar last mission, and my rather untimely transformation, your attendance is more than I ever could expect! Any way, I know that several of you, myself included, were disappointed that we never did get to go to space! Well the good news is that we have another chance! And not only that, but he have the chance to maybe rescue a lot of innocents in the bargain!"
Before continuing, Belle turned on the holographic projector, showing a 3-D image in the middle of the war room of the Earth, the belt of ark debris around it, and the moon, "Before our last mission, I had VBI realign their satellites to help us, but my second-in-command at the VBI's Division of Security Analysis, Chloe Mac Gyver, noticed something that had nothing to do with our mission, but that was noteworthy none the less! First she detected a faint repetitive message coming from the far side of the moon! We haven't been able to decipher it, although my VBI team is working on it, but our best guess is that it is some type of SOS!"
Belle noticed Atticus' posture stiffen when she mentioned Chloe MacGyver's name, and more importantly, Belle noticed that Lady noticed it to, looking up at him with a question in her pink eyes. Yet another problem for another time thought Belle to herself.
Belle magnified the hologram to focus on just the moon and what could only be an ark ship parked in stationary orbit on its far side, then said, "Chloe traced the signal to this ship parked on the dark side of the moon. It doesn't look like a warship, but like one that carries colonists, according to my sources in the Votanis Collective. And as Chloe put it, the lights appear to be on! It is fully active, although dormant! It is likely that hundreds, maybe thousands of colonists are still on that ship in suspended animation! Problem is, nobody wants to do anything about it! VBI, E-Rep, and even the Votanis Collective know about it but don't think the cost is worth what would be gained! I don't see it that way! If there is even a possibility that we can save innocents, than I think we should try! I hope you agree with me!"
Belle turned off the hologram of the moon and the ark ship parked by it, then added, "There is also a personal aspect to this mission as well, which makes the mission even more important to me! There is writing on the side of the ship most of which is obscured by the darkness on the far side of the moon, but Chloe was able to magnify the picture enough to make out one word!"
Belle turned on the 3-D projector again, and one word in Irathian font hung in the air above the team's head, "Kshaa!"
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Jan 24, 2015 18:31:23 GMT
Vo jumped off his seat, staring at the word shown on the projector in utter disbelief. Once he made sure his eyes were not deceiving him, he sat back on his chair and smiled.
"Well, If the ship is really filled with cyan-eyed crazy motorheads like me, then I'm not surprised why the Votanis Collective is not so eager to bring them to Earth", he laughed shortly but then his face became serious.
"But jokes aside", he continued, "I don't really know what my name means. It was simply written on a cradle I was in when people fled the Tranquility camp taking me with them. In l'Irathi, if the noun begins with a 'K', it supposed to denote something that is alive and dangerous, like a predator animal or a hostile AI. That's why I thought my name was simply a joke or a curse word. But if it's written on a ship, It actually can be a warning about something dangerous inside. Or, alternatively, It can be a name of the ship. You know, one can easily name their ship Sharkgator for example".
"Anyway", he tried to change the subject, "If that's a colonist ship which may contain still living people there, we must rescue them. If it's something dangerous, it should better be destroyed or at least sent somewhere away from the Earth before something bad happens. If everyone agrees on that, we may start pondering on how to get there as well."
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Post by Chris Robet on Jan 24, 2015 19:47:06 GMT
"I'll agree to that. I'll start packing." I jump off and start walking off, "We'll need spacesuits, a couple months of food just to be on the safe side and I'll have to rig up the vehicles to work on the moon, and I think votan laser weaponry will work better on..." I begin muttering to myself as I leave the room.
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Post by Belle Starr on Jan 24, 2015 22:44:13 GMT
"Ummm," Belle Starr said as she watch Chris exit the war room, "I was going to ask if there are any questions, but okay!'
Belle thought, probably not for the last time, what a strange man Chris Robet was. She had done some background search on him, and found he was a hellbug raiser before Karl Von Bach recruited him, but not much else. Belle thought being with the team might just make him into a hell raiser, and mentally laughed at her own joke!
"Okay, before we go into how we are going into space," Belle asked with a frown on her freckled face, "Vo how did you return to Paradise and do you know if Taffer survived? We could sure use him on the team for this mission! Also, Atticus, do you have any idea how you and Chris ended up back at this base with no memory of the European mission? I don't like mysteries!"
