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Post by Lady Christianna on Apr 6, 2015 13:42:22 GMT
While Lady Christianna and Atticus Batman made love in the surf, Sandy and Dinara, their EGO's psyches, gave them the privacy they deserved. They were in a dark recess of Lady's EGO device where Sandy kept her cot. Sandy paced back and forth as she railed, while Dinara projected colorful swatches on the walls of Sandy's "home," trying to find the perfect wallpaper for it.
"I tell you Dinara, Never let a man have his way with you, because they'll always take you for granted - or worse, leave you for another woman to have their way with THEM!" Sandy ranted, as she had been for quite a while. "Why buy the POW if the milk is free! Or is it why buy the milk if the POW is free? I'm not sure!"
"Maybe stripes. Stripes are always nice, red and white maybe," Answered Dinara, projecting the peppermint stick pattern on the wall, then wrinkling her nose and saying, "Too Christmessy! Maybe Volo was just too tired to check on you. It was quite a battle, both mental and physical, even Atticus was tired - a little bit anyway."
"Oh, but he wasn't too tired to blur after Belle right after the battle! And I saw through Lady's eyes how he looked at her and he clearly lusted after her and/or maybe even loved her and he couldn't wait to run after her when she was just doing routine stuff and he didn't know if I was dead or not and yeah, I AM dead, but that doesn't change the fact that I was out of his sight and out of his mind, so bye-bye Sandy, here's my next romantic conquest, Belle, because that is WHO I am, Volodja the great European lover, God's gift to women!" Sandy stopped talking to catch a breath of air, although as an EGO psyche, she didn't need one, but Sandy often did things live humans did out of habit.
"Plaid! Maybe plaid, Oh no, NOT plaid!" Dinara said with a giggle, then turned serious, "Boys can be so stupid, but I'm sure he didn't mean to hurt you feelings, he was just... being stupid. Or maybe, he was just worried about Belle - Atticus was at one point in the battle! Belle would get suicidal sometimes when her inner monster got out, you know."
"Yeah, but you and I both know Belle actually took control of her monster during that battle, so poof, there goes that excuse!" Answered Sandy, her pacing back and forth quickening as she noted, "And he had plenty of fucking time to check on me after the battle! I checked his vitals ASAP to see if HE was okay, but we even sat over an hour across from him while he talked drakking art and literature - ART AND LITERATURE - with some damn old codger when his supposed true love could be laying dying - well, dying again! Never once has he asked about me since the battle, and now its the next day, and still no Volo! He's probably back at that bar getting shitfaced again! I did a breathalyzer on him in the bookstore and his alcohol levels were out of this or any other world!"
"Sis, maybe he was, as humans say, just letting off steam - whatever that means," Dianara replied absentmindedly, although she was more concerned with the swatches at the moment, "Maybe a swirl of neon colors, like pink, green, and orange - oh no, no, NO! That won't do at all! And NEVER orange! Or any neon colors, period!" Then Dinara had a disturbing thought, and turned to Sandy and asked, "I thought you were completely turned off when we rescued Lady, so how could you see Volo run after Belle?"
Sandy got quite quiet for several minutes as she stared at Dinara, deciding that this was the time to reveal her secret, saying with a frown, "Yeah, fact is, the Mistress of Judgment woke me up just before you guys busted into her throne room, just long enough and operational enough to offer me a deal. Seems that Dark Matter has the ability to clone, even had a whole factory doing it in San Francisco until Belle destroyed it awhile ago. I checked my EGO records, and that was true! And they were cloning a perfect specimen of a super woman who had all the best genes of the Votan species! And she was beautiful with silver hair, pale blue eyes, white skin, not as white as ladies but paler that Belles, with looks that would make Volodja cum all over himself just looking at her! The Mistress projected me the pictures, and I believe her! All they needed was the technology to transfer my mind safely from Lady to the clone, without hurting either, and she said they have it! With her mind controlling tech, I don't doubt it either! All I had to do it was be a spy and a fertility doctor for her, all rolled into one!"
