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Post by Belle Starr on Jun 11, 2015 19:27:34 GMT
Belle froze like a deer in the headlights of an oncoming car when she heard Tommasino's voice. Her diamond blue eyes grew large as she quickly got up, dusting off the knees of her custom Liberty Trooper armor, a deep red blush spreading from her swan like neck to her freckled cheeks. She turned intercepting Tommasino at the top of the ramp, her pale brow furrowing with concern as she frowned at the short mobster. Her diamond blue eyes narrowed as she considered the crime lord, wondering why all the major criminal figures she knew were short, like Varus. She briefly wondered if it was a Napoleonic complex that made them turn to a life of crime, but then she remembered her meeting with Stahma Tarr, the tall statuesque Castithan, and almost blushed all over again. Deep down, she knew she was letting her thoughts wander so that she didn't have to consider what almost happened between Volodja and her, although she knew she would be thinking about it long and hard later. "Mr. Di Angelo," Belle began, one blond eyebrow raising as she regarded him, commenting, "I don't know why you want to protect a murderer, especially since I suspect you were almost her murder victim as well, but since Volodja obviously considers you a good enough friend to keep your secrets, then I will respect his wishes and not pursue this matter! I will tell you that I had dealings not long ago with the Tarr family in general and Stahma Tarr in particular, and I do not understand your loyalty to them! Stahma wanted me to join your little organization as well as... something else more personal in nature. I warn you that the Tarr family do not share your loyalty, and my sources in Defiance tell me that they recently did a wholesale cleaning of their house, killing most of their lieutenants there! I warn you because you quite possibly saved Volodja and my lives at the ark fall with your well placed shots and as Captain Grant once told me, your efforts do not go unnoticed. However, I will be keeping my eyes on you and your operation here, just for the record, and if I find that you did have something to do with The Fork Massacre, I will go after you and let my other self do what it will with you! Not a threat, just a promise! Now if you'll excuse me, I have a rancher in Madera who I must inform of his son's death at The Fork Massacre!"  As she moved past the mobster, Belle knew he probably had seen her Were-Volge transformation in the ark fall, but that didn't matter to her. Those who really knew her knew all about her secret, and those who didn't wouldn't believe a two-bit hoodlum with such a fantastic story. Belle informed Atticus via his EGO that both Volodja and herself were well, and not to worry. She knew she would have to have a longer discussion about the day's events with him later, but she hoped it would be much later. Belle then hailed Deputy Law Keeper Morgan to pick her up and take her to the rancher in Madera, where she would sadly inform him of his son's death. Unlike most such situations, she wouldn't promise him that she would catch his son's murderer, for this time it would be a promise she couldn't keep. As the Deputy drove her back to Fortress K'shaa, he looked at her sidewise the whole trip and was silent the whole time she was riding with him. "Guess I'm not going to get to go to that dance after all," Belle thought glumly to herself. |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jun 12, 2015 3:35:58 GMT
I watched Belle volgeout and Volo try to talk to her. Then She grabbed him and took off. I thought for a second about going after my friends and family, but then heard an injured Arkhunter scream in pain. I turned and put a well placed shot in the bug that was chewing on him, blowing it to pieces. As I surveyed the field, I decided my family would prefer I help the inocents first. So I reluctantly did so. However Tommosino decided Volodja might need help so he went after him.
I pull the injured guy to moderate safety and use his bandana as a tournaquet on his leg to stop the bleeding. Then I proceeded to viciously and methodically destroy all the remaining hellbugs in the area. After I had all the bug issues cleaned up, I helped the injured hunter to the Fork. Then I had Dinara locate Belle and Volodja. By that time, Belle's lifesignature was back to being strictly human, and her and Volo appeared to be fine according to sensors. Just then I get Belle's EGO that all was fine. So I head to the parked Durango, but I decide to follow a hunch. So I stop and go look over the dead teen boy that Belle was so upset about. I look at the vials of adreno, then I mark and pocket two with a FB, using a marker from my pocket. Then I get in the Durango and send Volo an EGO message, "Volodja I am enroute to your locale. I will pick you up and the two of us can go back to base because the Deputy says Belle wants him to give her a ride."
After I picked him up, I bought two vials of Adreno from Tommassino, marking them as from the Fork, with Volodja looking at me curiously but not saying a word. Then we went to the base quietly. I parked the Durango then I went to to the brig.
