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Post by Belle Starr on Apr 30, 2015 13:50:13 GMT
"Tinkerbelle," said Volodja calmly and firmly. "Remember what I taught you. Clear your mind from emotions and start to count numbers. We need you back right now. You are the one in control of your Volge, so prove it to yourself and prove it to me, that all is up to you and nobody else. Seize that chance to make a statement, Tinkerbelle! Start with a simple breathing exercise. Breathe seven times at least and start with exhaling. Then start to count." A raspy voice began counting, and it took Volodja a second to realize it was Belle's, "10... 9... 8... 7..." Tears began to fall from the red glowing eyes of the Were-Volge as it continued to count, "6... 5... 4... 3..." The red glow faded from Belle's diamond blue eyes as tears trailed down her pale freckled cheeks as the blue scales and spikes disappeared from her blond tousled head as she rose to her feet, her armor still intact since she had not transformed completely. Belle rushed to Volodja embracing him tightly, sobbing, "I've lost Vo forever Volo! I'll never get him back! I'll never love again - not like that! I realize now, even if I find his eye, even if I find some way to clone him, it doesn't mean it will be him without his memories of our love! That's over! True love is over! Happiness is over! Life is over!" As she sobbed uncontrollably in Volodja's embrace with her, he smelled strawberries in her blond hair and felt the wet warmth of her tears on his shoulder. Then, as he held her close, he noticed a pin thick trickle of red blood coming from a tiny puncture at the base of her skull.  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 30, 2015 14:00:04 GMT
Volodja said as soothingly as he could: "You poor delusional Tinkerbelle. You are only 22 years old and you are burying yourself alive. Your world is as big as you will make it to be. End of one thing won't mean an end of everything, but might as well be a new beginning. You just have to realize that, open the door in your soul and let the world in again, when you are ready. It might not be today or tomorrow, but maybe day after that changes everything." And he gently kissed Belle's blonde hair, still holding her tight and letting her cry. Crying does good.
Seeing her bleeding didn't make him exactly yell from joy, so he asked as politely as he could: "Alfred, old boy. Can you take care of that wound you daughter has and investigate what might caused it? Nanites perhaps? Or something else? At moment we both want Belle to be all right. Your personal dislike of me is irrelevant, because we have bigger worries."
At moment he had only one thing to do - take out his handkerchief and press it on the wound to stop bleeding. And he could do it without disturbing Belle. So he reached for his pocket with his free hand, took that piece of cloth out and started to treat her wound, while Belle was still sobbing against his shoulder. If it's nanite, then maybe he could just remove it...
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Post by Belle Starr on Apr 30, 2015 14:28:47 GMT
While Lena watched into the ruins of Belle's office from the doorway with her SAW still at the ready, Brody stepped into the room and touched the corner of his glasses with one stick like forefinger and began scanning the room. His goofy smile appeared on his pale face, and he walked to a corner of the room, beginning to roll broken pieces of the roof over to the side, with even the small pieces giving him difficulty through which he persisted.
Brody grunted straining with a large piece of rubble, which finally moved, "This is the equipment I spoke of Miss Starr and Mr. Uljanov. It's a miniaturized metal detector in my glasses that I can attune to certain types of metals, like silver which Miss Starr's box is made of, and lets me see where they are. I got the idea from the back of an old comic book that was advertising x-ray glasses. Of course, that product was a fraud, but I thought I could invent one with today's technology, and would have too if the tiny power source wouldn't fry the user's brain. Never could figure out how to get around that flaw. Ah. there it is!"
Brody bent down and reached into a crevice in the rubble he had been digging in, pulling out a small silver container the size of a ring box. Brody was all smiles as he stood up and walked to Belle, handing it to her with both hands as if presenting an offering, which she quickly grabbed from his hands. She beamed as she held the tiny receptacle to her chest, thanking him profusely then kissed him on the cheek.
Brody's face turned bright red as his goofy smile became even sillier, but obviously sincere, as he said, "NP, Miss Starr, I was just glad to help!"
Belle wiped the vestiges of her tears from her blue diamond eyes with the back of one pale hand as she turned Volodja, saying, "Y'all don't understand, Volo! VO WAS my world, and my soul is empty without him! Don't worry silly, I won't kill myself or anything, I still have a job to do, protecting innocents and all! That just now the sole purpose of my existence! I'll continue with my life when I see Vo in the next one, but until then I need to do deeds that will make sure I get there!"
