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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 15, 2015 12:22:41 GMT
"There once were a Fool and his car
He drove it too fast and too far
Ark hunters he met
And all he could get -
Big bang on his head and a scar"
said Volodja to himself. "Better track them down while everything is fresh yet. No sign of them in Coit Tower. Maybe someone seen or heard anything at The Fork. Those amateur robbers would probably try to utilize my weapons. because they are out of their limits to use. If someone spotted those two, then he or she can lead me to them. It's a matter of principle for me to teach them a lesson." But then he saw something, which erased all his thoughts about getting his vehicle back. Sandy looked so weak and fragile, so his heart filled with fear and worry about her and made him to say:
"Thank you for your unconditional support, Sandy, but you better have some rest, my love. I am really starting to worry about you."
He won't go anywhere until Sandy will be all right, because she was most important to him in whole wide world and he NEVER wanted to risking with losing her again. Cars, fame, fortune. All that earthly burden meant nothing to him, compared with her and their love to each other. That's why he asked Sophie to support her with energy right away in a hope that it helps her at least a bit. After that he went silent and pressed his teeth into his lower lip, hiding his fear from others.
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Post by Belle Starr on May 15, 2015 13:01:16 GMT
Belle Starr was reliving one of the best nights of her life, and one of the last nights she had spent on base with her true love, Vo Kshaa. It was in the very bed she was lying in reality, and they had just made love in the early hours of the morning. Both were breathless and sweaty, and he was spooning her from behind. The hot presence of his body in back of hers was both reassuring and invigorating, but she could tell from the slowing rhythm of his breathing that he was starting to doze. She knew that base responsibilities would take her away soon, and she didn't want to miss their morning shower routine, with its accompanying likelihood of more lovemaking.
Belle smiled widely in anticipation, turning over, but surprised to see his open cyan eyes staring into her blue diamond ones. She remembered him being asleep at this point, and her gently nibbling his ear and whispering sweet nothings to awaken him for their shower. Instead he was staring at her with a serious look on his angular Irathient face.
"You can't do this Belle," Said Vo sadly, "It's not healthy and you know I wouldn't want it. I want you to go on and live your life; don't waste it pining for me. You'll find another to love, but not if you don't forget me."
Tears flowed freely from her wide blue eyes as her rose petal lips quivered and she stammered, "I-I'll never forget you! Never!"
Then red flags rose from her subconscious mind and crossed into her conscious one, as she thought, "Vo would never tell me to forget him! He might tell me to go on, but he would never be so cruel as to tell me to forget him and the wonderful times we shared!"
In reality, she ripped the dream machine headband off her head, yelling into the empty room, "Alfred! How could you! You know that wasn't how it happened!"
Alfred, her EGO psyche programed with the mind of her long dead father, appeared in holographic form, sitting in the chair next to her bed, smoking his pipe, and said, "It's for your own good! How can you go on and fulfill your future destiny if you continually dwell on the past?"
Belle's diamond blue eyes shot daggers at Alfred's image, replying angrily, "Father, you have gone too far this time! I swear to you, on Mom's blessed rosary, that if you interfere with my dream project in any way, I'll reach into the back of my neck and tear the EGO implant out with my bare fingers, and you know I can do it!"
Alfred frowned, taking the pipe out of his mouth as he stood up shaking his head, staring at her as he realized she was dead serious, saying before he disappeared, "As you wish my dear,"
When she was alone, at least as alone as anyone with an EGO implant can be, she readjusted and reset the dream machine, putting it back on her blond head and resuming her dream as she remembered it.
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 15, 2015 22:04:48 GMT
I smile at Lady and look at Volo. "You heard her. I am crazy and her Love. I might even be getting lucky, but you are her teacher. Besides I only know that poem for one reason. It is about a dying person. Death and dying are my thing. However as she said, your knowledge is well I suppose awesome. I know mainly about death and violence. Like for instance:
There was a Daemon who rose from Hell,
He knows Death very well,
always carries a gun
kills people for fun,
for Death, he does foretell.
