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Post by Lady Christianna on Apr 3, 2015 16:02:40 GMT
Sandy sadly notified the rest of the team's EGOs of Belle's apparent demise, feeling it was the least she could do for her niece and namesake, then just guiltily enjoyed feeling Volodja's arm around Lady's shoulder, as she pretended it was her watching the sunset with Volodja instead of Lady.
Meanwhile, the VBI team of scientists arrived from their research installation at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, for Belle had called them from the Cowboy's compound before her ill fated walk into town, and they began to safely remove the mind control devices from the townspeople's necks - Belle's last act of good will for the innocents of Freedom!
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 3, 2015 16:48:00 GMT
"To Belle," raised Volodja his glass. Row of empty glasses in front of him was quite long and impressive already. He was quite quiet, sat alone and didn't looked for new and interesting faces. That was most unusual for him. "The Watering Hole" was full of people, celebrating Freedom Town's freshly regained freedom, or just calming their nerves after being freed from mental slavery. Volodja didn't celebrate. He didn't mourned either, because he was calm about Belle's faith. She won't be disappeared forever, that's for sure. He just drank. Or refuelled, if you like that one better. Rest of the team was somewhere around the town. At least he didn't noticed any of them inside the saloon and being alone was really good. Band played and people staggered around, glasses in their hands. Half full or half empty - depends on one's philosophical views.
Volodja got himself up from his seat and walked towards bar counter hands full of empty shells. "Hello again Sarah," he said in most polite manner and somehow soft tongue already. "Would you give me another one, pleasse. Night is young, but I am getting old and tired."
"You and old, Volo" laughed Sarah. "Never buy that, but you seem to be getting drunk already, although you refuse to show the signs. Except that language usage. According to your accent you must be from Wineland, I guess. But I can see hidden sadness in your tired eyes. Tough day?" and she raised her hand and messed playfully with Volodja's hair.
"More like tough couple of monthss, Sarah. You know. This was suppossed to be just a vacation, but turned out to be bloody liberation mission. And we lost someone special. And it's mosstly my fault."
"Don't blame yourself Volo. You talked about that already. You did, what you could to change her mind and she was going to leave anyway, but that damn shark-gator ruined everything," and Sarah patted Volodja's cheek. "Who counsels counsellor, you asked. I do that. All barkeeps do it. We are good listeners, you know. Of course you do. Everyone knows that. You should go to Delilah's place to relax. They would probably pay to you for having some fun." She laughed melodically again.
"No thankss, I am already taken. Whom I kidding here? I am just a basstard, thatss it, who got lucky. But I am not worthy of her love." And his eyes went sad again.
"Don't feel bad about yourself. You should not do that, Volo. Don't be a Fool."
"You are really good at guessing nicknamess, Sarah. Thatss how some people call me. And I deserve it. Can I have that drink now? Or two? Or three?"
"Go ahead, Volo. Your scrip is my scrip soon, but if you need something for your head in the morning, then cold beer will be on the house. I like your face Volo, you know," said Sarah kindly and continued "Better watch out that something bad won't happen to you. It would be a shame. And I mean every word. People start getting wild already."
Volodja got his set of drinking glasses and returned to his table. He sat down and started to drink again. Quietly and on his own. But unfortunately drunken people won't have much respect for one's privacy and Volodja found himself looking at red gorilla like face of some tall guy. Small bead like eyes stared him suspiciously from that face. Rest of the guy was gorilla like too. Guy probably escaped from a zoo. Troublemakers tend to be small and nervous or big and dumb looking, like they were made in same factories. This one was from the latter sort. Volodja looked him and didn't said a word. Why cause trouble? Trouble finds yourself, if needed. Even if you are not looking for it, you might get into one.
"Well pretty boy. Far from home. Mommy let you come alone?" Lowlife had quite a low voice. And low forehead.
"I am honestly NOT interested in bar brawl, Mister," replied Volodja in calm voice "Have a glass on me and leave kindly, so I can drink in peace." Gorilla reacted with growl and rose his hammer like fists. "Come now, pretty boy. Will beat you up nice and easy." Man must do what he must, so Volodja got himself up and rose his fists also. Compared with paws of big ape they looked relatively small and harmless. Volodja swung his right one slightly and gorilla's small eyes turned towards it. In the same moment Volodja...stumped his heavy left boot on gorillas toes. Big guy gurgled from pain and bowed forward so Volodja grabbed him by ears, pulled his face lower and smashed against the table. Knock out! Most of crowd applauded at Volodja's performance and even Sarah showed thumbs up. Only gorilla's cage buddies weren't happy and they gathered in front of Volodja and knocked out ape. There was hint of aggression in the air and night promised to be REALLY interesting.
