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Post by Atticus Batman on May 7, 2015 3:35:48 GMT
As Lady clumsily climbs into my bed, I feel a little better, especially when she hugs and cuddles into me. When she says, "I'm not your lady, but I hope the hugging helps," But then added in a worried afterthought, "But don't try any funny stuff!"
I say, "your hugging does definitely help. Don't worry about funny stuff. Everyone says I don't have a funny bone in my body. Besides I will not do anything, that you don't want me to do."
As I enjoy her smell and the feel of her body pressed into me, I relax slightly. When I feel she is asleep, I kiss the top of her head and whisper, "I know you don't remember me, but I will love you forever, my Snow Angel."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 7, 2015 3:53:49 GMT
After writing detailed scenario and having Wolfram as his main consultant about key moments, Volodja passed it to the creative team and let them work in peace, while he goes to meet Dr. Orion's girl next door - their scientific energy creature Haele. Belles creativity, Broderick's skills and Wolframs presence and his psychological advice will make this memory to be almost real, so he didn't need to worry about that. Those three were more than capable.
On his way he peeked into Orion's cave, being as delicate as possible, because he was afraid that Orion will force him back to bed again. Seeing Lady and Atticus together in same cot, made him smile. It did good for both of them. But at moment he could not afford to be sentimental for too long. He was multitasking and part of his today's tasks as a wannabe writer, director, producer and self acclaimed therapist, was speaking with Haele, so he sneaked out again and entered to Haele's laboratory.
"Hello, Haele," he said soothingly, after seeing that he startled their absent minded scientist with his sudden appearance. After short but awkward pause, Haele greeted him back and said with slight embarrassment in her voice: "I know, Volodja, that you needed me and my nanites earlier, but I was got carried away with my work again, so..."
"So we had to try whole different approach together with Alfred," replied Volodja, with only a vague hint of sadness in his voice, because of loss of MOM, Belle's EGO psyche, but that was not Haele's fault and he didn't wanted to upset her. "But you should have been there anyway. Not because of nanites, but you missed a rare opportunity to see energy transfusion from EGO to EGO." And Volodja told Haele about their experiment.
"It's really fascinating!" shouted Haele, forgetting her guilty feelings right away and continued. "But you are not here because of that, so don't hesitate to tell me what do you need. We can discuss about energy transfusion later."
"Correct, Haele. I need to use one of brain washing devices to deliver certain memory into the mind of our Lady. Is it possible?"
"If you take one of advanced ones and let me modify it, then it should work. To put it simple - it's all about sending certain amount of certain signals into a subject's brain and since you want to deliver only a relatively small piece of information instead of complicated program, then most of devices resources can be used to maintain quality of that message and guarantee continuous information flood. Just let me work on it in peace for awhile and don't forget to bring device back to me when you are done with it."
Before Volodja left to search a quiet corner for himself to relax and give others more working space and less interruption from his side, he said to Haele: "I do envy you sometimes. You have an opportunity to work with things you like and do it in peace whil I am busy with hiding from the world or trying to preserve it." But Haele was already busy with modifying device, so Volodja left quietly and ended up in canteen, talking with Ralph and having a glass of brandy from his special bottle, Ralph kept for him, after they got to know each other better. His small talk was suddenly interrupted...by small company of crew members, celebrating a birthday, who asked Volodja to join them after spotting his person standing by the bar counter, so soon he was busy mingling with the crowd, but he kept his eyes on time, because soon he will have to visit Haele again...
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on May 7, 2015 6:30:47 GMT
Marcel was still observing the base from outside, deciding that he can't climb over the wall without being accidentally spotted by unwanted eyes. Marching in from the front gate was out of the question too. He didn't had a valid reason to ask access and since his job was most discreet one, he didn't need any witnesses who might recognize him later. And there were already four people who saw him earlier. Yes, he could kill them all afterwards, but that would be unnecessary violence and the sign of being most unprofessional. Marcel felt that with agreeing to kill a teenage girl, he already expanded his boundaries and if he does something more uncommon, then he pushes himself to the limits and even crosses them. And after that he can't consider himself to be the best.