Anyway, you know something about everything. So you teach her about everything. Make her a well-rounded person. That is what she needs from a teacher. Now you mentioned The Fork. Good idea. I have to pick up something there anyway."
I hop into my Raptor and after Lady and Volo are ready, I drive us to The Fork. As soon as we arrive, I exit my rig and go to the Tarr family vendor. While I am there, one of the Tarr family's associates, brushes against me and slips a scrip chip into my hand. Then I walk back to my Raptor, where Lady is seated. I lean against my Raptor and glare at those around us, my hand staying near my pistol, while we wait for Volodja to do what he needs to.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 16, 2015 4:37:44 GMT
Volodja looked around until he spotted insignificant looking man near the Tarr vendor. First impression might be deceiving and looks can't tell everything. But position that guy placed himself to, told already something about him, because it was the best spot to observe everything what is happening near vendor and enables control those two very indifferent looking big guys near him.
Seeing Volodja approaching him, made guy to make a small move with his hand and eyes. Two bigger guys remained indifferent after that like nothing didn't happened, but for a trained eye it was clear that they understood what they were told to and acted according to that order. Guy raised his eyes to Volodja and nodded slightly. Then hhe stood up and walked with him a bit further from everybody.
"Still alive, dell'amico ," he stated. "With your lifestyle it's a miracle. You should put a candle to Madonna."
"Nothing isn't changed, I see," replied Volodja. "Still playing an old school mobster, you romantic. At least you quit flipping a coin, like you used to."
"Had to put that habit aside, Volodja. It was getting on everyone's nerves. What brings you here? Business or personal affair?"
"Personal affair this time. I see you and your gang as a smaller evil, necessary to keep some order around at moment, but seems that you failed fulfil that task lately. Couple of babbo's stole my car in most deceiving manner, when I tried to fix their wheels. You seem to be losing a control over this territory."
"Che peccato, mio povere amico! You want us to whack 'em?" guy asked. "I always told that your will to help people in need is going to cost you some day. So, should we do a piece of work with 'em?That would be a good lesson to all cafones, so they could learn to behave in our place."
"Not at all. I don't even want to make them a proposal, they can't refuse. All I want to do is get back what's mine and then give them a choice. It will be more than they gave to me not so much time ago. Just clock them and let me know, when you know where they are."
Volodja described those two Ark hunters and his car, so guy could spread a word around and inform him as soon, he finds something. Sometimes is useful to have couple of friends and acquaintances who are working for Devil, like this particular Tommaso Di Angelo. A consigliere of the Tarr Family, who still tried to act like he was a mobster from pre war times, although everything became less civilised after Pale Wars. He was another weird friend of Volodja's who tried to preserve past in his mind and maintain old school code of conduct. Despite of that and his insignificant physical appearance he was sharp minded, very efficient and ruthless man if needed. Volodja met him under quite weird circumstances couple of years ago, when he was still a lonely wanderer, but they kept an eye on each other after that, because both of them were sort of mental relics from less bad old times, although they never seen them.
They shook hands and Volodja rejoined with his friends and his adorable girlfriend Sandy, so they could ride back to their base and have some rest. Volodja already knew where he will be resting and with whom. In his imaginary Paris apartment in the company of himself, while Sandy regains her strength, having only couple of books and bottle of wine with him. Or...maybe two bottles, so company would be bigger, because Volodja didn't want to disturb Sandy when she was recovering.
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 16, 2015 7:06:48 GMT
After Volo gets back in the Raptor, I hop in and drive us back to our base. My vehicle's automatic door opener, lets us in as I approach the gate. Then I drive into the garage that my vehicles are in. I look at Volodja. "Alright that was a fun little trip. Anyways as I recall, holo rooms 1 and 3 were brought back online while you were off with Belle and the others. Not sure if holo room 2 is repaired and back up yet or not. Also not sure if you know, but Wolfram has a new office and psycho-babble wing with 2 holo thereapy rooms, as well as a good sized destillery."