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Apr 3, 2015 18:17:13 GMT
When Taffer made it to the aircraft, he found Vo sitting in one of the seats and staring at the ceiling in silence. Taffer dropped in the seat next to him, trying to figure out what he's thinking about. "Sorry, no good news for you friend", he said to Vo calmly. "No armor pieces, no traces, only the charge blade. I see no reason not to believe Sandy on that. Welcome to the club." "They didn't find the body either", Vo turned his head to Taffer. "I'm not inclined to join your "club" just yet. You of all know from her memories she shared with you that she once jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and survived. She always told me she didn't want to be the cause of my death. I've never found right words to tell her that sitting like that and not knowing if she's alright, if she's happy, if she's sad, if she's alive, if she's dead, if she's dying and desperately needs my help — it's way worse than death for me. I'm sorry Taf, but I'll never be a good team member in a state I'm in now, I know for sure. I'm going to find out exactly what happened to her. Find her, or her body, or any clues. I won't return until I do. Please don't wait for me and don't try to talk me out of it. I wish you luck on all your future missions, and I'm sorry I can't be of help anymore." "Then… go chase your dream, friend", Taffer smiled heartily, truly believing for a moment that if there's a tiny chance to find her on the Earth, Vo would definitely the one to catch it. "And may you have better luck than me". Vo left the aircraft and headed to the beach next few days anyone could find him there, he was methodically scanning traces on the sand or diving in the shallow water searching through the sand-bed, or wandering on the terrain nearby, or stalking through the city and asking questions. One day he appeared in the car rental shop and asked for the best off-road roller out there. The woman at the counter smiled, recognizing him, and ushered him to the basement where a big two-seat buggy-type vehicle stood which looked like it was built from scratch. "We built it for the Roller Rally Race", she said, "Pity they don't hold it anymore. This one really sings in hands of a good driver. And I'm pretty sure you're the one." Vo smiled, probably the first time since he lost Belle that day. He paid for the roller in full and drove away from the city of Freedom, not telling anyone where he was heading.  |
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Apr 3, 2015 18:30:59 GMT
Leaving her children in the care of Dr. Peters and the newly arrived VBI scientists at the clinic, Erika headed to the Law Keeper's office to speak with their latest prisoner. Dr. Peters said that here were now too many people in the small clinic, so all unnecessary personnel needed to leave and that meant her. He had softened his tone before she left, assuring her that she could do nothing now, but probably a great deal later as they were being rehabilitated from their brainwashing, and she had to agree he was right.
However, Erika was angry when she arrived to find that the Castithan in the red armor had escaped, and the deputy law keepers did not seem to know when or how. The Law Keeper himself could only tell her that it had happened while he was at the clinic having his mind control device removed, and that he was one of the first to have the procedure done, so the escape had to occur not long after Belle had dropped the prisoner off. He ordered an immediate search of the town, but so far the prisoner evaded capture, and was probably long gone by now in all the confusion of the invasion's aftermath.