There had to be another way to get inside. Sewers maybe? Little smell wont harm him and like Volodja would have said:"Pecunia non olet" ("Money doesn't stink") before giving a lecture about who used that phrase first and why it was used. Not that Volodja again! Why this guy always sneaks into his mind? Must not think about him at all and concentrate on important matters. Marcel started to study landscape inch by inch ("Vous les anglo-saxons sales, why can't you use a metric system, invented in France," he cursed, when discovering that he used inches instead of centimetres) in a hope to find his way inside, complete that contract and start counting scrip, unless there was some hidden catch, because Varus and that hooded hoodlum weren't exactly very trustworthy customers...
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on May 7, 2015 9:44:28 GMT
Erika awoke with a start and in a cold sweat, her tunic soaked from it. She had not even undressed from her last watch, and had not even climbed fully into her bed before falling asleep, merely falling back on it from a sitting position. Her legs were numb, so she did her morning calisthenics routine although she was uncertain as to what time it was. Her one armed push-ups helped clear her mind in particular, and she felt better afterwards, despite the troubling thought that remained.
As she took her shower, she let her head hang under the shower head, the water cascading over her long purple hair, the water glistening on her tan muscular seven foot frame. Because of her fitness regime, and perhaps her genes as well, she had the body of a women half her age, which was good considering she needed it for the career she pursued as a reluctant adventurer and world saver. She smiled at the description, rare for her, as she would most times describe herself as merely a soldier and a patriot of the Collective, even though the Collective was not fond of her these days. Now days, her loyalties turned to her family and her team, and she felt the lines blurring between the two. As she turned off the hot shower, she sadly reminded herself that she needed to visit her real children in the mental ward of the infirmary after her shift ended today.
As she dressed, she began to worry about the team's disarray and it's many members in the infirmary. Now that Atticus was the team leader, there was a secret she must share with him, but they had seemed to go from one home front crisis to the next since them came back from their Florida mission, and there never seemed to be time. Erika was pretty sure Taffer knew her secret, because Taffer seemed to know everything about his team mates, but this was one Atticus should be made aware of because it concerned him, even if it meant that she and her family would have to leave, although she wasn't sure where they would go. However, Atticus wasn't well enough yet, so she must wait. She considered telling Volodja, who had become the de facto counselor of the team, but she still didn't feel completely comfortable around humans - except Belle, but then most everybody seemed to feel comfortable around Belle, Votan and human alike, when she wasn't in Volge-out mode. Erika didn't want to tell Belle either, because Belle had so many problems of her own, and had suffered so many personal losses in the last year.
It didn't take long for Erika to dress, because she always wore clean fatigues, practicality winning over fashion every time for her. Once she had strapped on her magnum, she called to her absent EGO psyche through the telepathic link they shared, "Amber, time for our shift!"
"Yes mother! Coming!" Replied Amber.
Erika wondered, not for the first time, whether she had made a mistake patterning her EGO psyche on her conceptualization of the young lady she thought her dead infant daughter would become once she came of age. Amber was both comforting and disturbing to have around, and seemed to be often absent from Erika's consciousness of late. Erika was not sure where Amber went, but she suspected Amber would go visit the other team members' EGOs, who had been in existence longer than her. Erika sometimes thought about having the Amber personality scrubbed from her EGO, and just have the routine EGO psyche installed that would not follow it's own whims, but merely do the job it was made to do. Erika knew that the longer she put off that decision, the harder it would become, so she thought she might approach Haele about it when events on the base slowed down.
As she walked to her duty station in the War Room, she passed the Mess and glanced in, seeing Volodja and several of the base personnel celebrating what appeared to be a birthday party. She didn't even slow down her pace, knowing she would have food sent up to her duty station like she usually did. She normally didn't eat in the Mess, whether eating in the War Room or her quarters, unless a team member insisted on it. Most time she felt such gatherings to be a waste of time, the discussions there more frivolous than productive. Erika had birthday parties for her children when they were young, but there were no young children on the base, and didn't understand the human custom of celebrating just about everything. Birthdays, Solstice, Armistice, there was even a holiday celebrating a tiny man dressed in green named Patrick, which made absolutely no sense to her!