Belle hesitated before continuing, then said, "Which brings another issue about security that Atticus pointed out to me before the meeting! We need somebody to keep the base secure and maintain it while we are gone missions. I have trusted people in my department at VBI, but that would only take care of maintenance. I'd rather not have VBI personnel I don't know traipsing in and out of our H.Q. I trust my hacker crew and Dr. Orion, but the other personnel in my "office" may be more loyal to VBI than me. We could rely on our automated defenses alone, but... I'm not sure they can't be overcome without human backup. We could hire some of my Team Evolution clan of ark hunters, maybe even bring the clan here from the Iron Demon Ranch, or even hire Eschelon guards. I'm open to ideas, anybody have any?"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jan 25, 2015 5:27:55 GMT
Once again donned in my electric blue jumpsuit and mask, that Lady had just dubbed 'Base Chic', sitting by her side in the War Room, I give her a quick kiss on the cheek, then stand up lovingly squeezing her hand before putting it on her lap. "Sorry, work calls." I flash her a quick smile, then I walk over to some computer systems and start running some of my own analysis of the ship orbiting the moon, as well as more base scans.
"Alright first thing to address would be what I know of how Robet and I got back here. The answer is not much. Last I actually remember is being in the War Room discussing some mission. Then Chris and I woke up in the hall just outside of the War Room. However I keep getting flashes of a conversation between my......other half that I don't remember having.
How should I put this? Alright, I am sure most, if not all of you, have noticed my odd and 'unique' abilities, and that DNA scans go crazy around me. The reason is because of something that happened and is 'CLASSIFIED' I have been possessed by a Grid Symbiote, how is 'Classified'. Due to an incident trying to stop a Volge invasion with the help of Belle Starr, and the 13th Dragoons, as well as any E-rep and Ark hunters that were in San Fransisco at the time, and willing to help, I ended up in an explosion. My rage got the better of me and I gave my Grid symbiote, who named himself after an Irathiant beast, Kakusi, full control of my body. He fed off my internal rage and managed to complete the mission but blew up the Zhena Array around us. Using his abilities he managed to port 'us' to Last Chance, where Belle found me...'us', close to death. With the help of a doctor in her employ, Doctor Orion, I was saved and revived. However he did make some important discoveries about me.
That rage-induced explosion, caused Kakusi and myself to be merged into a hybrid race, Half Irath/Half Grid. However he still has his own consciousness in my head. As do I, of course. Also the extreme flux caused by his powers and the explosion, has also made my ego's consciousness fully aware. The rest is of no matter to any of you.
Now back to how Robet and I got here. As I said, I do not remember, however I do keep getting flashes of a conversation between myself and Kakusi that neither of us remember. In those 'forgotten' thoughts and conversations, Chris and I are in some kind of command center, and Kakusi keeps screaming at me that we are in danger! He said the rest of the team was too far away for me to do anything for them, but if I gave him complete control, then he could save both myself and Chris Robet, since he was right next to me. In those glimpses of a 'lost' memory, I also see a protective blue sphere go around myself and Chris Robet. There wass a bright flash, then Robet and I wake in the hall outside of this War Room, with no memory of what happened.
I can not say for certain if any of those memory flashes are exactly what happened. All I know, after talking with Robet, is that the last thing either of us can remember, for certain before waking in the hall, is having a mission briefing, leaving the War Room, then being summoned back in."
Still playing with the computers, I send an encrypted message to the 13th Dragoons, asking Blackgut if he can provide me with some permanent and trustworthy personnel for my new 'Base of Operations. I also send him my current hailer frequency, telling him to contact me when he can.
"Belle I am not sure who to get to man the base, however I would prefer they be willing to take orders from me, since I will most likely be the one watching over this base, when not on a mission. I mean, where else do I have? Anyway, I just sent a message to Blackgut of the 13th Dragoons. Maybe he can help provide some personnel to help man the base, since they are normally patrolling San Francisco anyways. However if you are willing to spare Doctor Orion, and he is willing to take the job, we would benefit GREATLY from having him here and in charge of the Medical and Science department. Or if he prefers, we can split it in separate departments, with him in charge of the one of his choice. Any other trustworthy personnel that you or the others can provide, would also be helpful. We will all be using the base, so it is best to have people that we can all trust here, staffing it."