Dianra's jaw dropped and the swatches disappeared into the dark, asking with disbelief clear in voice, "What do your mean Sis?"
"I mean," Answered Sandy, as her eyes began to tear up, "Is all I had to do was betray my friends by giving situation reports on the them, particularly Atticus and Lady, whenever the Mistress wanted it and to prepare and promote Lady getting pregnant by Atticus, which I discovered I can do through the EGO. Once Lady is pregnant and comes to term, the Mistress will come to collect both Lady and the baby, and she'll put me in a brand spanking new body, one that would knock Volo on his butt when he saw me!"
"What did you say to her?" Asked Dinara incredulously.
Sandy sighed stopping her pacing, then answered, "Of course, I said yes. I said damn right yes! I could give Volo what he - and me too - really need and want: A real live girl for him to love and be loved by! It was wrong, but my being dead and finally finding true love is wrong too! Anyway, it doesn't matter now... I'm going to turn myself into Atticus and Taffer as the traitor I am, just as soon as Lady and Atticus finish their moment of happiness and get back to Cowboy Headquarters. They can turn me off, or extract me or exorcise me or whatever from Lady's EGO, releasing me back to the ether and oblivion where I belong! It doesn't matter anymore now that Volo doesn't care."
Sandy sank to the cot, sitting on the edge crying, as Dinara sat next to her, embracing her as she tried to console her friend. True to her word, when Atticus and Lady got back to the Cowboys' compound, Sandy turned herself in and told all to Atticus and Taffer, as well as Lady.
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Post by Taffer on Apr 6, 2015 17:41:14 GMT
"Now Dash, I remember you were telling me an EGO wouldn't ever spy on their owner. Now you see the example. What I don't remember is what the stakes were."
Taffer cloaked and jumped off the aircraft's roof he was resting on and joined Atticus and Lady, first transferring his position through their EGOs and then appearing next to them.
"What Mistress didn't tell you Sandy", he said it loud enough so that all three could hear, "is that that body was meant to live for half a year at best or maybe even only a couple of months. And after that you were doomed to die a painful death leaving no more than of a puddle of nanites after". He asked Em Dash to show her a part of his memories. She saw from Taffer's eyes as he was caring for Rose's clone when she were badly coughing blood mixed with nanites from her mouth, she heard her EGO's painful and frightened scream of death and she saw a puddle of nanites on a bed where Rose had laid.
"That's what you would be paid with for spying on us and fulfilling the plans of the Mistress whatever they are. She could have offered you a healthier host at least. Anyway, you didn't do any harm to me or to the team in general, so I leave to Lady and Atticus to decide on your fate. And I'm not sure if you meant that, but I have to inform Volodya of what happened too as he's the best for guessing Mistress's plots for now. And while we're waiting for them to decide, you may as well remember if there's something left in your stash at Delta Bunker that may contain your DNA sample. The bullet is likely clean, so you'd better think of something else. A hair maybe or a tooth."
With that said, Taffer transferred to Volodja what Sandy informed him of, his own words, and whatever Atticus's and Lady's reply would be.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 6, 2015 17:59:55 GMT
"No need to inform me, Chief," said Volodja with calm voice "I have a nasty habit to sneak in and keep my ears sharp." That was true. Volodja left Sarah some time ago with warm and friendly hug and he promised to return one day, so he had enough time to eavesdrop everything.
And he continued: "I failed to save and protect Belle mostly from....herself. I can't talk much about details, because most of her secrets were confessed to me and I have to keep the secret of confession. I was really worried about her and tried to help her as much as I could, but I failed, I didn't even managed to convince her to stay with us, and then that stupid monster attacked, so Belle was suddenly gone. Everybody has the right to know about that, so I told as much as I could. Everything else that happened last night and in the morning helped me to regain some of my confidence, so I can be part of the team again, like Belle asked me to do, and I am ready to help to save Sandy and rest of us, but I won't guarantee that I will stay after that. I am not good enough any more. But I owe this one to you, because I was too busy for saving innocents and myself after my failure, so I didn't had time for Sandy. I am truly sorry about being selfish. It was completely my fault. But...