Erika reported what she had discovered to Taffer, than asked him if their was anywhere she could make an international phone call. It was time for her to take her children home, find her grandchildren, and face whatever punishment her country felt she deserved to pay. Erika was tired of being a person without a country and without Belle Starr, saw no reason to stay either here or in the Bay Area.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Apr 3, 2015 19:07:52 GMT
Volodja had left the beach but Lady Christanna stayed waiting until the sun set, then waited some more. She had finally sat down on the warm sand, her tiny alabaster toes unconsciously wiggling there as her wide pink eyes continued to stare at the place in the water she last saw Belle. She clutched Belle's now deactivated charge blade tightly to her small bosom with one pale hand, the other pulling her knobby knees up to her chalk white chin as it rested on them. Lady was sure that Belle would rise from the water any second now, for this was Belle, and Belle had cheated death before. Lady had seen it, and was sure she would see it again; Belle rising out of the water like the famous picture of Venus springing from the clam shell by Botticelli. Lady had seen that in a picture book of great art that Belle had once shown her, and although she was bored when Belle made her look at the great art once produced by humans, much of it gone now and to Lady therefore irrelevant. However, that picture had stuck in Lady's mind. Lady realized now that so many things Belle had sought to teach her had actually stuck with her, and she regretted never thanking Belle for that. It didn't matter, Lady told herself, because Belle will be coming out of the water any second now, and Lady would thank Belle then. Any second now...  Lady watched as the sun disappeared, and she could no longer see in the night exactly where in the water Belle fell, but could only hear the ripple of the waves, but still she watched the darkness, sure that she would hear Belle's melodic laugh as she came out of the warm waters, any second now...  |
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Raizar
Junior Batman Sidekick
Posts: 60 
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Post by Raizar on Apr 3, 2015 20:15:05 GMT
"So, I was right about Romeos and 'doom' though the doom visited one of Juliettes." Raizar muttered angrily when he heard about everything. "And now one mate just disappeared and one youngling stuck in everlasting chase for his dream. This is why 'Raizar' and 'love' never go together. It only ruins everything."
Now he had nothing to do and he wanted to speak with Taffer about the work but EGO said him Taffer is busy so he just left him a message: "Hi, Taff, guess it's not a good time for mundane deals but I really want to know if my work here is over or not. Call me back when you are not so busy."
Then he dressed his best fancy red shirt along with new black pants and headed to the Watering Hole planning to get some easy time while he is waiting for Taffer's answer. After coming there he looked around the saloon and saw a single groupmate dot on the radar. He pushed himself through the crowd and saw Volodja who got quite loaded already but seems was determined to drink out his brains tonight. Raizar took himself a drink and came to Volodja, slapped his shoulder and said with easy-going tone: "Hi mate! Don't you mind then?..." And he plopped into a chair at opposite side of the table. "Why so sorrowful? Well, I mean, we lost one teammate but you've saved your love! I remember all about that ghostly girl and holographic room. I must say you looked rather enthusiastic when you told me about her and your true love. Shouldn't you now be with her? Um, you know, to take her hand and tell stories and whatever you lovers do to comfort one another. Or something wrong with her too?" And he took a sip from his mug.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Apr 3, 2015 22:19:53 GMT
After Lady left, I got dressed and asked that Volodja's armor be cleaned. Then I went to the ship and retrieved my Defiant Few Recon garb. I returned to the cowboy compound and was told the room was mine as long as needed. So I went back in the room and removed my beloved armor. I hung it up in the closet, hoping I wouldn't need it for awhile because all I wanted to do was be there for Lady...and even the Fool if either allowed it. I get dressed in my Defient few garb. However I chose to put my Collective infiltrator helm back on and the DF recon helm went on a shelf in the closet.
I sit and drink some rum alone for awhile. Then I go into town. I find a store to have a nice sized bootflask made at. Then after I have given Lady what I feel, is enough alone time, I buy a bouquet of pretty flowers. On a whim, I stop by the 'Pin with Sword' and also buy a shark-gator skin trenchcoat in my size.
  
Then I go find My Love on the beach. I slowly walk up to Lady. I say, "Is this seat taken Beautiful?" Then I sit down beside her. I take off my helm, and smile at her as I hand her the flowers and pull her to my shoulder, as we watch the water. Seeing her shiver slightly, I let go long enough to drape my new coat over her, then pull her back into me, my arm once again around her shoulder. "It's alright, MY Snow Angel. Knowing Starr Eyes, she just needed to be alone somewhere. There is no way a shark-gator, or a whole ocean for that matter, can stand a chance against the wrath of Belle Starr. We will see her again. When she is ready. Just don't let the sadness get the best of you, or ruin your upcoming birthday. Belle would not want that. Neither do I. I love you. I feel that you are my........life and soul. You complete me."
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Post by Taffer on Apr 4, 2015 0:24:51 GMT
Erika's question seriously baffled Taffer. He just realized he never knew how to make international calls legally. Even before he got his EGO, he always resorted to hacking and illegal access to public relays to transfer his calls through restricted channels, which always provided better connection quality and the process was usually independent of the political situation. Sometimes getting legal was more trouble than it worth. He pointed Erika to the city's post office and went there himself as he found this experience could be interesting. Seeing her making a call after call desperately asking for possible whereabouts of her grandchildren, and each time getting the same answer that they had disappeared at the same time when Cael and Kara did, he thought he got an idea.