Belle stared intently a Volodja with her wide blue eyes, trying to discern if he understood what she was trying to convey, but after a moment' hesitation, she kissed him too on the cheek, adding, "But thank you for caring so much!"
When Volodja addressed him directly, Alfred sounded surprised, his usual arrogant tone absent, as he replied to Volodja through his EGO, "I... didn't - couldn't - detect the wound, just like the earlier one. There are alien nanites at the base of Belle's neck, already dissolving, that have some component that blocks an EGO from detecting them. However, now that I know they are there, I can do a quick analysis of then before they disappear completely." After a pregnant pause, Alfred continued, "I don't think I will inform Belle with this information just yet, for she is so distraught that she is still on the edge of Volge transformation at the moment, but there seems to be a subliminal command function to the device, much like the devices of the Inquisition but different, more sophisticated. Collectively the nanites work to convince the target to engage in some sort of activity, these to force Belle into complete despair to transform into her inner beat and then to rampage. The components of the nanites suggest Collective manufacture. My analysis also suggest that these nanites were injected into her system within the last hour. Perhaps your Mr. Lestrange? Has he ever taken on contracts for the Collective?"
Then Alfred instantly healed the tiny wound at the base of Belle's neck so no more blood escaped, although her natural healing factors had already begun to seal it.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 30, 2015 14:44:28 GMT
"In natural ecosystems, nature does not tolerate empty niche spaces," said Volodja. "You are planning to fill the niche already. And who said that there is only one world? Try the theory of possible worlds, dear Tinkerbelle. Or create a totally brand new world for yourself. Just give yourself some time, dear girl. Time will do miracles with all wounds, unless they are lethal." Maybe Volodja was right when he said those things, but his wounds still hurt even after lot of time, but he was an ageing guy after all, so everything took more time in his case. Even healing process.
Alfred was really business like this time, making Volodja to think. As long as he knew Marcel, he would never use that kind of sophisticated methods. Besides - Volodja was sure that Marcel didn't knew Belle at all, because connection between two continents wasn't exactly a perfect one. If he had known her, then he would kept longer distance between their vehicles. Marcel cherished his personal safety.
Volodja can exclude revengeful Mark from the list. And he could exclude himself too, because of personal reasons and he didn't remembering himself passing out either. That left only two suspects here - Lena and Broderick...And both them were behind him, when they entered the building...Lena was former Collective spy, but she was not exactly most professional one. But she was with Belle most of the time alone and not only here but back in base too...Harmless looking nerd Broderick was another suspect, but Volodja didn't trust harmless looking guys particularly. After all - he was often using a disguise of a wimp himself, but Brody was most of the time under his protective wing...If Alfie spoke the truth, he must be really careful with both of them, until he is able to make some solid conclusions..."Really ingenious of me, excluding Marcel and myself!" Volodja though self ironically. "I am a real mastermind."
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Apr 30, 2015 15:14:48 GMT
Dinara said, "Pulease don't leave, and pulease stop crying! What ever I did wrong, I am sorry! Pulease don't hate me! Pulease forgive me! PULEASE!!! Pulease tell me why you are crying and what I did wrong!!!! So I can, NOT do it again!!!! PULEASE?!?!?!?! If it is because I am a defective EGO, then I am sorry, but....." Dinara starts crying hard, as she thinks for a second then continues, ".....but.....but I can't change that!!! I AM WHAT I AM AND CAN'T CHANGE IT!!! I WOULD FOR YOU IF I COULD, BUT CAN'T!!!! SO PULEASE DON'T HATE ME FOR THAT!!!! I LIKE YOU SOOOOOO MUCH, AND NEVER EVER WANNA HURT YOU!!!!!" Dinara's crying is harder and uncontrollable now as, still clinging to Amber and crying on her shoulder, Dinara finds herself giving the young babe a quick kiss on the lips, hoping that Amber will not reject her words or affections any further, and that whatever she did wrong, they can work it out.
Amber blinked her large jade eyes twice in quick succession, then grabbed Dinara's small chin gently with her large clay brown hand and kissed her as passionately as she knew how to, not having ever kissed anyone before, then after a time, replied, "Please don't cry! You are perfect! You are beautiful! You speak beautifully! You sing beautifully! You are so full of life, and I don't know what I am! I am a blank slate! I'm bland and boring, I have nothing interesting to say - I'm just an EGO machine doing a EGO machine's job, and who could care for that!?!?"