But I would never accepted your deal with that evil manipulative bitch, sorry about that Lady, because she represents everything I despise. But even if you were rewarded with everlasting body, she would not let you go, but turned you into her more sophisticated tools and sent after us. Maybe even after me, because I gave my fair share to piss her off. I know her good enough to know that she always plays dirty.
Let me say one thing more - if you only accepted her offer and haven't done anything else since that, then only thing we can accuse you, will be not telling us about that deal right away, because if she had perfect body somewhere around, we could just steal it from her. Your intentions were good and you wanted both of us to have future together and I love you enough to forgive you that deal with the devil even if I am not worthy of anyone's love myself. If you feel guilty, then sorry about saying that, but we could use you as a double agent to mislead her from now on. You actually might start to feel better about yourself, when you help us to defeat her again."
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Post by Lady Christianna on Apr 6, 2015 21:58:07 GMT
"Ummmm... uhhh... Dash is probably right as to a manufactured EGO psyche - no offense Dash - but I'm not, being a disembodied consciousness of a formerly real live girl. I have no problem playing double agent against that manipulative bitch," Sandy began angrily, but continued with her voice full of remorse, "But its not entirely true I did nothing the Mistress wanted. I did a little tweaking of Lady's reproductive system, keeping in mind to not do anything that would hurt her, and I'm about 97% sure, +/- 3%, that Lady is now pregnant after today's sexcapade. I didn't see the harm in that they love each other so much and all, and Lady was so worried that she couldn't have Atticus' baby before we left on our road trip! I'm sorry, but I didn't see the harm, only the good, but I'm ready for any punishment you want to mete out."
"Cool!" Said Lady Christianna, all grins at the prospective of being the mother of Atticus' baby, then frowned sternly at the others adding, "No punishment for Sandy. Going to need her help in taking care of little Atticus!"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Apr 6, 2015 22:00:15 GMT
I have my helm off and I am holding Lady tight to me as we stand there talking to Taffer, Sandy and Volo. then after a long pause I finally talk. "Look you were given what you thought the best deal in the world. Of course you were going to take it, you are human afterall. They are a very selfish species at times. Besides I of all people know very well about deceit, betrayal and self-preservation beyond all else. It is part of who I was as Kabule, as well as Atticus Batman before I met Belle, lady and the rest of this team. Lady can tell you where I stand when it comes to me being deceived, these days.
However, it doesn't matter. You showed who you are by coming to your senses and telling us. Dinara cares for you as a sister. Lady cares about you. The Fool loves and cares about you even if he didn't show it and perhaps as he tryed to clear his mind, but that goes back to humans being selfish.
Anyway the whole team cares about you, yes even me. Whether you stay in Lady's head is up to her and Taffer. Let them decide, but I do need to know just how honorable you are being with your current honesty. So one question. Back at the beach a little while ago when Lady and I were enjoying our alone time .......did you...have Lady's birth control on or off? And keep being honest! If we do decide on a child it should be OUR choice not yours, and most definitely NOT that evil haigyi's!!! "
After Sandy answers my question I respond with, "Fine it's done. You did it for Lady, and not yourelf or the Haigya. Atleast that is a good thing. However you are right, you didn't see the harm. I do! I see plenty of it. Even if we ignore Lady's young age, there are plenty of problems. How can anybody expect a demonic beast such as myself to ever be a good parent? I have never even had one, so that concept is foreign to me. And we have all just seen firsthand what a monster will do to corrupt their children!!! Then there is the fact that when, and if, Lady pregnant, that the Mistress Haigya will do everything that she can to steal Lady's child..our child. So we may have to go into hiding to protect both Lady and our unborn child, until we can kill the Mistress, Lady's mother. Then there is Lady's father. I doubt Bocar will be thrilled with me being the father of his grandchild. And more importantly, I am the only Half Grid in existance and I doubt even Doctor Orion knows if I can indeed father a child or what issues my unique dna structure could cause for our unborn child. However the Mistress did say it has to be a boy for her Prophecy to be fulfilled and you said you did some tweaking to Lady's reproductive system. So I will hope that causes her to conceive a girl instead."