Just then the scanning system I was working with beeps loudly. I look at it and bring up the 3D image of the Votan ship again.
"It appears that my scans, using the sensors I just altered with the help of the Zhena Array satellites, that I still have control of, show over 1500 cryo pods on board, but only about 900 or so are still active. However I can not tell how many life signs there are for sure. I can tell you life support is active and working, in atleast some of the ship, but not for how long. Also that beeping sound from the security console, is alerting us to a breach last night. Apparently someone or something from the moon or near the moon, sent a signal of some kind to our base last night. I can not isolate where or who it was sent to. I can not even say what that signal was, however it is in an archaic version of Irath that the base sytems and I, can neither one decipher.
If any of you can decipher this kind of stuff, then have at it, at the comm system near Vo K'shaa. Also Chris Robet is already tinkering with the two spacecraft we have at our disposal at the moment. If anybody has mechanical expertise with Votanis space vessels, then he could use the help. In the meantime I will work on activating the rest of the Base's security systems and protocols, making sure I have complete control of them."
I then go back to my computer scans and analysis, while everyone continues the discussion, wishing I had remembered to refill my flask with rum, since I am feeling the need for some nourishment after Christianna's and my 'explorations' last night.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Jan 25, 2015 12:54:43 GMT
Lady Christianna popped a large bubble with the noiseless bubble gum Atticus had gifted to her as she remained sitting watching the others scamper around doing things on various consoles. If a machine didn't shoot, drive, fly, or play video games, she really didn't give a whit about it. However, she did like to watch people, and it was easy to do unobserved when you are "invisible." Lady's whole life, people tended not to notice her, and that was fine with her, for she could then engage in her hobby without people always asking what are you looking at!
It became even more fun when Belle explained the concept of body language. Lady had researched the topic, and was fascinated by the fact that facial expressions and posture could tell so much about a person. Lady had therefore made every effort to orchestrate her facial expressions and posture to say, "I don't give a damn," and had made a fine art of the perpetual boredom stance. As she sat blowing bubbles, she was in that stance, but actually was observing everyone and everything.
Which was how Lady knew that the mentioning of Chloe Mac Gyver's name had bothered Atticus. She wouldn't ask him, because if he thought it important he would tell her and she figured it was past history, so it didn't matter anyway. Otherwise, it just didn't concern her, unless and until it did. If that happened, she would deal with it then. In many ways, Lady was a live in the moment person, not worried about the past or the future.
Lady watched Vo still sitting staring at the Irathian word still hanging in the air, so she moved and sat down next to him, blowing a huge bubble and popping it noiselessly, saying, "Epic, huh?"
It was a huge social move for Lady!
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Jan 25, 2015 14:07:09 GMT
Vo looked at Lady as she popped her bubble and replied smiling, "Getting into space would be epic. Figuring out what's going on without making things worse would be double epic. And all of this and getting back still alive and maybe with new friends would be triple epic".
He turned to Belle and answered to her question, "The story of my return is rather unexciting. I woke up in a small room about two days after the fight was over, when my EGO finally repaired my body enough to revive me back into consciousness. It took me another half a day to break my way to the surface and find the second aircraft, the first one had already flown away. I flied in circles to see if I could detect someone else's EGO but didn't find anyone. The only unusual detail I noticed were traces of a helicopter landing nearby and traces of mutated human DNA. Other than that, nothing. As the aircraft had just enough fuel to get back to the Bay after I used it for my search, I did exactly that and led it back to th bay, mostly on pre-programmed autopilot. Well, that's basically it. I assumed that all survivors had already left in the first aircraft. So if Taffer was not among you, then I don't know anything about his whereabouts. He wasn't at the base when I was at my search, that's for sure. Basically that means he's either dead or took a long way home or gone somewhere else for some reason".
He turned to Lady again, "But if it wasn't Taffer who was piloting the first aircraft, then was it you? If that's true, you have my sincere thanks for saving Belle and bringing her back home".
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Post by Belle Starr on Jan 25, 2015 15:06:32 GMT
Belle Starr moved to where Atticus Batman stood next to a console, saying with a serious look on her freckled face, "If they agree, the Dragoons are an excellent choice to provide security here, highly disciplined and competent! My clan are a great bunch of guys, but like most ark hunters, they bore easy when they aren't after adventure and booty! However, for the support staff I'm bringing in my VBI crew who I hand picked and are loyal to me! That includes my hacker team and Dr. Orion and his medical and research assistants! I hate to admit it, but the equipment here is better here than at my VBI office, so my Division of Security Analysis can do a better job here! We'll keep my office up and running with the rest of the VBI personnel there as a back-up complex!"