As she sat at the command desk in the War Room, relieving Chloe Mac Guyver from duty, she was grateful that Chloe got her a cup of coffee and thanked her for it before Chloe left, saying, "Crikey, hope it's a slow day mate."
As Erika watched the voluptuous red headed woman leave the War Room, she was also grateful that Chloe never used the colorful Australian euphemisms with her that she often used with Belle and the others. That was yet another human habit Erika just didn't understand.
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Post by Belle Starr on May 7, 2015 10:42:03 GMT
After Belle Starr and the others left to work on Lady's therapy, Kaj looks up at Lena and shrugs his huge shoulders. "Everyone liked you here and gave you several chances. You did not need to do any of this. Commander Batman pays quite well. Besides I l...Does not matter anymore since you do not care about me. However I will be here for you anytime you need. I can not help you out of this mess that you created but I will do what I can to keep Commander Batman from torturing you. From what I understand they get quite gruesome. Even if we are no more, you do not deserve that fate. Although from what I understand, since Lady is alive, he does not care what happens to you. If you want a book or anything just let me know. I will do anyhting that I can to make you comfortable, except go in there and help relieve your tensions. Do not need backstabbed by you again. Even a Bio-man can only take so much." Kaj watches Lena a little longer, then goes back to the paperwork on his desk.
Lena stared at Kaj with unblinking sky blue eyes for long moments before saying, "You think I'm scared of torture!?!? I've been tortured for scrip since I was five! Some men will pay big money to torture pretty little girls. Some women too. And what Batman pays won't buy me an estate in Lima."
Lena laid back down, putting her chalk white hands behind her head as she stared at the ceiling once again, saying bitterly "You really do think they're your friends, that they like you!?!? Get a clue Kaj! No wonder your kind are almost extinct! All of the main team with their EGO units are Ark Hunters - that means they made their bones killing bio-men just like you! Atticus, Belle, Erika, Volodja, even sweet little Lady, all killed bio-men just to make their reputation as Ark Hunters. Ask them about Sniper Ridge! It's like an initiation rite for new ark hunters, where the main task is to kill the bio-man stationed there! Oh, they call them mutant grenadiers, or mutant mini-gunners, but I've seen the bodies - every single one of them was a bio-man just doing his job, just being loyal to their group, JUST LIKE YOU! After an ark hunter kills and loots them, they go to their ark hunter clan meetings and brag about how they beat the mighty bio-man - at least until there are no more bio-men to kill! That's a fact, just go ask your ark hunter buddies! If you had any sense, you'd get in the car with me and leave these hypocrites behind!"
Lena's tone softened as she continued, "I didn't backstab you. I used you, just like everybody uses everybody to reach their goals. And as I remember it, I relieved a good share of your tensions too, and you used me for that. You are such a baby in so many ways. So damn naïve! Get with the program, people use people, its second nature to them, and you're so-called friends are just using you. And you're not even getting a good fuck out of it when they do! At least you got that from me!"
As an afterthought, Lena added, "You could have some food sent up. All this blab blab has made me hungry. I AM going to miss Ralph's cooking."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 7, 2015 12:17:09 GMT
Volodja left canteen, feeling slight regret in his heart. At least participating in that birthday party helped him to spend time faster and he hoped that others didn't invite him to join and tried to hold him back from leaving, because just being polite. Anyway, by his calculations Haele's work should be done by now and he can proceed with Lady's cure. Haele greeted him again and showed her creation with motherly pride, saying:
"Now it should be suitable for your needs, Volodja. I liked to work with that device and...since you shared your earlier experiment and it's results with me, I would like to share something with you now. Atticus discovered several hidden rooms, full of technology and equipment. If you find some time afterwards then you should look at them too. Maybe you find something for your needs."
"Thank you, Haele. Excellent work as always. And it is really kind of you, so it would be a sin not to accept your proposal to have a look around there. Take care, Haele, Will be seeing you soon," replied Volodja warmly, before he left, holding modified brainwashing device under his arm. He went through corridors, making his way among the crowd carefully and avoiding any collisions, because he didn't wanted to risk with breaking the device. Soon their film studio door appeared to his sights. Hopefully he makes to the screening on time. At least there isn't anybody who could slow him down.