I then look at Lady. "I love you completely Snow Angel, and if you do ever get pregnant with a child, OUR child, I will still be happy and love you because you are my life and I will be as much of a father as a demonic killer can be. But it should be our choice. Not the choice of somebody else. And definitely NOT somebody planning to steal that child for her evil purposes!
However if Sandy is right and you are pregnant, then I will love you both. Either way I hold no hard feelings towards Sandy, she was just trying to do what was best for her. I of all people know what it's like to do everything to survive even if it means hurting others. I do think it is best for us to get back to base and have Doctor Orion give you a complete physical to be sure, before we jump to conclusions. But with your birthday in the next couple days, perhaps Sandy has just helped me give you the best gift imaginable. Guess I don't need to get you any other present if it's true. So, perhaps I should contact Mr. Pine-coffin and tell him that I don't want him to get me what was on the note I slipped him with the scrip, afterall. " I smile mysteriously but lovingly at Lady, with my last comment.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 7, 2015 4:48:54 GMT
"You want me to clear my mind, Giant?" asked Volodja with calm and lifeless voice. "OK, I will - I have tried to show my love and care for Sandy ever since we met, but I still feel left aside, because she is always busy with helping others. I need her time and support too, you know, but I can't have enough of it. I have been trying to understand her actions and her selfless motives, but it still hurts. The feeling that you are slowly being pushed away by someone you love, never knowing when becomes the moment, you fell over edge, is painful, but you don't understand it, because you have been unconditionally loved by Lady, who spends all her time with you, and you deserve it.
It was the first time, I ignored Sandy, assuming that she was fine and I do feel terrible because of it, but I felt as a second best choice most of the time, when I needed her. I am probably unfair to Sandy, but I am the bad guy after all, so why should I care about others feelings? Why should I be worth to be the one who is loved and wanted to be with? No reasons at all, because I have been a selfish bastard all the time. I deserve to be alone, without love, without hope. At least I can't hurt others that way. But I was irrelevant here, you have more important topics to discuss at moment, so I apologize for my sudden interruption. I know my way out."
Well - it was said out loud at last! He didn't want to hurt Sandy's feelings before and suffered silently in his empty cabins and corners from loneliness, while others could feel their loved ones being there for them, but enough is enough. No way back now for him. If he is a scum, then better inform others about that, so they won't mistakenly take him as a good guy. And ever since he joined the team it was one traumatizing experience for him after another with only few happier moments between them. And he still hadn't time to recover, moving from one adventure to another and dedicating himself to problem solving, to avoid giving a chance to his old enemy - exhaustion to take control over him and others needed him and his skills. But that method was really harmful to Volodja, because he used more inner resources and he didn't had a chance to relax and restore them. Volodja hadn't much to lose now, because he hadn't much left inside any more - the fact that he spoke openly about his own issues, was a clear sign of it. Actually there was only solution to avoid forcing Sandy to choose between her duties and him, so she can still be a good girl...He must leave now, like he planned earlier, so others can concentrate on more important issues. Yes, he is letting her down and breaks his promise of staying, but that's how lowlifes act - they do those kind of things. Although Volodja already regret his decision, but he had to do the best thing, so others could have better and undisturbed lives.
He left the room and the house and made his way to highway. Maybe he is lucky enough to catch a vehicle and then he will be gone for good, not causing any more problems to these lovely people. It will be Sophie and him again. Always on the road, just a two of them, but this time without any dreams to follow...
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Post by Lady Christianna on Apr 7, 2015 11:16:41 GMT
Before Volodja could leave the room, Sandy appeared as a very angry hologram before him blocking the door out, and concentrating as she did when she kissed him days ago, slapped him hard across the face, stimulated the nerves in his cheek to simulating the sting of it and said, "Forget about us! Forget about me! But think about your friends and teammates you selfish bastard! Daimon left, Belle is probably dead, and Vo has gone to try and find her! I don't need you but the team sure as hell does! If you don't want to stay out of duty, because they do a fucking lot of good, then stay out of friendship! Lady is pregnant and almost illiterate, Atticus has his inner demons, Erika's children are mental cases, Taffer is so shorthanded he is hiring mercenaries, who are only reliable if Taffer doesn't get outbid for their services, which is not at all! And what about Sophie, doesn't she deserve some stability in her life - I mean existence, because we EGOs don't live, but that's beside the point!"