Belle tilted her blond head and narrowed her diamond blue eyes as she thought about the chain-of-command issue, "All of the team should have command powers over the personnel here, especially during an emergency, but as to overall day-to-day operations, I'm going to be here as much as you are when we are not on a mission, so... I propose I take strategic command of the VBI personnel and you the security crew! If a situation crosses both areas, we confer if there is time, or the person on scene decides what to do! If Taffer joins us, he should take tactical lead on missions, because he is awfully good at that! I hope I convince all of the team to move in here permanently, but that may be hard! I'm not wed to my little blue trailer, although I'll miss the Crater, but Vo really likes the Bug N' Chug! Cody and Iri need some alone time as he works on his amnesia problem, so we won't be seeing them anytime soon!"
Belle hesitated before continuing, hoping she could avoid argument, "You may not like what I'm about to say, but the best person to be in command and give us logistical support from this location when we are in a mission is my VBI second-in-command, Chloe Mac Gyver! She is tremendously talented with hardware and software, and is the best troubleshooter I've ever met! Although a professional hacker, unlike most of her ilk, she is tremendously disciplined and organized when on the job! Her... opportunities for improvement, you know as well as I do, but they don't affect her on-job effectiveness! Anyway, that is how I see it, what do you think?"
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Post by Chris Robet on Jan 25, 2015 22:32:07 GMT
Working on the ship's engine I think back to my time in the e-rep. I never had any friends in the e-rep everyone was either scared of my strange powers that allow me to control post-terraforming animals or some high ranker like Van Bach trying to use me for their own purposes I have never had a friend. When I was a kid I asked my parents if I could have a friend but they just told me to get back to work farming so I did. Now thinking to the people back here in this base they seem to be the only people who have ever accepted me for who I am instead of wanting to use me for their own purposes. I notice a tear in my eye as someone approaches me from behind, I quickly rub the tear away as I turn around to meet them.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jan 25, 2015 23:33:47 GMT
Still looking at my computers, I talk to Belle. "If all of you move here permanently, nothing says you can't have your own place or 'weekend home'. We just need a way to contact you if something comes up. I will keep my hidden fallout chamber under Last Chance. It is a good Base of Operations up North. Nobody knows or would believe that there is anything under that wreck of a Service Station. However it isn't 'home'. I have never had a 'home', or any good emotions for that matter. I agree, the team here should be in charge and have say over any personnel that is brought in. I am fine with handling just Security. If your friend Taffer is alive and does show up, let him handle the tactical lead. Just remember I am not a soldier and don't blindly follow orders....anymore. All in-base communications are now active and working, so we can use the com systems. I have security cams working in all rooms, including mine. All electric door locks are fixed. There is a privacy mode for the security systems in each bedroom. You go to the com console in your room by your door, and can set the security for your room to private. In privacy mode, it will just record lifesigns and vitals. The basic stuff, to make sure all are still safe and an unknown hasn't entered. Only the person or people, I have registered to that room can access the room's privacy and security settings, my security bypass codes being able to overwrite those of course. You can also turn on music for your room using that console. I am not sure how many songs are in the system, but if you want a specific one that isn't in the system, then go ahead and add it."
I stop my computer work and say quietly to Belle. "Look if you want to bring in MacGuyver then do so. It is what it is. I told her after that encounter, we are just to be friends or business associates. However..." I look over my shoulder at Lady still talking with Vo, then once again talk to Belle. " However I guess I better have a talk with Tianna...um...Christianna. I assume with her being Castithan, I will also have to figure out just what we are to each other and deal with her family at some point, most likely wanting some kind of Endowment. Unfortunately, IF they do want an endowment, I am sure that they will charge 'The Harbinger of Death' a lot, and even more now that 'The Harbinger' is half Grid." I look up at Lady across the room again for almost a minute this time, then go back to my computer as I continue my talk with Belle. "Worth it all, if she wants to stay with me. Still not sure how one could love a War machine like me, though." while doing another security analysis not sure how to handle true emotion, I ignore the electrically laced tear that drips off my face then evaporates before hitting the console, as I said my last statement since I am not sure when I became capable enough of caring for something or somebody so much that I might tear up and not sure or even caring right now if somebody else noticed the tear, as a second electrically laced tear follows the first down also evaporating from the electric charge before landing.