He connected to the office's relay and transferred a call again to Askaru Ivu, his most trusted contact in South America. Askaru answered immediately, but as soon as the talk came to Erika and her family, he broke the connection. Taffer looked at Erika and blinked in confusion, but right after that Em Dash informed him that someone had placed a call signed with personal code he gave to Askaru. Taffer answered.
"Taffer? Was it you who just called me?"
"Yes, it was me. What's so important in that question of mine?" Taffer replied, wondering why his counterpart opted to open a personal channel on such a mundane issue.
"Taffer, what the hell have you got into? First you call and suddenly tell me that Gil is in grave danger and buy the best shield for him. Next you ask about the exact people who asked me for protection from God knows what. What should I expect next? A nuclear warhead on my head?"
"If I would be about to drop a nuclear bomb at you, I'll first pay you enough to buy yourself a good shelter. But back to the point. You told me someone of Erika's family asked you for protection. Markus Zoxx if I'm not mistaken?"
"Yes, he and two children. Was scared as hell. But he paid a good sum of scrip so I found him some safe apartments if you know what I mean. And he said the only people who he wants to be informed of their whereabouts are Erika, Belle Starr or you. So, you asked the information, on them, I gave it to you in seconds, where's my payment?"
"On its way to you Askaru. Keep them safe please". Taffer ended the call and transferred the talk to Erika's EGO. "We found them I guess", he addressed to Erika. "I think Zoxx did something smart this time for a change. Here's the code with which you can contact Askaru and find your way to your family. Lima is an independent city, so expect same problems with the bounty on your head as it were here, maybe even more. I think it would be better to send someone you can trust instead, or just call Zoxx and meet him somewhere on a neutral territory. Are you sure you want to turn yourself in? It's your life of course but I thought your children would need you free, not imprisoned, at least on their rehabilitation period. Anyway, I can show you some relatively quiet places where you could settle down with your family if you choose to stay with us."
Then he called Raizar. "You're free to go for the night. Tomorrow we'll be heading back to base I hope. Don't worry, I didn't forget about you payment and the bonus".
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 4, 2015 4:32:37 GMT
"Raizar. You can call me an idiot if you want or whatever you like. I deserve it completely," replied Volodja after gorilla's friends had decided that brawl is not going to happen. Especially when tough looking Irathient joined Volodja. They already saw what Volodja did to the huge guy and putting their three sober braincells, all their bunch owned, together, realized that Irathient looked even more impressive than Volodja, so they probably lose the fight. "It was all my fault. Seeing innocents killed made Belle devastated and she blamed herself on their death. I tried to talk some sense to her by revealing some my most inner secrets, but I failed. You look at failure, Raizar. She was going to leave us in the morning and she wanted me to stay, because I was going to sneak out from here too. I am no good to team any more, so I thought they are better without me and maybe it could make her stay. People needed her. And then the monster attacked...I failed to save an innocent one, I really...cared about - Belle. We were two of a kind with her and really alike in lot of matters. Now she is gone and I feel dead inside. I am no good as a counsellor. And I am no good as a knight either, because world became more dark and unfriendly place without Belle, because I failed to help her. I do believe that she will return one day, but I am not sure, that I will. I have lost myself. Only some time ago I was carefree traveller, or I liked to thought so, but now I am all burned out and I can't reload my batteries. And as for Sandy. I would hold her hand at moment, as you suggested, but that's impossible. She is a hologram after all and busy with protecting Lady twenty four seven, so she must pinch some time for me and it's not easy. I can't hold physically a hand of a hologram. Besides - she is not interested about my stories. She is feet on the ground and no nonsense soldier and I am collector of forgotten and useless knowledge. Just a stupid dreamer, if you wish to call me that. So I am no good for her at all - I can't offer her anything and I want more than she can offer at moment, so I am too greedy here and thus I am not worthy her love. It's not Sandy's fault, but mine. She doesn't have much choices. I could use a hug right now and she could use one, but we can't have that little thing that is so natural, but not in our case. So I better sit here and destroy my useless braincells. After that I will continue where I was left and settle the score with that zoo, looking at us. But you meant good. Thank you for your concern. Cheers mate!" Volodja rose another glass and poured alcohol down from his throat with one sudden move of his hand. Then he took another glass.  ![]() ![]() |
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Raizar
Junior Batman Sidekick
Posts: 60
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Post by Raizar on Apr 4, 2015 10:42:34 GMT
"It's your brains mate, if you want them boozed out it's not my concern. So, you are not in love anymore? Um, well, so this chase was for nothing for you. Yes, I see, some ghostly parts can't satiate a real man appetite. Hell yeah, man doesn't need love but just some juicy body for some pleasure! What's the point in some soul-to-soul love if you can't have fan with some real things. So now you're in chase for some real tits, huh. Feel for ya, mate. " He leaned back in his chair and took one more sip. "Umm... nice booze they have here. Quite... brainwashing thing. But what about those love songs you sang back there in DM base? You wasted such time on this. You know if that ghostly girl was my sister I'd say you couple of things. But she is not. And no more bar brawls for me. Too easy to kill there, you know. "
He finished his drink and stood up. "Good luck with your tits hunting mate. There is a plenty of chicks here in the bar to sing them your songs. Brothel girls are more expensive, but I prefer professionals you know. So I'm going there now. This was a hard day and I need some nice time now."