Then I look at Lady lovingly. "I think we can use some food, so how about going to the Mess? If whoever is manning the War room needs me, then they can contact my hailer. That is if Orion has officially cleared us yet. If not, then I suppose we better go back to medical, after we eat. Volodja, you and Sandy can joins us if you want. I suppose I should let Dinara out too. Oh and please have that AR returned to my armory whenever you are done with it."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 16, 2015 7:46:20 GMT
"Already tested one of therapy rooms. Wolfram insisted that we do it. He can be very convincing if he ever wants to, so he set his priorities - first he convinced technicians to set up holo therapy rooms, then repair the distillery. And the rest will be done after that. We had couple of beers, quite interesting debate and a hot date with a hot girl, which was suddenly interrupted, so I will use any opportunity to be with Sandy some more if she is strong enough and willing to be with me after making her worry," replied Volodja. "And your gun will be delivered to your armoury ASAP. I need to visit our common armoury anyway, because my side arm took a walk with couple of strangers and I don't want to use my shovel here, because it creates a bloody mess. So will be joining you shortly."
And he did as promised - arranged delivering of Atticus's rifle to it's rightful place in his private playground and toy factory and got himself another pistol from common armoury to replace lost one. Them, armed with new gun and new recipes (just in case) he joined those love doves in canteen. Even if Sandy is too tired, he could close his eyes and imagine her by his side while she has her rest. Aftyer that he can test the other holo therapy room as he intended earlier and spend some hours with books and wine and view to holographic Paris from his holographic window. Venice trip will be postponed for eternity.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on May 16, 2015 8:19:51 GMT
"Joy to the world," said Moira to Marcel. "Volodja is back. Maybe he will step down to your level and will let you out now. Cage will be open soon and little bird can flyaway, although you are more like a vulture."
"I might be a vulture, but at least I feed on other's corpses, instead feeding them with mine," said Marcel.
He slept quite well and had most beautiful dreams about getting his scrip from Varus and having Lena as a guest star in her skimpy black leather outfit. At least dreams didn't cost him any of extra scrip, although he already suspected that if Lena finds out, she will charge him for having her there. But he remembered an old fable about the smell of food and the sound of money, where a judge, a magistrate, a qadi, whoever, because it was universal story in many cultures, decided that greedy person, who demanded real money for stealing the smell of his food in court, was paid by hearing the jingling of the money. It was fair and square, so if Lena demands scrip for those dreams, she participated in, he will let her see the scrip, smell the scrip and hear the scrip, but won't give her any. Only real scrip she gets will be for her real services as Marcel's assistant and femme fatale, so they can get his scrip from Varus and secure their future. Her other services won't be a necessity.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on May 16, 2015 12:57:03 GMT
Erika Widowmaker had asked base security to inform her when Atticus Batman was fit and up from the infirmary, but then he left the base promptly after he arose. Now they informed he was back, and she still had time before Chloe MacGyver's shift would be over in the War Room and her shift would begin again. She dressed quickly, then found that Atticus, Lady Christianna, and Volodja Uljanov were all headed to the base canteen. She contacted Belle Starr's EGO to EGO, asking her to meet Erika there as well. Belle suggested they walk down there together, so Erika walked to Belle's room before going to the mess hall.
As she walked to Belle's room, Erika hesitated before knocking, thinking, "Time to face the music. Time to confess my sins. I need to do it now, before the next crisis hits the team. Thanks the Gods they are all gathering in one place, as I would hate to do this more than once."
Erika knocked, and Belle answered all smiles and with a cheerful, "How y'all doing today, Erika? Isn't it a beautiful day!"
Erika raised one purple eyebrow as her jade eyes stared intently at Belle, noting that something was different about her. Her smile was genuinely happy, after being tinged with sadness since her lover, Vo Kshaa, had died, and there was a telltale blush to her freckled cheeks. Belle's blond hair was disheveled, and it was obvious that she had dressed in a hurry. Most of all there was a glint of focus back in her big blue eyes that had been missing since Vo had died. Erika almost though that maybe Belle was in love again, but that was impossible. Erika knew that Belle was loyal to a fault, and especially to her dead lover, but still peeked around Belle into her quarters, confirming the fact that no one was in there with her.