Amber held tightly to Dianara as she began to weep again, afraid that if she let go, Dinara would disappear and never want to see Amber again!
*****
Erika watched and listened to Atticus and Newlo's exchange at the front gate to the base, then watched Newlo nod his head in quick agreement before he drove away. A slight smile crossed Erika's lush lips as she thought to herself. "Well played Atticus. Perhaps you were the best choice for leader of this team. Now we just have to find out who this new enemy is and who is the traitor in our midst. But first and foremost, we need to keep Lady safe."
Erika order two guards to be posted in the hallway outside the bedroom where Lady still lay fast asleep, informing Atticus of her action.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Apr 30, 2015 16:47:29 GMT
There was no sign of presence of the Volge any more, but Volodja's vitals were clear. Marcel was right - Volodja survived as usual and Marcel finally gets his chance to settle his score with with him... Marcel sneaked into building, making sure that nobody can't detect his presence. After his tour through numerous corridors he was finally getting closer to his old European acquittance - Volodja Uljanov. Only few more steps and then he saw whole group of people. Nervous looking Castithan girl and blushing nerd stood quietly. Volodja was busy, being kissed by beautiful blonde girl.
"Bonjour mes amis," he greeted them. "Don't make any sudden moves, please. It's not about you Castithan. And four eyes may step aside too. Mademoiselle Belle can join rest of the group as soon as she is finished kissing Volodja. And that leads me to...my old friend Volodja, of course. So glad that you are alive and well, because now it is time to pay some old debts." His smile was everything than a pleasant one when he started to raise his hand...
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Apr 30, 2015 17:14:29 GMT
"Don't do anything," ordered Volodja. "I know him and his style. If he wanted me dead, then he would shot me already. And he is not the type, who speaks to his targets and tries to humiliate them, before killing them. It would be most unprofessional thing to do and Marcel is a pro. Even if it's personal for him, he kills first and has his soliloquy when watching the corpse. And as you can see, his hand is empty. I assume that you came because of the last trick I played to you? But it's not about grudge, I can tell it from your behaviour."
"Merde, Volodja!" said Marcel. "You almost ruined my surprise. You are right about my cause. I am here because of that trick. And you are almost right about my reasons. It is not the grudge. I came to...thank you. Your trick saved my life. That cheap putain, who hired us, never intended to pay for our services and he knew that he can never take out both of us together. That's why he decided to play us against each other, as I found out later. Un tout grand merci, Volodja." Marcel grinned suddenly, satisfied with his little scheme. Then he reached out his empty hand again and shook Volodja's before he continued.
"He was sure that you won't accept his proposal getting rid of me, because everyone knew about your noble and foolish principles. Because of that he tried to convince me to kill you. I may not like you Volodja, because you represent strange and irrational values to me, but that won't mean that I don't respect you as my competitor. Without you my work would have been really boring. Your crazy plans and tricks, you played on me, made me want to humiliate you instead of killing, but you tricked me, tu fils de salaud. And when our customer saw your sandwich, he broke the deal right away, so I made out from there intact. And he is still alive only because I decided that it would be the matter for both of us to decide..."
"Stop right there, tu couchon, and let me speak with him!" sounded girl's voice and Moira stepped out. She looked really cute with her black hair, pale skin and Asian eyes, wearing denim hot pants and pink top on her slim body. She was everything that Marcel wasn't - outgoing and shiny personality. And she blushed a bit when she greeted Volodja, saying:
"It's nice to finally meet you. Marcel has not told much about you, but I have access to his memories so I created an image of you, but now I see that you surpass even my largest expectations. It is really shame that you left Europe, because (she pointed to Marcel with her thumb) guys like him took over and made that place much more darker."
"Be quiet, Moira!" Marcel sounded really irritated. "Let me finish, sacrebleu! Anyway Volodja. I thanked you, so I think that we are even. My job here is done. But I will stay to this corner of the world for awhile to observe you and your doings. Probably I establish my little business here and sell my skills to the highest bidder, like I always do, you idealist! And do you know what the fun part is going to be? You can never guess, when I appear next time and which side I am going to choose. Your life just became more interesting than you expected. I'll keep in touch. I know where do you live now." Marcel laughed at them all and disappeared into darkness.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Apr 30, 2015 22:27:01 GMT
As I watch Newlo leave, I respond to Erika. "Thank you Erika. I just hope he doesn't notice just how sneaky I was. I took a trick from their book. That datastick has a nanite sized tracker embedded in it. It will also send us duplicates of everything on any device that it is opened on back to us. Now we just wait and see what he does. Either the nanites in Belle are his and he tries to hide that and gives us bogus information in return. Or they are not his, and he gives us some real but most likely small information in return. I will be in my quarters if you need anything."