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Post by Lady Christianna on May 7, 2015 15:48:28 GMT
Lady Christianna woke up shivering, despite the warmth of Atticus next to her.
"What is it Lady?," asked Atticus in his raspy voice, as he held her tight.
"I felt that something or someone was coming out of the dark to get me!" Lady replied, a slight tremble in her voice as well.
Atticus held her tight until she quit shivering and fell back asleep.
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 7, 2015 21:36:27 GMT
Kaj looks at Lena. "You may be used to torture, but you have not faced the type of torture Atticus did before he came to Paradise. Of course that was under a different alias and in a different country. So maybe your contacts did not know about it, or felt you were better off not knowing. He had no problem dismembering and castrating his victims, both male and female, while they were awake and without drugs. I know you have all your body parts and haven't been castrated yet, and would prefer you stay that way, because I do care about you and have enjoyed all the time with you, not just the sex.
Anyway, it does not matter if they have killed Biomen. So have I. I also killed Castithans, Irathiants and other Votans for that matter, as well as some humans. Besides these people are a lot better than others. They accepted me. They made me second of security. They promoted me to Chief. They gave you a second chance and let you stay even though you had betrayed them before. They promoted you to Security officer, because I asked them to. As for go with you. Why? I am smart enough to know that, once you are done using me to help you get away, you will just deactivate or kill me. I would rather not have that happen.
But fine you didn't betray me. How could you, when you obviously do not care about anyone but yourself, because you have never learned how to? Anyway, the food is on the way up." Kaj goes back to his paperwork. Once again trying to ignore his feelings for the woman. Afterall, she would never want to be here, even if she were given another chance and she would obviously kill him if he went with her. So there is no them anymore. So back to living for work and not being loved, for Kaj. When the food arrives, Kaj gives hers to her. Then sits at the guards' desk, ignoring his as he tries to stay lost in his work. He starts bringing up every floorplan and schematic of the base that he can find. He even contacts Haele asking her to look at the current schematics and see if she can remember anything that may be missing from them, since she worked in the base during the Pale Wars.
When Lady woke up scared and said it felt like somebody was coming from the dark for her, I held her tighter. As she slowly quit shivering and fell back to sleep, I quietly talk to her. "Relax beautiful. Nobody will get you while I am around. I will not let them and never will. Now just go back to sleep. You need the rest."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 8, 2015 4:57:59 GMT
As he expected, Volodja reached back to creative team without any disturbance. He entered quietly and watched them settling their creative disagreements. Brody kept insisting for more cleavage on Lena, Belle disagreed firmly so Wolfram had to act as a middle man between those two and explain to Brody that they weren't creating a wet dream for horny and hormonally unbalanced male teenager but tried to reconstruct a real memory belonging to Lady, who was not interested in cleavages at all.
Volodja didn't interfered, because he enjoyed the sight too much. His word will be decisive during editing process, so he let them settle their creative disagreements by themselves. Arguing is part of team work and finding satisfying solutions is part of that too. Viribus unitis, and they had joined their forces indeed, to achieve a common goal, despite of their different visions. He smiled, when he saw them being carried away with arguing, so they forgot their age, rank and other differences and kept focusing on their task. Besides - all that work and arguing brought them closer together and did good to all of them. Especially to Wolfram, who was so busy with proving his point, so he totally forgot his awkwardness towards Belle and her Volge.
Belle and Wolfram finally convinced Brody to see their point. When sweaty computer nerd returned to his animation work, they both felt that mutiny of "Bounty" was successfully avoided in most reasonable way and that made them smile to each other and exchange empathic glances. Seeing them uniting their forces against Borderick, made Volodja to grin even wider while he hoped that they don't get it wrong if they spot him there. He was glad that Belle and Wolfram started to get along.
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Post by Belle Starr on May 8, 2015 6:12:39 GMT
As Belle discussed creative differences with Brody and Wolfram, Lena finished her food at the small table next to her jail cell bunk, then stared with interest at what Kaj did at his desk through the bars of her cage.
Lena saw that the diagrams he was looking at were indeed of the base, so she commented, "You know, the tunnels aren't all connected, but are from one spot in the base to another, like the garage was to Lady's bathroom. I can show you the ones I know about. I feel like stretching my legs, and I won't escape, because I've made my deal for release with Belle and Volodja. However, if it make you feel more secure, you can cuff me and put a lease and collar on me. Lot of guys get off on that!"