Sandy's voice softened as virtual tears streamed down her cheeks, "And think about yourself! You deserve to be happy, because you are a good man if you can get past the damn sob story, but you got to first choose to be happy! You wallow in your unhappiness, thinking about how bad the world is to you and woe is me, I'm Volodja, and the world is so unfair to me! Well boo hoo, the world was never fair and never will be, so you got to grab what happiness you can find and hold on to it tight! I'm dead, and even I know that! Your best chance at happiness is to stay with friends who care about you and need you, but only you can choose to do that! Or you can go back to your wandering the world, thinking how miserable you are all the while and bemoaning your fate to any bartender who will listen to you!"
Adding just before she disappeared allowing Volo to be on his way, "And don't worry about me, as I said, I'm dead, and you won't be seeing me again! It was fucking stupid to pretend I was anything but an EGO, and there is no need for an EGO to be seen! My haunting days are over! I'm just going to do my job and help Lady any way I can, but I bet I still will be happier than you if you leave because at least I'll be with someone who cares!"
Lady just shook her head at Volo as he left with her pink eyes wide and her enigmatic smile in place, saying mentally to her EGO, "Am not illiterate!"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 7, 2015 12:22:20 GMT
Volodja was on the move already, but decided to return because he didn't wanted to use an easy way out from clumsy situation. It would have been acting too cowardly. Staying with the team was more challenging, so he turned around and rushed back to talk with Sandy, his cheek still glowing red. He stopped his run in front of Lady and gasped. After catching his breath, he was able to talk.
"You know, Sandy, " said Volodja, rubbing his hurting cheek."I was going to leave, because I didn't wanted to make you to choose between your duties and me, but that matter is settled now, so I will stay in any case. Mainly because of sense of duty, like you do. And because I like most of us, except myself, and love one certain girl, not an EGO unit, not a ghost, who slapped me couple of minutes ago. At least you showed that you care enough, to slap me and give me a harsh lecture," he continued. "You were wrong about world being my enemy. I am my worst enemy, so I have to learn to defeat myself. Thank you for motivational speech. Much appreciated. I was hoping that you convince me to stay in some other way, I really did, because I did not wanted really to leave you. Care I got in a hard way, because you have really hard hand, I must admit. Now only resting problem remains. Hopefully that one settles in more light manner.
But I need you Sandy. I really do. And I do love you, even if I don't deserve your feelings. That was one of the thoughts whirling in my head, that I am not worthy of your love. And you were right about talking with barkeeps - I shared that thought with one of them, when she suggested me to visit a brothel. I refused that kind offer by telling her, that I am already taken, even if I don't deserve love of that girl. I even introduced you to Henry, by saying that you are special to me, but you didn't popped out, so I could not show him that I love a girl who is forced to be an EGO psyche. Old boy would probably told us about extravagant ways of gentlemen after that. I know that everything is my fault, but can I have a second chance? Please, Sandy!"
He sat down quietly and preferred to listen, instead of talking any more. Only reason, why he didn't fell to his knees to beg, was that would look like too dramatic and fake. Everything went to opposite, as he was planning, but that was OK. At least he got some order into his messed up mind. As soon as they return to base, he will have some rest and after that he dedicates himself to work. Guess that hard slaps on one's cheek are sometimes more useful than expected.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Apr 7, 2015 14:57:30 GMT
Erika Widowmaker was shocked, although she kept her demeanor calm and collected. After Volodja left and she thanked him for all his efforts, she made a few hailer calls to her few remaining connections in high places of the Collective. There were still Votans loyal to her, but it seemed to be fewer every day as her name became a Pariah in the Capital City. Evidently Kael had just made a speech in front of the Collective Parliament proposing a cultural exchange program with the Earth Republic when he was abducted by the Inquisitors in the very halls there. Kara was taken from her home, where they let the children alone until their father got home that evening. It was clear that the Mistress of Judgment and her Inquisitors were ruthless and feared no repercussions to their action, but she swore to her gods that there would be hell to pay.