I walk back to my quarters and see one of the guards visibly cringe in fear when he sees me. His partner nudges him to quit, and I can see both fear and respect in his eyes. Fear I am fine with and live on. The respect is new. Not sure I can get used to it. I go into our quarters and see Lady still sleeping. I remove my helm and armor place it back in the closet and put my more comfortable Supporter garb back on. I lean down and gently kiss Lady Christianna on the lips and gently squeeze her tush then give her back a small massage. I rub her tummy as I pull away saying, "I love you both my Snow Angel. Get your rest. Obviously I tired you out quite a bit last night." I lightly kiss her lips again then return to my datapad and reading in our sitting room.
Amber kissed Dinara as passionately as she knew how to, not having ever kissed anyone before, then after a time, replied, "Please don't cry! You are perfect! You are beautiful! You speak beautifully! You sing beautifully! You are so full of life, and I don't know what I am! I am a blank slate! I'm bland and boring, I have nothing interesting to say - I'm just an EGO machine doing a EGO machine's job, and who could care for that!?!?"
Amber held tightly to Dianara as she began to weep again, afraid that if she let go, Dinara would disappear and never want to see Amber again!
Dinara lifts Ambers crying head and, stealing something she saw the petite Lady Christianna do with Atticus, she slides her really short and petite body on to the much taller woman's lap, then leans in and passionately returns the kiss.
"No cryin! I hate seeing you upset! You are you! You are NOT blank!!! Just can't see that you are what YOU want to be! Not bland and boring! Not a machine! You're Amber Widowmaker!........or is it just Amber? Either way, I care for that! For YOU!!! I want to be With YOU!" Dinara turns bright red at her admission but continues. "I like you lots and lots and lots! And did I mention...........LOTS?! You are smart and funny and....and....and...and I want to be WITH YOU!!!!! You are a gorgeous goddess!"
Dinara holds Amber tight and kisses the beautiful young woman harder, feeling her almost insignificant chest pressing into Amber's wonderful bosom. Dinara thrills at the feel of Amber against her and kisses again, then she breaks the kiss and smiles.
"Ya like my singing?! Good! This song is for you!"
Dinara jumps up, frowning for a second at the loss of Amber's touch. Then looks into Amber's amazing jade eyes and smiles again. Then she starts singing hoping Amber will hear the emotion in her young voice, for the goddess on her bed, and feel the same way. Trying to dance and shake her slight figure in an enticing way for Amber. Dinara sings: Kylie Minogue's Love At First Sight.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on May 1, 2015 2:48:44 GMT
Amber's tears dried up as she watched, and she smiled, getting up and dancing with Dinara, losing herself in the music and the company, then when the song ended, she asked as she smiled, "May we do that again?"
As Dinara gave her eager assent and they danced some more, Amber didn't lose her doubts about being a blank slate, but started to believe that every moment she spent with Dinara made her less of one.
*****
Lady Christianna woke up stretched, and yawned then quickly donned her black leathers, only to find the pants no longer fit. She rushed into where Atticus sat reading, muttering incomprehensibly as she held her leather pants up, a gap of about an inch clearly visible s she continued to try to fasten them. Finally, she looked a him, her mouth agape and her pink eyes wide, exclaiming mournfully, "Atticus!"
Sandy, Lady's EGO psyche, interjected to both of them, "Um... yeah, I just checked! Lady is much further along in her pregnancy than she should be!"