They chatted pleasantly on their way to the mess hall, not mentioning the recent difficulties in their relationship but preferring to rediscover their friendship instead through talk. They discussed Lady and Atticus and their developing family. The talked about Volodja and the difficulties of a love affair with a sentient hologram, and they conversed about their very different problems with their respective EGO psyches. By the time they entered the canteen, both women were laughing easily and walking close together as if sharing a secret.
Belle and Erika put in their orders with Ralph the cook, then took their seats with their other three team mates, greeting them as they did, then each waiting for the appropriate time to make an important personal announcement.
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Post by Belle Starr on May 16, 2015 16:07:27 GMT
When there was a lull in the conversation, and both Erika and Belle started to speak at the same time, then Belle giggled melodiously, gesturing for Erika to go first. Erika nodded gratefully, then began:
"I have a confession, and it particularly concerns Atticus and Lady, but I suppose it really concerns the whole team. Please bear with me, but some personal history needs to be heard first. As some of you know, I was a Votan Collective soldier in the Pale Wars, after which, I settled with my husband in a small Irathiant fishing village on the Gulf Village, where we had three children, the youngest dying from an epidemic.
What I didn't mention was the epidemic was chicken pox, a human virus usually only harmful to young children, and which was rampant at the time in the human colonies near our village, including Freedom, Alabama, where you visited recently. It normally is not fatal to humans, except to very young ones. I also didn't tell you, that a red-haired human doctor came from south of Freedom with an inoculation scheme that he thought would protect the Irathiants, but he just didn't know enough about our biology. He injected the virus into our village young ones, but instead of giving them immunity, it infected and killed most of them, and usually their parents caught it and died as well. My little one, my infant daughter, Amber, died from the shot meant to save her."
Belle's blue eyes started to tear up, and she pulled the lace trimmed handkerchief from a secret pocket in her Liberty Trooper armor and offered it to Erika, but Erika merely shook her purple tresses, and continued, saying:
"Thank you Belle, but I ran out of tears the day I buried both Amber and my beloved husband on the same day. Anyhow, even though I logically knew the human doctor was only trying to help, I was emotionally angry. I packed up my remaining two children, wandering a bit and growing more angry by the day. I was ripe to be recruited back into the newly reformed Votan Collective as a spy, and even entered the VBI EGO Ark Hunter program for them, as long as they took care of my children in the Capital City.
What I neglected to tell you but should have, whether I did so out of shame or fear that you would then shun me - that doesn't matter! What I neglected to tell you was it wasn't just any division of the Votan Collective that recruited me, but the Inquisition. There I said it! I was an Inquisitor, and rose quickly in their ranks for the short time I was with them. I was very bitter then, and blamed the humans for what had happened to my family, but I grew to hate the Inquisition's bigotry and to abhor the violence they inflicted on humans merely because of their race. Anyway, I left the Inquisition, but not the Votan Collective, where I still worked towards a safe nation-state for Votans; until recently, that is, as you well know!
I will understand if you wish me to take my children and leave, although I'm not sure where I will go, but that is not your problem. I will survive, as will my children, so do not worry about that. I await your judgment, and will now leave you alone to discuss it, unless you have questions for me. Or it may be that Belle want's me present for her news.""
"Shoot, this tops my decision to the team to start a crusade to wipe the Grid out of the Bay Area," Belle raised both her blond eyebrows as her blue diamond eyes grew wide when she exclaimed, "Heck Erika, we all have made bad choices in our histories, but what's past is past! Since being part of the team, you've been a loyal partner and friend, and always thinking what's best for all of us on this base, even when you were locking me up! I didn't like that particular decision, but I understood you thought it best for the safety of the team base! Bygones be bygones I say! What do you guys say?"
Belle stared with wide blue diamond eyes at each team member in turn, wondering if maybe they didn't believe as she did; reminding her of the old Confusion proverb that people in glass houses shouldn't throw rocks.