Erika relayed what she learned to Taffer, then sat with her children. Kara slept peacefully after they sedated her for fear she would hurt herself, and Cael just mumbled low to himself, as if in argument, but his eyes were glazed and unfocused.
"They WILL pay," Thought Erika to herself, "They will most certainly PAY!"
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Post by Lady Christianna on Apr 7, 2015 15:21:55 GMT
"Get out there," Lady Christianna said to her EGO psyche, Sandy, through the telepathic link they shared. "Teach wants to talk."
"No. I've said all I'm going to say on the matter, and I've got work to do here!" Replied Sandy, as she looked for work to do in the dark recesses of Lady's mind, "Here, I'm checking your vitals! You are feeling very good, right? See, I'm doing my job!"
"Get out there," Lady Christianna said to her EGO psyche, Sandy, through the telepathic link they shared. "Teach wants to talk."
"No. I'm never coming out again!" Said Sandy with a determined tone. "It was silly to pretend I was alive! Now I'm dead to him both figuratively as well as literally, as it should be!"
"Get out there," Lady Christianna said to her EGO psyche, Sandy, through the telepathic link they shared. "Teach wants to talk."
"No! Office romances never work out in the best of circumstances!" Replied Sandy, this time her tone growing belligerent. "I should have kept our relationship professional from the beginning!"
"Get out there," Lady Christianna said to her EGO psyche, Sandy, through the telepathic link they shared. "Teach wants to talk."
"NO!" Answered Sandy, this time with finality. "I'm NEVER going out there again! I'm an EGO at least and a ghost at best, so it is fucking stupid to pretend otherwise! Now leave me the hell alone, I got to check on your baby!"
That made Sandy have a disturbing thought, one that bothered her a lot. Did Sandy encourage Lady's pregnancy because Lady wanted Atticus' baby, or because Sandy wanted something to love since Volo had left her life! Sandy didn't like the idea because of how needy and selfish it made her appear, but she had to admit it was a possibility.
Lady shrugged her small chalk white shoulders, and said as a matter of fact, "Sandy's not coming out. Said never again."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 7, 2015 15:44:17 GMT
"Sophie dear. You know that I am an idiot, who is trying to repair the damage, I caused," said Volodja. "If Sandy won't come out, then I will send you in. Agreed?"
"Of course, Volodja," answered Sophie "You are not an idiot, but desperate and exhausted man, so I will go and see, what can I do."
Sophie popped out from Volodja,s mind and made her way into Lady's. "May I enter?" she asked politely "Oh, we are decorating here. Thank's for the idea, but I 'd prefer something Renaissance bottega like, with books and paintings. Volo has ruined my taste...Sorry for mentioning the Devil, who actually thinks that he is an idiot. I will disagree on his hard self diagnose, because all I see is deadly tired man, who used almost all he had to get you out from Mistress's clutches, and now needs time to recover, because he can't think clearly any more. Only thing getting him focused, is another trouble, but that will cost him more energy. In that sense he is an idiot, because all he does, is caring about others. Bloody knight-errand he is. And then he pushes himself too far, loses all his energy and I have to patch him up. Anyway, he is really sorry and here you go." She passed Volodja's little poem to Sandy.
my virtual girl
on our virtual world
i don't know which is true
me in flesh and blood
or hologram you
but one thing is real
the way we both feel
is something special
meant only for few
"Here you go. He was never going to show it to you, because he was afraid that realistic you might laugh at him and his poetry, but I thought that you should see it anyway, because it was about you. He wrote it... Well, you wait and see. He really wanted to make a welcome back present to you, so he organized little expedition and others went along with his crazy idea, so now we have...You will see wne we are back in our base. But you have to come out there. That's the only condition. Take care sister. And thank you for bringing him back. This is where he belongs and he secretly knows it. And you are the one who he wants and needs." Sophie hugged Sandy, went back to Volodja's mind and started to redecorate her living place. Renaissance Bottega it shall be. Real artist's studio with lots of books to read.