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Post by Belle Starr on May 1, 2015 3:43:35 GMT
"What an odd man!" Said Belle with a frown as Marcel Lestrange disappeared into the shadows, as she secured the small silver box in a secret pocket of her Liberty Trooper armor, then she shrugged and she said, "Well, let's get Act Two of this show on the road before something else happens!" The group headed through the ruins making their way to the center of the former VBI installation, where the energy room was located and where the explosion was centered that destroyed the base. Brody set up the equipment that he had been hauling in the heavy case from the Raptor; first outside the former generator room to get a base reading, then inside. "This equipment is a much more sophisticated example of that in my glasses, operating at the subatomic level," Explained Brody as he looked at the stream of data on his scan pad while the machine hummed to life. "As I suspected, the components of the bomb are much different then those used in the building of the VBI installation. Even though they are now scattered to the four winds, I can deduct with a high probability based on the elements in the materials used in its construction that the bomb was made in the Collective. Furthermore, the bombs remnant atoms are intertwined with Castithan gene residue, leading me to the conclusion that this was the work of a suicide bomber who blew themselves up in the generator room, designed to create a cascading series of explosions throughout the complex. Ingenious, really!" Brody pushed his black rimmed glasses back up his beak like nose with one pale forefinger, smiling and staring at him with expectant brown eyes that reminded Belle of a puppy waiting for a pat on its head from it's owner. "Huh! Good job Brody!" Replied Belle as her pale brow furrowed in thought and Brody smiled goofily, then she ordered, "Okay, relay that information to our home base, then pack it up and lets head home! I'd rather not be here when the scrappers arrive! Was there anything else worth salvaging Brody?" "Afraid not, Miss Starr," Replied Brody, then adding when he noticed her frowning at him, "I mean Belle." They made there way safely up from the canyon floor below Overpass, then packed the Raptor and headed back to the base. The return trip was uneventful, and Belle was glad when the Predator was safely driven into the base garage, stretching languidly as she exited the vehicle, enthusiastically saying with a smile that showed off her pearly whites, "Home, sweet home!"  |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on May 1, 2015 4:49:08 GMT
Marcel was driving back to "The Crater", because somehow everyone in Paradise seemed to start there and it wasn't useful try to be too extravagant. Nobody knew him here yet, so he had to make himself reputation, accepting some minor tasks, but that will definitely be beginning of something huge. He had skills, he had brains, he had...Moira!
"Why you didn't mention that guy is a hot stuff?" asked Moira, sitting in his black Dodge Challenger. "No wonder that he is surrounded by beautiful girls and a nerd. And I have to be stuck with you."
"Don't start again. Volodja is nobody, as I told you," snapped Marcel.
"You just travelled thousands of kilometres and turned every stone around, to find a nobody and thank him for saving your life. What do you think it says about you, Marcel?" teased Moira. "You never chase the wind. That means Volodja is somebody to you."
"Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!"
That kind of "friendly conversation continued all the way to "The Crater" where Marcel rented a room, until he finds something more suitable for his needs. Before he could afford that he had to accept some tasks from Varus Soleptor, a real cheapskate and manipulative Liberata dumpling. Marcel was not known of liking his employees. Mainly because they could become his targets in the next day. But he had to tolerate them as long he was on their pay roll. That meant tolerating even Varus.
"Anything for me yet?" he asked as soon he reached the bar counter after parking his car outside "The Crater." Varus looked at him with his beady eyes and decided to enjoy his drink instead. Wrong decision. Marcel didn't liked to be ignored so he sat on the bar stool and "accidentally" nudged Varus's glass with his elbow, making Varus spill remains of his drink all over his outfit.
"Je suis désolé, mon ami," he said right away. "You seemed to be busy, so you obviously didn't saw me coming and I didn't noticed you sitting there. But since we just discovered each other, I will ask: Do you anything for me at moment?"
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 1, 2015 5:34:24 GMT
Standing mere inches from my chair and holding her pants open, Lady looked at me, her mouth agape and her pink eyes wide, exclaiming mournfully, "Atticus!"
I also hear Sandy, Lady's EGO psyche, interjected to both of us, "Um... yeah, I just checked! Lady is much further along in her pregnancy than she should be!"
I look up at Lady and smiling wickidly, I look into her open pants and remark, "Mmmmm yes that is a nice view. Too bad the panties are in the way. However it's obvious you aren't in here for me to admire your beauty. So let's address the problem. Your cute little belly although still cute is obviously a little bigger. I knew you would get bigger as the pregnancy progressed but didn't know they progressed this fast. Guess we will have to go see Doctor Orion again soon, and get you on some kind of pre-natal program. Then we will have to have your outfits expanded or get more. If you need money for shopping that is no problem, My Snow Angel."
I lean down and kiss Lady's belly, then set my data pad aside and pull her onto my lap. I kiss her lovingly and just hold her to me. While she is snuggling into me, I grab my datapad again to see how Zork is doing cleaning and converting the torture rooms we discovered behind Medical into decent medical/therapy rooms with no signs of what they once were. He informs me that cleaning up that much filth and bad air will take awhile, especially since Doctor Orion is in there looking at all the medical and torture equipment we found to see what we can use. So he will clean and look over the distillery, we found in there, after all the other work is done. Then I put the datapad aside again, as I lovinlgy kiss and comfort Lady Christianna, as I whisper into her ear, "I love you Tianna."