After I finish going through my most recent security scans still with a couple tears, I turn towards the door out of the War room. "Belle, if Tianna asks, I will be in the armory next to my room. Only you, her and I have security clearance for that armory, since it can be accessed from my room, which is also restricted to the three of us."
I then quickly leave, hoping only Belle noticed the tears. I get into the small armory and start stripping and repairing the guns in there, to try to clear my head.
"How the hell can we cry, Kakusi?! You are a species destroyer, and I am a man-made War Machine!!! We shouldn't be capable of these feelings! Nor should that matter!!!"
Instead of Kakusi answering liked I'd hope, Dinara chimes in. "Atty, you may not like it, but deep inside you are still partly Kabule, that orphaned and unwanted Irathiant. Kabule as an Irathiant is capable of those feelings. Kakusi, while being a species destroyer as you put it, is still sentient. His kind take hosts to survive, but share a hive mind so their feelings are intensified. You are the combination of Kabule's feelings and emotions, and Kakusi's efficiency and warlike capabilities. So no matter how much you want to ignore it, even you have feelings and emotions!"
I finish messing with a Blackened Hellfire SMG and start unloading it's fire clip in frustration, on the poor test dummy in the room, still trying to figure out this flood of emotion, I never felt was possible for me to have.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Jan 26, 2015 6:55:04 GMT
Lady Christianna's pink eyes looked on in concern as Atticus left the room. She could see he was upset from the slump of his shoulders and the way he hurried out of the room. She wasn't sure if he wanted to be alone, although her instincts told her to follow him. She continued to listen to Vo for a bit longer, then decided to follow her instincts after all, quickly turning to Vo saying, "Bye," then rushing after Atticus into the armory. As Atticus took out his frustration on the test dummy with the Hellfire SMG, Lady grabbed a double barrel shottie from the gun rack, then blew the head of the dummy off with both barrels firing at once.
The short barreled shotgun still smoking, Lady turned to him with her Mona Lisa smile, running over to him and grabbing his big hand with her small one. She then held the back of it to her soft chalk white cheek and whispered loud enough for only him to hear, "Love ya too."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jan 26, 2015 8:18:50 GMT
I smile when I see her and she grabs my hand her words not registering in my head yet as I say, sarcastically, "I was't done killing him yet!" Then it registers and I stop, and just look at her for a minute, before giving her a gentle kiss. "Guess you heard that early this morning? Oh well. It's true. But we need to talk while we are alone." I walk over to the console and security lock the door so only my Security bypass code will open it, then I activate privacy mode. Tianna..hope that's alright to call you, it hurt when I woke up here and you were gone. I didn't know where you were or if you were alright and have no way to reach you.... Anyway Tianna, Belle is going to bring in Chloe MacGuyver, so there is something you need to know. When I almost died in that incident I mentioned in the War room, Macguyver, came into my room and....well.....We 'Releived each other's stress', then she left. Anyway that was a one time thing, in the past. I made it clear then, that we are only colleagues and perhaps friends, nothing more. You are the only one that I have kissed in a romantic or sexual way since I...um since I joined the Votanis Collective Military and became.....Well what they made me...A grid infected Dark Matter Enforcer, doing the most ruthless things I was asked to do, until something happened that caused me to finally decide to fight my programming and well technically it got me killed. That Enforcer, I was, died at the Battle of Defiance at the hands of John Cooper." I tap the bullet scarring on my larynx. "Atticus Batman was born in a hospital, weeks later, after waking from a coma." Lady pulls me down a little and kisses me, but I break the kiss after a second and continue. "Anyway even with the Zhena Array explosion fully awakening my emotions, and you awaking my.....my HUMANITY, I am half Irathiant and half Grid, and known for being a deadly force of nature. I am, was, and always will be: Atticus Batman 'THE HARBINGER OF DEATH'! You however are Castithan, which means your family will probably want to Marry you off or indenture you to a Casthithan. Even if you could get them to see it your way, why would anybody willingly let their daughter date or even be near, 'The Harbinger of Death?!?!" I see her just stare and start to tear up, so I kiss her hard, before continuing. "Believe me I WILL pay or do whatever it takes to keep you near me as long as you want me, even if it is just so you can choose to be with