"But then," Thought Belle to herself, "The others don't live in a blue shard house like I do!"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 16, 2015 16:37:45 GMT
"What was in the past, remains there," said Volodja looking Erika intensively with his brown thoughtful eyes. "We all have made decisions in our lives, which turned out to be wrong ones. like Tinkerbelle reminded us. Erika had her beliefs and she needed to blame someone for death of her family members, so she joined the Inquisition, but left as soon as she realized what kind of fanatics she was working with. We all have our burdens to bear, but we all have done our amount of good deeds. Some of us have done more, some of us less, but we all have done something good. And Erika is not an exception here, helping us as much as she can, although I can't always agree with her decisions. These are my sentimental reasons for letting her stay, but if you need practical ones, then I am ready to provide us with them as well:
We have our present and future to worry about, instead of digging in Erika's past, and we need every one of us right now, because we lack good people at moment, so we can't afford to lose another one. Not a new argument, but still valid one. Especially when we have valuable source of information about Inquisition, because Erika knows the system from inside as a former career making inquisitor. That means that she had access to lot of information. Besides - we need her knowledge about Votanis Collective too, after Lena's confessions about her employers. And it's our duty to cure Erika's children, so by my opinion, she is welcomed to stay as long as she wants. I see lot of arguments for having Erika with us, instead condemning her to exile."
Volodja went silent and looked at others. Everyone will tell their opinion about Erika's future, but she has already two supporters and Volodja could swear that she wanted to stay with them. That's why he did what he could, to help her by telling reason to rest of the team, although it probably was not even necessary. She was one of them and all appreciated her. While rest of the team prepared to say what they think about that matter, Vodja enjoyed his coffee with the sip of brandy as nothing special happened. If he really was the voice of the reason of their team, then this voice has spoken now and earned that coffee break.
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Post by Lady Christianna on May 16, 2015 18:56:38 GMT
As Lady Christianna leaned against Atticus, her delicate alabaster hand stroking his inner thigh under the table as she thought about what Erika had just said. It would have been nice if she had sympathetic thoughts about the hardships Erika's family had endured or how hard it must have been for her friend to confess this fact about her past, but Lady was seventeen, and people at that age tend to be self-absorbed, with Lady more so then most. So instead, Lady thought about how Amber, Erika's EGO psyche, would be a perfect babysitter for the unborn twins when she and Atticus wanted time to be alone, and that if Erika left, so would Amber, so Lady replied with determination, "No go."
Lady's pink eyes then glanced at Atticus's lap, to see if her gentle touch was having any effect, and when she saw it was, she looked up into his face and smiled not so enigmatically, for there was no mystery to him what was in her mind.
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 16, 2015 22:36:56 GMT
As I am listening and trying not to let Lady's wonderful touch get to me too much yet, Dinara appears. She walks up to Erika and hugs her then says, "Please don't go. We will all miss you! And I will miss Amber! I......um Only my EGO sisters know, because Amber is afraid you won't approve! But she is my girlfriend, and I love her! I don't want her to go!" She then looks at me expectantly. "Atty! Please don't make them go!!!"
I look around the table, and linger on Lady for a second then finally talk. "Erika we all have our pasts. Some of mine, everyone knows. Such as me being a former Dark Matter assassin and a bounty hunter since I left that life. You probably know better than others of some of my other deeds which would make yours slightly tame in comparison. After that I did some secret work for both E-rep and VBI. However I did mostly my own thing, most of witch would put that torture equipment I found to shame. However that was under a different alias and a thing of the past and if I shared that knowledge, unlike you I wouldn't get a chance to volunteer to leave. I would be the told to leave, locked up or possibly killed. Which I probably deserve.
Anyway, Kabule, and therefor I, worked directly for Nim Shondu and his second Seto. Nim was the one who created the Inquisition here on Earth. Kabule was their best assassin. That is probably why the Mistress bitch made your son think he was Kabule. Either draw the original back into the fold, if he actually faked his death, or have a new and more controllable mass murderer to do her bidding. Or maybe it was simply because, your family and I have similarities in appearance with the exception of your eye color, and it was easy to get to Caele. I can not say either way. I left all of that Votanis Collective/Inquisitor stuff, when I made my decision at the battle of Defiance.