The Castithan is awake, so I question him a little. After merely hitting him in the head to jog his memory, he tells me who his Blue Devil supplier is and tells me where he has it stashed in his quarters. So I leave him and his bruised head. Then go to his quarters. I go right to where he said his supply was and find a couple of vials, and mark them with the Castithan's initials. Then I go to Medical. I talk to Doctor Orion and ask him to compare the Castithan's vials with the farmboy's vials, and then with the Fork vials, and that he keep all this information between us for now. Then I go to the War Room to lose myself in work, including all the information that I can on his supplier. |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jun 12, 2015 4:11:51 GMT
"A party invitation from Ara Shondu after all that mess I arranged there on my first visit," wondered Volodja. "What a generous soul she is when she is willing to forget that I bored them almost to death last time. Now I need only a good fairy godmother, who can arrange me a fraque, a carriage and they must not turn into pumpkins at midnight. I guess I will be standing there alone like proud and forgotten monument in soldier's cemetery, while others have fun, laughs and dances. But I will go anyway. It would not be polite to turn her down. But now daily matters, I must deal with. Papers can wait a bit. People come first."
Wolfram von Eschen buzzed behind his cabin door and stepped in after that. "Guck mal, das hab' ich gemacht, Volodja. Ich war Sakristan unter der Leitung eines Paters, aber die Arbeit habe ich gemacht." he yelled. "Look what I did, Volodja. I was the sacristan, under the direction of a priest, but it was I who did the work."
"Yes, you did Wolfram, I am first to admit that if anyone doubts about it," confirmed Volodja. "But have you looked for forward cure. Kara is stable now, but we need her to be that way until she is fully back with us."
"Nicht jetzt, Volodja," Wolfram admitted. "Ich vergaß..."
"That's OK Wolfram," said Volodja soothingly, before Wolfram could make any excuses. You have done great work and deserve to be proud of it. May I suggest something?"
"Yes, Volodja, you may," said Wolfram von Eschen, giving his approval to Volodja so he could continue.
"My first suggestion is leave Kara exactly where she is now - into a holo therapy room, because that environment does her good and we can always adjust her surroundings according to her needs. Second on is to assign Di to take care of her. She likes Erika, as I have noticed so she will take it as her personal matter, and she is efficient and independent enough to take care of complicated patient like Kara."
Volodja was sure about that, after Di took care of him, when she was asleep, so she seemed to be perfect nurse for Kara. Wolfram agreed with that and left to making arrangements, promising to do everything needed and even more.
Volodja was left alone again and he found himself wondering about getting new fraque to himself again. And that weird deal Atticus was making when they returned to the fort. And lot of other things.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jun 12, 2015 5:00:52 GMT
Marcel Lestrange and Lena Marr were at Shondu's Consulate already mingling with the crowd and observing preparations for a party, perhaps. Marcel decided to do some reckoning and asked nearest Ark hunter what is going on.
"Ara Shondu is arranging a ball tonight. Everyone, who have any significance, are invited. Wish I could go too." replied Ark hunter to his polite question.
"A party," said Marcel to Lena a bit later when they stood in separate corner far away from crowd, so nobody could see them. "And they forgot to invite US there. We must correct that mistake by ourselves, because WE are the MOST significant people in this area, Lena-darling. At least soon we are. What a chance to meet new people like Trevor here and have a little private talk with him. Shame that we don't have invitations....yet. But I already know couple of people who will suddenly decided that they have something else to do than dance and eat caviare, so they will give their invitations to us. Now we just have to find them."
And Marcel kissed Lena on her coloured lips while his tongue found it's way into Lena's mouth and started passionate ballet dance there, while his right hand fondled her firm bottom in a hope that Lena forgives him that little moment of passion, which stalled them a bit from achieving their main goal.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jun 12, 2015 6:13:16 GMT
While I am in the War Room at my desk, I am looking for any information that I can on the dealer. Then I notice Chloe came in from a break or something. She says, "Hello Atticus you scary fuckmuppet! Something seems to have all your attention, and for once it isn't Lady! Anything I can do for you, or should I just bugger off?"
I glance at my monitor again, then back at Chloe. "Chloe, I am trying to find all the information that I can on a Blue Devil Pusher, named Loorea Moree." Chloe answers back with, "You mean besides that being an Australian name? Crikey you're a pain as always! Fine. I'll see what I can do."
Chloe then goes to her computer and starts looking for any information that she can find. Eventually she says, "Found it! Sending it to your computer now!"
Just then I get a notification from Doctor Orion that my results are in, so I say, "Thank you Chloe. I will look at them right away but must go see somebody first."
When I get into Medical, I find Orion and he ushers me into his office. "Mr. Batman I have your results. The Fork vials definitely match the exact chemical recipe we have in our databases from Defiance, and the Tarr Family. So does one vial marked with FM. However the other one matches the two vials from your prisoner. Here is the interesting thing. They do match a known maker's recipe. Unfortunately my records show that the maker is the Piercer and he is listed as deceased."