the person of your choice, even if that person ends up not being me. Your happiness and freedom are what matter, not mine. I L.....L.....L....."after a second Kakusi gets tired of my freeze up and intervenes. My eyes flare-up in their bright blue glow, as Kakusi, with Dinara's agreement, takes over my voice just long enough to say, "I love you ..."He kisses her passionately knowing I want to kiss her again, then the glow dissipates as he gives me back vocal control. Then the glow flares up with more intensity, as I increase the intensity and loving passion of the kiss. After a a little while, I break it, then finish his statement with, "I love you very completely, MY sweet little Snow Angel. But even if all that does go our way, I still need to know why anyone, or more importantly YOU would love a..." I then go to the console and play an old Earth song that says what I was trying to, since I can't bring myself to directly tell the woman I love, what I see myself as, even though I say or think it a lot. After a couple of seconds, The song: War Machine by Kiss starts to play on the Armory's speakers. I gently and lovingly kiss her again, then I walk through the door adjoining the armory to my still almost sterile bedroom. While she is in the armory, I walk to the console in my room and activate my room's privacy mode and Security lock the door, then I set the system to play two songs in my room on a low setting, one right after the other, and set it so the first song will start playing and the lights will dim when the room sensors detect Lady Christianna walk into the room, if she comes into the room. The song that will start playing, upon her entry is: I want you to want me by Cheap Trick. The second song will be: I Want You To Kiss Me All Night Long By Ziggy Stardust/David Bowie. Then I walk over to my nightstand and place my mask on it, and my pistol under the pillow, and sit on the bed, and remove my boots and take a huge swig from a bottle of rum next to my bed. After putting the bottle back down, I just sit back on the bed, starting to actually feel comfortable without my boots, mask or gun on me all the time, and wait for her to come in and tell me how she really feels about everything I just said, or implied.
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Post by Belle Starr on Jan 26, 2015 12:24:35 GMT
As Chris Robet turned around, a huge Castian man in polished blue armor grabbed him in a bear hug, taking Chris' breath away as the man laughed heartily and said, "You must be the boy my little girl has said so much about! You look about her age, but then, it's so hard to tell age with humans, especially with my old eyes! Lady has said so many good things about you! Well, actually not, she tends to hoard words like a miser hoards script, if you get my meaning, which I know you do! Anyway, I have several crates of weapons in my Durango! Sturdy vehicle that Durango, but even a Cerebus accelerates better! Besides the point, so when Belle told me that your main armories were emptied, I said to myself, Bocar, what a perfect house warming gift for a group of fighting men and women! If there is one thing we have at Team Evolution it's a whole lot of extra weapons! Never know when you just might need an extra rocket launcher! Lickity split, one of your human phrases I believe, I load up the van and here I am - and so are you! I couldn't be happier to meet you! Lady doesn't make many friends, let alone boyfriends, so I'm ecstatic that she is finally coming out of her shell, so to speak!"
Boca released Chris finally, his weather worn and wrinkled hangdog face belying his jovial nature as he laughed yet again saying, "You don't say much friend! I respect that in a fellow ark hunter!"
As Chris got his breath back, Bocar's intense pink eyes, so like his daughter's, took in his surroundings with military precision. His shock of white hair was carefully combed backward and his blue armor polished to a meticulous sheen, evidencing years of military service and discipline. A big grin crossed his chalk white face, looking much like a bloodhound with a perpetual smile, as he observed, "Nice place you and your team have! Now where is my little girl! It's been ages since I've seen her, and I want her to tell me all about her adventures!"
Meanwhile back In the war room, Belle Starr had received notice that the outer security door to the hanger and cargo area had been opened with one of the temporary security clearance codes to that door she had only given to select people making clandestine deliveries of special equipment. She had given one to Chloe Mac Gyver, one to Dr. Orion, and finally, one to Bocar, Lady Christianna's father, who had said he had something special to bring them, but hadn't said when.
Belle's pale freckled face turned even paler as she turned to Vo before informing Lady and Atticus of Bocar's arrival and exclaimed, "Holy crap-on-a-stick! Lady's daddy is here!"
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