As reluctant Commander, it is my job to decide who deserves to be here. We all have pasts. Granted most aren't as bad as yours or mine, but that doesn't matter. If you are truly done with the Inquisition and want to stay, then stay. I will not make your choice for you, but will not condemn you for your past with the Inquisition either. We make our choices. You chose to leave them and work for a better future for everyone, as most here are doing. I chose...well less honorable goals, but ultimately came back to the Bay, where I left some of that stuff behind as well, or altered it to fit my new life here. Here I am merely Atticus Batman, "Harbinger of Death" and Bounty Hunter of the most ruthless. Although thanks to this team, even I seem to be settling down some.
Anyway what I am trying to say is, they all want you here. You, seem to, want to be here. Even my EGO-sister wants you here, even though Dinara does obviously have her own reason for that, which I didn't know about. However I have no problem with that. Kakusi's powers made her sentient in the Zhena Array accident, and it seems Lady's and my son's or daughter's powers made the rest of the Alpha team's EGOs sentient as well, when they were given that spring break trip Dinara told me about. So if they want to have a life or even date, like Sandy does, then I say let them. We all deserve to have something or somebody. Besides that bracelet on Dinara's arm allows her to do everything that one would need of an EGO, even when she isn't in my head."
Dinara smiles and says, "Yeppers, Sandy has one too. And I just gave one to Amber, while Atty and Lady were in the infirmary, and she is planning to tell Erika everything, but since she hasn't contacted me yet, I probably beat her to it and got her into trouble again! Erika...Please don't be mad at Amber! It was all my fault!!! She was planning on telling you! honest!!! And she now has one of these bracelets so she will always be in instant contact with you, even when I am spending time with her. I promise! Besides keeping her mother...um you safe is most important to her, like me helping Atty, always comes first! I know it and so does Amber! So please don't hate her or me!!!"
 
I look at Dinara, who is hugging Erika tighter in hopes of getting Erika to see it her way. Then I talk again. "Alright. If this session of, "Confessions of a Teen EGO", is over or atleast on a momentary break, I will finish what I was saying. Erika you are very wanted here, and apparrently so is Amber. So if you want to stay, then stay. Besides we have already agreed to help your children and are probably their best bet with our eccentric methods here and having more knowledge of all parties involved than either side does. You are doing a great job here. And from what I understand, you did quite well in command, while I was out of commission. I am not actually sure how affective my command has been so far anyways. But that is a different matter.
Look I know everyone wants me to say how I really feel, so here goes. I have never had family. Kabule and I still have no memory of anything before we came to Earth. So the first 6 years of our life is still a mystery. Who knows. I may have a family out there but they never looked for me for the 10 years I was in Omec Colony, and besides that is the past. My present is here. Everyone seems to consider me family. Belle even considers me a brother. Lady is the love of my life and mother of our unborn twins, so this is my Family. I am even starting to see you and Volodja as family, even if Volodja is the brother I NEVER wanted but now have and am starting to realize I like, on occassion. If there is one thing I have learned since coming here around 3 months ago, it is this: True family loves each other and will never cast any member of the family out just because of differences or bad decisions. They will always be there for each other in any way that they can. As we are here for you, your kids, and each other.
So anotherwords Erika. I have already welcomed you into this weird family before, and you will always be welcome. As will your children. So none of us will just abandon you or your children. Therefor the decision is yours to make. We all care about you, but if you choose to go, we will respect that decision but will be sad to see you go. If you stay, we will not only respect the decision but we will all be very happy about it, in our own ways of course."