He went to the exit but turned and said: "And you are an idiot, yes."
And then he left the bar and went to the brothel. Maybe he muttered something else but there was no one in the street to hear it.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 4, 2015 10:52:59 GMT
"Wrong, Raizar, wrong," said Volodja quietly on his own looking after Raizar when he disappeared into doorway. "No tit chasing for me. Not any more. I was saying that I am not worthy of love, not that I don't love...That's the big difference, mate." And he put his pointing finger into liqueur puddle on his table and draw flawless circle. He would continued his drinking marathon and art attempts, but gorilla gang regained it's courage and stepped over his table. "Looks like you are alone again, Romeo," said one of them. "We going to have nice talk with you. After that even your mother won't recognize you."
"I seriously doubt that YOUR mother recognizes you, Mister," replied Volodja. "Anyway if you are looking your father, then I'd suggest you to start from a hippo pond in zoo." And he pressed his boot sole against table leg and pushed table to gang's toes. Same tactics as he used before. Only with slight changes, but drunken bullies obviously didn't learned anything about their alpha gorilla's fate. Volodja jumped up, grabbed his chair and crushed it against their back's. "Sarah," he yelled "Everything I break, I will pay for, but don't charge me for the damage, caused by others."
And he put his fists to good use, hitting two guys into stomach and knocked their heads together when they bent forward form pain. Someone grabbed him from behind, lifted into air and threw towards bar counter in hope, that his body would smash the bar shelves, but overrated his strength, making Volodja land in front of bar counter. He got up right away and jumped over counter and landed by side of Sarah. Both of them crouched behind counter immediately and Volodja pulled scrip roll out and tossed to Sarah: "I'd better pay in advance, dear." And grabbed a bottle from counter. "Such a shame to waste drink like this," he said after examining the label. "Got anything else?" Sarah exclaimed "Of course, Volo" and both of them grabbed a bottleneck and simultaneously smashed them against heads of two brave fools, attacking their fort. Looking at two fallen heroes Volodja proposed: "Let's cover each other's backs, partner. We are doing elegant work together in the best manner of classical bar brawl."
"Fine with me, Volo," agreed Sarah. "Haven't had so much fun very long time. Wish you'd visit us more. Remember, I ll keep a bottle of your favourite brandy just in case you step by again one sweet day. Always a pleasure to see you here." And they looked over bar counter to the battlefield where patrons were busy beating each other up. It was typical mess with no rules and everything was used as a weapon. Bottles, furniture and even band's instruments: Sarah and Volodja jumped over counter again and took in position in outskirts of their fortification. They did everything possible to maintain their first line of defence. No falling back! They will die as heroes.
"Duck, Volo!" shouted Sarah. Volodja obeyed that order and attacking bar fighter started to stagger backwards, because Sarah's iron fist hit him straight into face. After that she used Volodja's bent back as a springboard for her hands, when she jumped over him and landed to next brawler's stomach with both of her legs. Volodja reached his hand and helped her up from the floor. They were ready to continue. And they fought and fought and kept an eye on each other, like partners should do.