Lena laughed then, but it was laugh without mirth, just one full of bitter memories.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on May 8, 2015 6:35:15 GMT
Marcel's meticulous observation was rewarded, when he discovered hidden entry between some rock near the base. It was worth of trying. because there was no doubt where that tunnel leads -into the base and as a bonus that tunnel was dry, so he hadn't make his way through sewage. Marcel entered and started to look for booby traps - a thing one might expect to be there, but there was none at all, so satisfied grin appeared to Marcel's face when he started to sneak forward, every step leading him closer to his scrip pile and a real estate in Lima, he was promised, although he had his reasonable doubts about his employers and their intentions. But if they try anything shady and stupid with him, then he will mount two heads to his wall - one hooded and one with moustache...
"Are you sure about that?" voice of Moira asked him.
"Absolutely," replied Marcel. "Technically I haven't received my advance yet, because I left it with Varus, so I am still an independent contractor who hadn't received any payment for his work. Always leave the back door open, when you suspect a scheme behind your contract. And I don't trust that hooded couchon at all. He didn't respect me, so I don't have to feel loyal about him. My interests are coming first as they always do. And if that hooded fanatic tries to double cross me, then I am afraid that his relatives will have lot of trouble finding his body, because I will send every piece of it into different place of the world."
"Cruel and sadistic, but efficient," said Moira. "But don't expect me to co work with you. I don't like that contract and I don't like you accepting it. Guess you become desperate in your old age to accept every deal you can get your hands on."
"Why I have to listen to you anyway? You are just an EGO unit who should share my interests, but no! You are as foolish as Volodja the Weak! But now you better do what I tell you to do."
"We'll see about that, Marcel," snapped Moira and made Marcel to stumble just to remind him that she is anything but weakling and has some control over his body when necessary. Marcel's reaction was usual one. Lot of silent cursing.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 8, 2015 9:09:20 GMT
"I do hope that your creation groans will be over soon," said Volodja after he was discovered. It's really interesting to observe a phenomenon in it's evolution. It's really interesting to see birth of the city from the very beginning - starting with digging the first foundation hole and going through the whole process and seeing wide avenues, narrow streets, huge palaces and cosy little houses at the end.
Equally interesting is to watch building a singe house from the first line. drawn on a sheet of paper and see how first inhabitants move in, when building is finished. And seeing film making was really interesting too, although Volodja missed part of it when he went after necessary equipment.
"Take your time. Rome ne fu pas faite toute en un jour," he said in medieval French and translated it right away: "Rome wasn't built in a day. But I must warn in advance you that I will be the lab rat today. I already feel like our almighty Alfred, so I must remind myself that I am just a human being and that's why I will test this modified brainwash device and our memory on myself. Nothing to worry here. C'est la certitude que je porte mais, naturellement, elle peut être contredite par les événements futurs. I am convinced of this but, of course, I may be proven wrong by future events. But I hope that you won't have any objections about letting me try it first. If you have something to say, then speak now or...you know the rest. J'écoute. Oh, sorry about using too much French, I meant that I am listening..."
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 8, 2015 10:48:14 GMT
Kaj looks at Lena and thinks for a second then opens a secure drawer on his desk. He places his sidearm in it and securely locks it. Then he gets up and walks to Lena's cell. "Remember there are plenty of security just outside. However you did make your deal with people that will keep their word, so I will trust that you will not turn on me. Besides you could have deactivated, killed me, or framed me at any time during the last few months and did not. So I will allow you out to help me. The cuffs and leash are not nessecary, unless you really want to wear them. Please do not make me regret this. I may be the only one who still cares what happens to you afterall and this is the only place where I am accepted. So if any of your feelings for me were real, then please do not do anything to cause me to lose it." Knowing he may be signing his death warrant or risking his position and life on the base because he still has some faith in this woman that he loves, Kaj then opens her cell door and allows her to walk to the computer. After she sits down, he sits next to her.