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Post by Belle Starr on May 17, 2015 2:36:25 GMT
A rare smile graced Erika Widowmaker's red clay face, making the battle scar across her left cheek look less grim, as she replied, "Thank you Atticus. Thanks to all of you for your support." She then turned to Dinara, one part of her wondering when holo-emitters were installed in the mess hall to allow Dinara to be able to hug her so tightly, the other part puzzling over this new development with Amber, her EGO psyche, so she said reassuringly, "I'm sure everything will work out, so don't worry Dinara; however Amber and I are long overdue for a discussion, and I assure you we will have it shortly. As to the rest of my family, thank you all for your help during the time of our troubles." With that the smile disappeared as Erika became lost in thought, and the silence ensuing gave a chance for Belle to say, "Well, glad that's settled! Now we have two matters to settle - maybe three! First, we need to set the prisoners free, as we agreed to! We got to be people of our word! Second, we need to eradicate the Grid in the Bay Area! From what Sazri said in our discussion, the Grid will always be a threat to humans and Votans both, because we are just food to them, so how can we all progress in peace together, back to the civilized world before the Pale Wars, with such a threat in existence! I don't normally condone genocide and if I thought we could contain them in, maybe, the Silicone Valley or somewhere, I'd suggest that instead! But we can't and they won't stop being cannibals to other sentient beings! So it's either us or them, and I choose us!" Belle hesitated before continuing, examining the face of each of her team mates with intense blue eyes, then said, "Third, I'm not sure what my place in the team is anymore, but I do know we each want this world to be a better place in our own way, and that we won't be able to accomplish our goals each on our own! We've done a lot of good so far, and as Atticus said, became a family doing so, but we can do so much more if we have a mind to! So, my idea is to start a crusade to eradicate the Grid, but I'm open to other ideas! Anybody got any other ideas?"  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 17, 2015 4:28:08 GMT
"Clearing out the Grid is quite good purpose that keeps us together to fight for a common cause and make our world at least a bit safer place, so I am not objecting the idea in general," said Volodja. "But we can start only after preparations. "Igitur qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum" ("Therefore whoever desires peace, let him prepare for war"), said Publius Flavius Vegetius Renatus in his "De Re Militari." Our preparations include treating Erika's children, because I would like her soul in one piece, not torn apart between her children and her duties. Professional opinion, of course, as we all are professionals here. Before to save the rest of the world, we must make sure that everything is at least so-so in our little one. And that also means getting rid of our uninvited house guests and securing every damn security hole in this base, so we can avoid such visits in future," Volodja smiled slightly, before covering his lips with his coffee mug.
He said what he had to say and rest was up to others, so he used remaining time to make his plans - car can wait, until Tommasino contacts him. Another things can't, including testing other holo therapy chamber in their new hospital wing. First chamber was thoroughly tested by Wolfram, who now slept there, face fallen to the table, tired after series of complicated tests he performed there with quality beer, as Sophie told him. And he should escort Marcel out from their facility just to make sure that he won't stand loitering around. That seemed to be all for him to do. Mostly business and pleasure. Intellectual pleasure, of course, because second holo room will be tested with his personal Paris apartment program. Couple of books, view from his French balcony, voices of the sity and some good wine or even quality champagne would take care of testing all sense experiences that chamber should be capable to offer - visuals, smells, sounds and taste. Everything was equally important for therapy, including handling his personal distress.
Volodja knew that changing the world would take a lot of world than one major effort and lot of people won't care about changes at all, but at moment their home world was a great chaotic mess, where everyone's major concern was survival of their own. Making world safer place, where they won't have to worry about surviving all the time, might arise other thoughts in their minds, including a wish to rebuild the world as it was or create a new one. And maybe we can have at least couple of decades or centuries after that, before we turn against each other again, as we were used to. Maybe we can finally learn from our mistakes and stop fighting each other for abstract reasons and quit stealing others cars, damn it! One can always hope for that to happen. These were his thoughts, when he sat there and waited others to respond to Belle's idea and his suggestions.