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Post by Taffer on Apr 7, 2015 19:03:12 GMT
"Erika", Taffer answered to her, "You're probably not used to be in a position you are in now, so I'll give you a little advice. Those people in high places are not your best friends now and not even reliable. No matter how loyal they could be to you, they are pretty much tied up in their decisions if they still want to keep their high rank and power. Moreover, you're endangering them by contacting them as someone might decide to attack them to weaken your position more. So if you need contacts in the Collective, stick to those who have much less to lose. Your best bet is probably those you were shoulder to shoulder with back then in Pale Wars. Those you made friends with before you got your position in politics. And it's even better if they are in a good shape to protect themselves. Anyway, we're going back to our base, so prepare your children and wait for me, I'll send Raizar with the transport for you."
"Well team", he said aloud, "As I see no one else is going to run off or kill anyone, I think we'd better fly back to our base, before anyone finds an excuse to change their mind. So let's get in the aircraft and get ready to the flight. We'll have our time planning our next move when we're at the base. Let's suit ourselves and wait for Erika so that we could take off right away when she joins us."
He thanked Cowboys for their hospitality and went to the aircraft where he found Raizar who had just finished maintenance procedures and was testing the engines.
"Is everything fine? Great!" Taffer exclaimed, glancing over dials on the pilot's deck. "I think we've done here. Now, to your payment then. Is 100k scrip fair? And your bonus as I promised." Taffer reached to his locker and pulled a Heartseeker sniper rifle from it. "It's yours. It's rather hot, I wouldn't recommend walking with it in this city openly. You know, probably several people were killed here with it. I've removed all signed bullets from its magazine and loaded it with generics. If it's not your style of weapon, you can trade it for anything you like. And we already know at least one interested buyer. And do one little favor for me please. If you don't mind, take this roller Vo left, take it to the Freedom's hospital and bring Erika and her children here please. Your rifle can wait for you here so you won't be caught with it in the city. After that, you're free to go. You can stay here, you can go wherever you like or you can fly with us back to San Fran. If it's the latter, then I invite you to our base of operation. Feel free to get there with us and be our guest."
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Raizar
Junior Batman Sidekick
Posts: 60 
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Post by Raizar on Apr 7, 2015 20:16:24 GMT
"Thanks, Taff." Raizar said slowly. "You know as well as I do, it's not all about money. I'd helped you anyway, but... I mean, are you sure this is not your last money?"
He sighed and continued: "And... ah, damn, well, I'll take it. You know, people can change when they climb up all the way to being bosses. Glad to see you did not change... yet, maybe. And this babe..." He took the rifle and looked through the sight. "Nice dolly, huh. You are right, this is not my style. But if you want to make it my bonus, well, I'll keep it but I won't sell it, just in case if you change your mind. Let it stay here for a while though." He sighed again. "Well, now when we settled this I tell you: I'd better return with you to San Fran. Not sure I want to hang about here. You know, no ruins to plunder, no arkfalls, life is dull and all that. And I accept your invitation about that base of yours but are you sure others mates approve it? Maybe I'm too ill-mannered for them, I mean, all those poetry they love and such... Ah, anyway I'll be a brief guest there. All those walls and buildings make me feel blocked if I stay there for long. I need sky above my head, not the ceiling. But it would be useful to have some backup place just in case, huh?" Raizar looked uncertain for a while then waved his hand and smiled. "Well, where is that roller then? I'll be back fast but maybe not so fast depends on their condition."
He took the roller and went to the hospital. There he found Erika sitting with her children. She concentrated on them and Raizar was not sure if she even noticed him so he cleared his throat and said mildly: "Umm, hello mate. Seems it's time to move now, to those wondrous medics at the San Fran base, you know. I asked staff to help me relocate your children to the roller. Please, come with me and look after them while we're returning to the aircraft."