Berlin - "Don't make me regret it" lyrics |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on May 8, 2015 12:28:29 GMT
"Flawless infiltration as usual. Crois-moi, je suis expert en la matière. And I should know. I'm an expert on the subject," said Marcel to Moira, when he reached the base.
"Oh, really? Give me a break," replied Moira. "One could expect that tunnel is guarded or at least booby trapped, but nothing there. I bet that nobody haven't used it for a long time now, because they obviously didn't knew about it's existence."
Marcel decided to ignore that tactless remark and kept moving forward. Fortunately Moira kept quiet now. It was really annoying to own an EGO psyche who used every opportunity to hurt his justified pride. Marcel sneaked in without being spotted and that was a real achievement. Nobody could do it better than him. He is the best of the best of the best.
Now it was time to locate his target, but Moira kept ignoring him and his orders. Why she had to be so stubborn? Where in hell was she?
"Here I am and ready to serve you, Master," said Moira ironically. "According to my scan results, she is in hospital block and bed ridden. Makes killing already defenceless girl even easier, isn't it?"
"Where were you just minute ago, you useless piece of program?" hissed Marcel.
"Busy, working, fulfilling my duty as a sensible EGO being," said Moira seriously this time. "You will thank me later for what I have done for you."
"Don't think so," said Marcel, full of self confidence. He had every reason to feel self confident, because he left the tunnel system and gained access to the base building.
Now the second phase of his operation, which meant getting a new set of clothes as a disguise. Mainstream spies did that in old films. Marcel was extraordinary one, but he followed their example. All he had to do was to hide himself behind a corner and peek out with the help of his miniature periscope until he spots a perfect victim. One of base guards was approaching to him right now and was about his size too. "Parfait," whispered Marcel, when covering guards mouth with his palm to muffle his screams, before knocking him unconscious. After that he dragged and gagged that unfortunate base guard, undressed him and tied up and hid the body into a locker. "Dressed to kill," was his next witty remark, when he started to head towards Medical Bay.
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Post by Belle Starr on May 8, 2015 16:02:37 GMT
"Well, it's ready as soon as y'all are Volo," Remarked Belle Starr, "I think it should be safe, as long as you keep in mind that it is merely a video show. If you get too immersed into it and start thinking it's real... well, I just don't know?!?!? Probably the hardest part for you is going to be when Sandy is acting as Lady's shield and breaks! It's a bit gruesome as Sandy literally starts to come apart! Just keep reminding yourself that both Sandy and Lady are okay! I'll remain close by, and the minute it looks like you are in trouble, I'm pulling the plug on the program!"
*****
Lena Marr effectively and efficiently drew in the secret tunnels she knew of on the touchscreen showing the base schematics, blue dots standing and moving around it showing the security guards on duty and patrol locations. Once, as her chalk white hands moved quickly across the screen, her hand touched the huge hand of the bio-man sitting next to her. She jerked her alabaster hand away as if she had received an electric shock, then continued placing the secret tunnels on the base that she knew of.
"Sorry," She mumbled to Kaj as she frowned, then said to change the subject. "You know why I want that estate in Lima? I grew up there if you can call it that! They call it the City without Laws, and its true. There is no act too criminal, too vile, too cruel that can't happen there with impunity - unless you have money and property. Then YOU can do whatever you want. I was schakto there, because I was weak and they were strong. I'm going to show them all in Lima that schakto does float to the top! I will too - this is a minor setback! Just making conversation, I know you don't care, and you shouldn't , but - hey, did one of guards' sensors near the infirmary just go out? Wait, there it is again! That's weird, almost like - "
Suddenly, Kaj heard a large gurgling sound coming from the young Castithan woman's abdomen. Lena's sky blue eyes grew large, then she bent away from him throwing up violently on the floor next to the computer console. She stood up taking a few tentative steps towards her jail cell and the small commode within, but teetered almost immediately, falling to the floor and writhing on it. Kaj called immediately for medical help from the infirmary.
Leana held her stomach tightly, her body in a fetal position, her chalk white face getting somehow paler, uttering in pain,"Kaaaajjjjjj..."
Dr. Orion and one of his staff with a med kit hurried out of the infirmary towards the brig, not noticing as they passed Marcel Lestrange dressed like a base security guard.
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