"it's got to be well past lunchtime by now, so perhaps the 2 of you need some food. So shall we go to the Mess, Snow Angel? But first, I suppose we do have to find you something that fits."
Dinara looks up at Amber and smiles. Then she blushes as she asks, "Can we dance closer, pulease? I um.........uh.......I like when you touch me." Dinara's eyes twinkle with hope as she looks up at Amber, who agrees and slowly pulls the smaller girl into her chest. Dinara thinks she must be in heaven as she plays the next couple of songs for them instead of singing. Since she wants to just enjoy the feel of being in Amber's arms for as long as possible, because she is so afraid Amber will decide that she is to young and small for the statuesque enchantress holding her or, worse yet, not want to be anywhere near her ever again.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 1, 2015 5:47:54 GMT
After sending detailed report about everything happened in VBI base, including his observations about Lena, Brody and Marcel to Atticus, Volodja retreated into his cabin. Since he is not a member of the brain trust, he must let others work in peace and deal with important matters. He just reads in his bed without disturbing anyone, because he can't suggest anything or convince anyone without doing something crazy to prove his point, causing fear and chaos, like he did with Belle's imprisonment, when Atticus changed his mind about terms only after he broke all the rules, scared guards and dragged Belle out. Talking didn't help. But acting crazy did more harm than good. Better stay away from causing trouble. Volodja completed his chaperone task. His work as Wolfram's notebook boy was done too and tutoring job is passed to Belle's more than competent person. No more obligations for him until rest of the team needs his gunman skills. Only thing he had to offer from now on. And only skills he really disliked. But at least he isn't useless when he follows orders by the letter, although it means acting against his very own nature. Rest of the day belonged to him. Actually it belong to them, because Sophie popped out from his mind too, intending to visit Dinara. But realizing that she was not alone, Sophie wanted to go back to her bottega hideout right away, but Volodja asked her to stay outside and keep him company, like they did back in old days. Soon both of them sat on his bed, back to back, and were busy reading and changing little remarks about little and insignificant, but interesting discoveries, they made from their books. Whatever may happen, they will have each other to rely. There they sat - lonely EGO girl and lonely flesh and blood guy - old friends and companions and when time passed, full of intellectual conversation and sharp minded remarks, they didn't felt that lonely any more.  |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on May 1, 2015 8:07:59 GMT
Marcel didn't waste any time. After Varus told him about his missing shipment of gulanite samples (Varus had always problems with overtaken mines and missing shipments, so it was a miracle that he was still in business), he asked few additional questions about shipment's route and it's last known location. Soon he was on his way when he spotted couple of ark hunters near their Dodge, busy with changing flat tire. According to their clumsy actions and slow movement, they spent enough time in that area, so maybe they know something about that missing shipment.
He stopped his Dodge, stepped out and offered his help. Not because of his kindness, but in hope to dig some info out from them. Helping them out helps him to gain their trust and lose their tongues. While he was busy changing tire for those amateurs, he lead their conversation cleverly into the right path and found out that vehicle had passed them by couple of hours ago, heading towards small Raider encampment nearby. As soon as he heard what he needed, he quit his work. Tire was almost changed, so those beginners can finish the job in couple of...days at max. At least he encouraged them to keep up the good work, before he left the scenery. That meant something too. Instead of the fish, he gave them a fishing rod, although he hadn't a clue if that pond had any fish at all. And why he should care about them? If they manage to change tire then it's good and they learned something. If they fail then they have to hike on foot and that's good for their hearts.
Soon he was near encampment and observed it carefully. Only few Riders and a courier, tied to the tree. Piece of cake for Marcel. He put his bolter ready and with few well aimed shots took out two sentries. After that he changed position quickly and while he was carefully approaching, he made couple of stops and couple of shots every time he stopped, resulting with more dead Riders. His calculations didn't let him down - when he reached encampment, all Raiders were on the ground, most of them dead. Only exception was wounded Raider, who cursed between his clenched teeth. Marcel stopped by him, looking his face, pulled out his pistol and put him out of his misery.