Volodja grabbed Sarah to his arms and tossed towards approaching Irathient fighter. He caught Sarah instinctively, so Volodja could smack his fist into Irathient's reddish face and catch Sarah again before she fell. They grabbed another guy by his arms swung him and threw out from the front door. But they had to retreat more and more, because more and more enemies pressed onwards. It was time for another famous last battle on ruins of their fort. Fortunately their battle luck changed and they managed to hold their last line of defence until brawl was almost over.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Apr 4, 2015 12:09:37 GMT
Lady sat watching the darkness until Atticus arrived and sat next to her, then she leaned on his shoulder, taking the flowers with the other one, sniffing them briefly with her small alabaster nose while she continued to cling to Belle's charge blade with the other. Her enigmatic smile returned to her thin white lips as the sweet smell of the flowers replaced the foul one of the rotting carcass nearby of the shark gator killed by Voldja hours ago. Suddenly, they could hear the sounds of something being dragged into the water, and they both knew it had to be the dead shark gator's body. "Guys," Said Sandy, Lady's EGO's psyche, "As you know EGOs can't detect shark gators for some reason, and I don't see anything over there, but my mathematical calculations on something big enough to drag that dead shark gator into the water leads me to believe that it probably is an even bigger shark gator, so may I suggest we get the fuck out of here!" "Yeah, lets go," Lady stood up, dragging Atticus to his feet and towards town, as she didn't feel like Atticus getting into a fight at the moment. Normally, she loved to see Atticus at work, reveling in the carnage he wrought, but she felt too sad with her mentor, Belle Starr, apparently dead, and her mother revealing herself both alive and incredibly wicked. Running and the night air did seen to make things better, but even more so was Atticus' hand in hers, so as they ran, she told him with conviction, "Love you too Atticus!"  |
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Apr 4, 2015 13:16:32 GMT
"We found them I guess", Taffer addressed to Erika EGO to EGO. "I think Zoxx did something smart this time for a change. Here's the code with which you can contact Askaru and find your way to your family. Lima is an independent city, so expect same problems with the bounty on your head as it were here, maybe even more. I think it would be better to send someone you can trust instead, or just call Zoxx and meet him somewhere on a neutral territory. Are you sure you want to turn yourself in? It's your life of course but I thought your children would need you free, not imprisoned, at least on their rehabilitation period. Anyway, I can show you some relatively quiet places where you could settle down with your family if you choose to stay with us."
Erika Widowmaker thought about what Taffer said and it made perfect logic. She knew she wasn't thinking straight over her panic of not knowing her grandchildren's fate, and panic was not something she was used to handling, just suppressing. That was what she had done as a soldier in the Pale Wars, and what she had done as a high ranking official in the Collective government during the continual political wars in the Capital City. However, when it came to the safety of her family, she became a lioness protecting her cubs, all instinct with teeth and claws bared no matter what the odds, and thinking secondary to survival. Whoever orchestrated this scenario, whether it be the Mistress of Judgment or someone higher up in the Collective's hierarchy, must know that about her and were using that fact against her.
"Thank you Taffer, and of course, you are right," Answered Erika, her calm tone belying her relief at knowing her grandchildren were safe, "If you could set up a, how do you humans put it, a house that is safe, I would greatly appreciate it. If it could be some place close to the team base, so that I may repay my debt of honor if you ever need me while I help with my children's rehabilitation, I would greatly appreciate that as well."
After Taffer assured her that he would do what he could, Erika decided she needed a drink after the day she had, so after taking a long, hot shower, she changed her bloody clothes to ones that would less likely frighten the locals. She replaced her dirty fatigues with clean fatigues, and strapping on her holstered Magnum revolver, got directions to the local bar from Boss Murphy after thanking him for his hospitality. She took a brisk walk to the Watering Hole, the popular tavern in town, dismayed to find a bar room brawl taking place when she got there.
For an Irathian woman of her age, Erika was more fit than most of those half her age, and her seven foot muscular frame topped with an attractive but war scarred face and piercing jade eyes created an imposing picture. Normally, her presence upon entering a room would be enough to halt all movement within, but the brawlers were too into their fighting to even notice her. Erika saw about a dozen people of various races fighting between her and her goal, the bar where the bartender and it appeared Volodja had taken refuge. She sighed, then began crossing the warzone, taking any brawler who crossed her path by the scruff of the neck and tossing them casually across the room with her great strength. After doing this about four times, the remaining fighters who were in her path cleared out of her way except one, a giant Sensoth who just looked at her drunkenly as he stood in her way.