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 17, 2015 7:55:49 GMT
Dinara, who is sitting near Erika, looks at Belle and me, after Belle talks, but politely listens to Volodja. Then Dinara sticks her toungue out at Belle, and once again gets vocal. "NO MISS STARR! NOT ALL THE GRID! I like Shocky, I mean our Kakusibutt.......well most of the time. And Atty is half-Grid. His and Lady's twins will be too! SO NOT ALL GRID! No wiping out any of our family, just because they are different!!! Would you like it if we said a blanket statement? Like for instance; "We will wipe out all Volge!"---- I doubt it because that would include you! You need to make sure everyone knows if there are exceptions! Like you would be, in my Volge example!!!"
I look at Dinara seriously. "Relax Pest. They will not do anything to any half-Grid, since the only 3 in existance are Family to those here. As for Grid, Sazri Kakusi is fine as well. I promise. Now be good."
Dinara looks at Belle for a sign that Belle agrees, then nods. "Alright Atty. But it still had to be said! Sorry Belle, but I am just doing my job! No hurting Atty, Shocky Kakusibutt, or the twins!"
I then look back at Belle. "She does have a point. Anyway, Grid have a hivemind so once you start destroying them the rest, that share that mind, start expecting it and preparing for it. As far as I know, from my experience with Kakusi, There is a basic Grid Heirarchy. Each member having their own role in the group, much as we do here. There are also more than likely more than one group of Grid. Each group will have their own king or queen helping control and focus the hivemind. When it comes to Kakusi, Kabule, Dinara and myself, I am the controlling part of that hive mind. I believe he told you that. However we are slightly different because from what I can tell, the Grid we have fought are a Collective consciousness. Where as we are also a Collective Intelligence. Anyway take out the main controlling part of their "collective" and the rest will be temporarily lost until another steps up to replace the former controller. So complete Grid genocide may never happen. However I am fine with wiping out every group of Grid that we see, but as I recall, that is what I was doing when we first met and you are the one who insisted I stop doing so!
As Volodja said, helping our family must come first. So we focus on helping Erika's children, making our base more secure, and upgrading all our important equipment. Then we go from there. As for where you fit, that's simple. You fit wherever you want. If you want to be in charge the job is yours, or you can pick a different possition. However we all know I was never meant for command, so if you or Erika want it then I am fine with that. If you insist that I do now belong here, then fine I will willingly continue to command. However I do believe that we need a second in Base command, no matter who the Commander is. So if I am commander, then I would like you to be second in command. However Erika has done a good job while I have been out. So if you turn down the job, then it is Erika's if she wants it, and you would be offered her job as Chief director of Administration. My only problem is that I do miss the action. I really enjoyed today's fun. So thank you Lady and Volodja for that. Perhaps we need a black ops team for me to lead on occassion. Although I suppose that isn't a good idea for the main Commander. So I will just work on creating an intense "real world" training program for the Holo rooms. Erika, perhaps you and Kaj and a few others, with lots of battle experience, can help me with it. Or atleast give suggestions. I could always make a list of optional things that can be temporarily added or removed by anyone running the program.
Volodja that brings me to you. I will not be seeing a psycho-babbler! However your advise has proven helpful. So perhaps, you can be my advisor when I need it. Also, I already stated that you should continue to be Lady's teacher. Besides you are the only teacher that she will listen to. You do have a nice classroom now, so may I suggest you offer classes to all those in the Base who want them? Or perhaps need them? Such as Dinara and if Erika wants, then Amber as well? And what is this about prisoners? I only know about Lena Marr."
I glance at Dinara as I say that. Dinara looks at me and sticks her toungue out at me. "You were injured and depressed! Didn't need to know!........ Wait! What? School?!..........Aw! not school?! It better have a music class then! Cuz I like singin! No music class, no school! But if it has a music class, then I willl let Mr. Volo teach me other stuff too!" She sticks her toungue out at me again, then says, "Don't worry Atty. I will go to school either way. I like learnin. Besides I will learn somethin from Mr. Volo. Even if it is just how to be nice to others, without putting a weapon in their face!! You know the same lesson, that you need to learn!!!" Dinara then starts giggling at her little joke at my expense. I just shrug my shoulders, and chuckle slightly as well.
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