Marcel searched all the bodies carefully and thoroughly, looting them from everything valuable. After that he found that sample shipment and was ready to leave, when courier suddenly said: "Hey mate! Aren't you going to cut me lose?"
"Why should I do that?" replied Marcel with a question. "Varus paid me to find these samples, not releasing you." But since he felt kind of sorry for him, he took an army knife from the belt of the fallen Raider and slammed it into a tree trunk near courier's tied up hands, commenting: "You are your own now. I gave you a knife to use and get yourself lose. I have to say that it is more than I usually do to help someone, who is not included into my contract, mon ami. Take care...of yourself." And then he drove away, leaving courier behind...
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Post by Lady Christianna on May 1, 2015 10:47:17 GMT
Lady found the brown outfit with the elastic waistband she wore as a cub reporter for FCN, and grabbing the pith helmet with the camera she felt accessorized it, then went with Atticus to the mess hall. Hardly anyone was there as most everyone who wanted lunch had gotten it, for it was long past the shift change, so they had their pick of tables, picking one near the wall as Atticus always liked to face the door with his back to the wall. They gave their orders to Ralph the cook, who raised his eyebrows when Lady ordered bratwurst with sauerkraut instead of her usual POWburger, merely saying, "Just want it!" when both men stared at her like she had grown a second head.  Belle, Brody, and Lena walked into the mess hall fresh from their visit to the VBI installation ruins. Belle was all smiles, happy that she had found the silver box she had been looking for in what remained of her office there. Brody looked hungry, glancing repeatedly at the kitchen, and Leana just looked tired, still holding the SAW she had been carrying since the beginning of their road trip. All three of them looked dusty and grimy from their adventure. "Sir, Belle and Brody wanted to get something to eat, and I thought you wouldn't mind me bringing her here instead of her room, since her EGO said you were here and that not many people were present," Explained Leana stoically, "I hope you don't mind, but I can escort her back to her room if that is what you wish." "Also, I need to discuss an important issue with Lady! It's about Volodja and her education!" Added Belle. Atticus nodded his assent to Lena, who then said, "I'm more tired than hungry, so if you will excuse me, I'm going to go to my quarters for a hot shower and a quick nap." Belle interjected with a laugh, "And maybe visit with Kaj if he is off duty?" Lena laughed in turn, grinning and about to make a comment herself, but then her sky blue eyes looked with concern at Lady and Brody, knowing her next statement would not be PG13, so got close to Belle pulling her blond touseled head closer to her as she whispered something in Belle's ear. A red blush spread up Belle's pale neck to her freckled cheeks as her rose petal lips formed a perfect "O" and her diamond blue eyes grew wide, then smiled at Lena, saying "Really?" "Really!" Answered Lena with a wink and a smile, then she looked at Brody, embracing him while saying, "You did a good job out there today!" Lena then shouldered her SAW, whistling a happy tune as she exited the mess hall. Belle and Brody sat next to each other across from Atticus and Lady, then ordered their lunch from Ralph the cook. Belle tilted her head and furrowed her pale brow, trying to figure how to broach the topic of Volodja no longer wanting to be Lady's tutor, so she decided to just say it. "Volodja feels that he should no longer be your tutor, and wants me to take over the task, which I'm willing to do!" "Nope, not Teach," Replied Lady absent mindedly, as she played with a piece of sauerkraut on her plate with one chalk white forefinger, then said definitively, "Volodja is Teach." "I'm sorry Lady, but he doesn't feel like he can do it anymore, and I did teach you some with the clan, so I know I can handle it!" Said Belle in a calm voice, although she was now frowning. Lady's pink eyes still looked intently at her plate, as she stated in matter-of-fact tone, "You sucked at it. Voldja is Teach." Belle was starting to get angry, her blue eyes taking on a red glow, "Listen young lady, you will do as you're told to! I'm going to be your tutor and that's it!" Lady rolled her pink eyes, replying with a bored voice, "No how, no way. Volodja is Teach." "Listen brat," Said Belle in a raspy voice, blue scales beginning to appear on her face as blue spikes began to poke through her blond hair, and Brody quickly scooted his chair away from her, "You WILL do as you're told, or else!" Not noticing Belle's transformation as she stared into space in the other direction, Lady merely said, "Don't think so. Volodja is Teach." With that said, Belle uttered a beastly roar as she stood up, completeing her transformation into a small warmaster which, at that point, got Lady's attention. "Oh, maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan!" Said Lady, her pink eyes wide with shock, but surprisingly without fear. |
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