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Post by Lady Christianna on Apr 7, 2015 21:43:40 GMT
my virtual girl
on our virtual world
i don't know which is true
me in flesh and blood
or hologram you
but one thing is real
the way we both feel
is something special
meant only for few
"That is so...beautiful!" Said Sandy to Dinara who was still visiting after Sophie left, "But Volo is still an idiot and I'm NEVER leaving here! It's where I belong, doing my job as an EGO, which is all I am! NO more of this foolishness that I'm something else, something he could really... love! When I do that I just confuse us both, and make him unhappy, and I want him to be happy, so I'm not going anywhere, no fucking way, no fucking how! It's safe here! Right, Dinara! I am right here, aren't I Dinara?"
Then Sandy cried as she was embraced by her fiend. But suddenly, Volodja's poem was hung on one of the dark walls in her dark home in the dark recesses of Lady Christianna's mind.
Meanwhile, Lady held Atticus hand as they sat next to each other waiting for the plane to takeoff from Freedom to San Francisco, but before they did, she said to Atticus smiling coyly in anticipation of her birthday party, "Want BOTH presents, please."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Apr 7, 2015 22:03:35 GMT
I watch Raizar leave and listen to Lady and Volodja for awhile. Then I kiss her gently and excuse myself to go get our stuff from our room in the Cowboy Headquarters. I retreive it and while in the room, I pull out my Hailer and contact Kaj and talk for a few minutes and tell him we are on our way home. Then ask him and Chloe to to do something for me. Then I thank the Cowboys and head back to the ship with Lady's and my stuff. After I enter I set my helm in my locker and smile at her. I give her another quick kiss, then go to talk to Taffer.
I sit next to him and quietly talk to him. "Very few people know this, but I do have some flight experience. I can atleast co-pilot smaller vessels such as helicopters and perhaps this ship with a quick refresher. I stole and piloted plenty of VA-10B Gargoyles during the Pale Wars. No experience with Stratocarriers though, but that is not the reason I came in to talk......
(after a long pause) Look this mission was mostly about Lady. If your merc needs more pay then I will give him another 500k. Also I contacted Lietuanant Oenfer and Chloe. I took the liberty, as head of Security, to have them make Raizar a basic off-base personel identification code. So he can come and go just as our other personel that live off base do. However as I said it is basic. He will be locked out of the high security systems and places including the War room. Unless you decide he deserves higher authorization. The ID and passcodes will be in a file on your desk for him by the time we get back to San Fransisco. We can also assign him private quarters to use when he is visiting, if you authorize it. Honestly, as a former merc, I don't trust them because they always sell themselves to the highest bidder. However he earned that base I.D. and he is your friend and you are Commander so if you trust him, then that is enough for me for now. But if he breaks that trust or hurts our team or Lady, then he dies.
On another topic, I hear Cael keeps refering to Kabule in the third person. That is good. I am not sure if you have thought if it, but if you think it is best for him to face his nightmare then say so. Normally only Lady sees me without my mask, but I owe Erika. So if you feel that Cael coming face to face with the real Kabule will help, just say so."
I then walk back and sit with Lady and hold her hand as we wait for takeoff. While waiting, Lady said to me while smiling coyly in anticipation of her birthday party, "Want BOTH presents, please."
I smile and say, "Then both it is Snow Angel."
While I was off getting our stuff and then back and talking to Taffer, then sitting with Lady, Dinara is in Lady's head with Sandy.
She is trying to comfort Sandy, after Sophie leaves. "Relax big sis. You can't help it. Atty says the heart wants what it wants, apperently that means our virtual hearts too. Anyway you better come out sometimes. Atty did some work on his and Lady's quarters at base. He had holo-emitters installed in their sitting/trophyroom and it's bathroom, so we could appear in there and talk 'in person' while they have alone time." Dinara giggles at her in person joke then continues. "He also secretly installed some emitters in his private armory. So perhaps you can go in there and use his guns to help unwind like you violent soldiers prefer to do." She giggles again and holds Sandy tighter. |
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