Erika jutted out her jaw, putting her large hands on her round hips not saying a word but glaring at him with hard jade eyes for several minutes until her cowered and moved out of the way, whereupon she moved to the bar, giving Volodja a curt nod of recognition, and asking the bartender, "Do you have any Irathiant liquor? It doesn't matter what, but please put three fingers worth in a glass, neat. It has been a long day and I have lost my best friend, so the sooner the better."
Sarah, the bartender, poured her a stiff drink as Erika noticed an autographed picture displayed prominently behind the bar of Belle Starr resplendent in her Liberty Trooper armor sitting cross legged on a cot in a jail cell smiling while reading to a group of children who sat on the floor around her. The incongruence in the photograph of the setting, the audience, and the activity with Belle smiling, her blue eyes so... alive, made Erika smile in turn despite herself. She raised her glass to the picture in salute, saying "To Belle" with her eyes if not with words as she then drained the glass in a single swig. Just then a thrown bottle broke above her head, but Erika didn't look for the source merely saying as she pushed the empty glass towards Sarah, "Another please."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 4, 2015 13:37:27 GMT
Brawl was almost over. Floor was covered with fallen fighters and Sarah and Volodja sat on bar stools, drinking victory champagne. On the house of course. They managed to hold the fort and that called for celebrating.
"Volo. Think I am going to miss you after you are gone. You are terrific guy, but promise me something. When you ever return here, try to be in better shape. Just find yourself again. Seeing, how you burying yourself alive, makes me really sad. And step by in the morning. Beer is waiting for you, as promised."
"Thank you, Sarah. Evening was lovely and full of...alcohol. See you in the morning," said Volodja and was ready to leave, when Erica stepped in and tossed few surviving fighters into different directions. It was really impressive sight. Then she approached their victorious fort, nodded to him and started to order drinks in a row, like Volodja did earlier.
"Hello Erika," said Volodja politely. "Sorry about the mess, but bar war is a terrible terrible thing. Came to remember her too?" And he nodded towards picture of Belle. "She IS so special and she REALLY cares about people. Pour me another one, Sarah. Please. We should have some champagne left, we saved from those marauders. I better switch my brains off, before I cause even more trouble."
He raised his champagne glass: "To Belle, we all know and love!" took a sip and looked into Erika's jade eyes. "Sorry about my present condition, but I am on a bar crawl. If it is any consolation to you, then I look and feel even more horrible in the morning. Admire your throwing techniques, by the way."
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Apr 4, 2015 14:27:41 GMT
Erika frowned, looking intently at Voldoja as if finding the right words was more difficult for her then finding her way through a mine field, but finally saying, "As you know, I fought against humans such as yourself and Belle throughout the Pale Wars since I was a teenager, no older then Lady when I began. What you might not know is that I was totally against the Defiance Treaty, believing it unworkable. Although I accepted the treaty as what the Collective's leaders thought best for the greater good, I always was on my guard against what I believed was the inevitably of human treachery, first as a Collective spy in the VBI EGO program, then working my way up to lead the spy network as the Director of the Collective's Department of Internal Security. I didn't like or dislike humans, just didn't trust them because of the mercurial nature of their emotions, that often made their decisions appear fickle to me. I'm a patriot, and protecting both my nation and my family are most important to me, although not always in that order."
Erika took a sip of her drink before continuing, her jade eyes however never leaving his brown ones as she continued speaking, "Belle Starr changed my mind about all my preconceptions about humans when she saved me from certain death when I was spying on her team merely because she deemed me an innocent in the battle, which, since I had no idea what was going on, I guess I was. Anyway, I learned that most humans are much more complex than I originally thought, and many of them do have... honorable intentions I had no idea they could have until I met Belle, and through her, her team. I don't pretend to understand everything about humans, such as why you feel it necessary to drink yourself into alcoholic oblivion. It doesn't honor Belle, or yourself, but I suppose you have your reasons, although I cannot fathom how your solution benefits anyone, least of all yourself. Maybe that is part of being human, although I truly believe Belle would try to talk you out of it, but she was a... superior human. Pardon my forwardness, it must be the alcohol making me so talkative."
A slight smile crossed her lips as he took another sip from her glass, still staring at him with those unfathomable intense green eyes of hers.
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