I say, "Thank you doctor. That is what I was afraid of. Please securely lockup those vials for now."
I leave Medical and go back to the War Room. I sit backdown at my desk and go over the files that Chloe "Aquired" for me. Loorea Moree is a human Australian currently living in the Bay area. It is believed that her current hideout is somewhere in Mount Tam. However she has been seen near Happy Pow Farms a lot. She usually wears a Zwhanze warrior outfit that she openly admits was taken from a dead Zwhanze warrior. She carries a straightblade and is very capable of using it and although Lawkeeper Cooper is absolutely certain that she is a Blue Devil supplier, he can't prove it. She is suspected of being personally responsible for several murders recently, but nobody has been able to prove it and the one witness to come forward, disappeared ony to be found at a later time without a head, just like the people he supposedly witnessed her killing.
I look up at Chloe. "Dak these are thorough. Should I even bother asking where they came from or how you acquired them?" She saucily replies with, "We both know that you have already figured that out. So do you really want me to say it?"
I grumble and say one word. "Touché."
Then I look at the pictures of Loorea Moree's assumed victims as well as the ones I had Dinara take at the Fork. I could see similiarities, especially with the Weasel. However his head was left and still partially attached and Volodja was absolutely sure that Tommassino was right about it being Lena.
I think to myself, "Dak we may have a drug war brewing on top of everything else! Now what the dak do I do, now?! Do I give Belle Lena's name, knowing that could bite me in the butt? Do I give her this name, knowing it could possibly stop an impending drug war, that not even the Tarrs seem to be completely aware of yet? Do I do nothing? Do I notify the Tarrs or Tommassino of this? Or do I give both names to Belle, along with this information, and say it is possible that either of the women did it?!?!"
I just keep staring at my computer as I try to figure it out. Wishing that being a good guy was as easy as being an uncaring and unrelenting killer has always been.
Lexy responds to Lady with, "Yay big sisters! I won't not be alone nomores forevers! Oh and my systems say the cockpit has a holo-emmiterthingy and I can even create my own appearance! But there's is two problems wiff that! One they won't give me the feels that the Emmiterthingies in Volodja's shiproom gives Sandy cuz Scary Atticus' program isn't in the cockpit's holo-emitterthingie's controls. And more importantlies, I can't not activates it! It was designed so only Organic peeples can activates or deactivates it! That way the ship AI, That's meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!, can only be a holo peeples when you Organic peeples wants me to be! Oh and the logs say the emmitterthingies were never activated or testeded after installation cuz some human caused everything to go "BOOMERS!" before they had a chance to do so! Oooooooooo according to logs, that human is sister Sandy! No hard feeelings! I wasn't not alives back then! I becamed alive when you was a ghost and Daddy Daidan maked me alive!
Anyways I guess that is 3 or is it 4? problems not a couples! Oh yeah you needs to knows where to finds the emmitterthingy button! Here goes, you can sees it flashing green near you now! If you wants to activates them, then pushes the flashing greenbutton by you.....Oh waits I thought of another problem! It takes a specific security code! A mean and scary person's code...well one of his codes! Oh the logs show three peeples are authorized for that code! Mean and scary Atticus, Commander uncle Taffer.....
....And my favoritist new big sister ever! YOU! Also, the logs do show that you used it once to lockdown your room, when you had timmybuggy wiff you! So hopefully you remembers this code. You is my pilot and big sister! So you gets to decides when and if that emmitterthingie is ever activated and tested! Besides doesn't matters! Like I said it won't make me feels, like the other ones in the ship make Sandy feels, unless you can convince your Atticus to installs his EGO control program on it, but I's not an EGO, so I guess it still wont's work unless he can changes it to works for a Lexy! That's ME! But if it were activated and it worked right, even without that feels program of his, I would still atleast be able to be seen, so maybe peeples would no longer forgets me!!
Your call! Up to you! I promises not to brings it up nomores forevers! I also promises that I will try not to talks as much anymores if you don't wants me to! And don't worries even if you don't activates it, or it still dont's works, you are STILL MY FAVORITIST BIG SISTER AND BESTEST FRIEND EVERS FOREVERS!!!"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jun 12, 2015 10:30:27 GMT
Volodja Uljanov made his way to canteen, because working makes hungry and he suddenly remembered that he hadn't eaten almost 24 hours. He was used to stay hungry even longer thanks to trainings in military school and couple of close special training centres, but it seemed to be really unintelligent idea to starve like the Buridan's ass between two haystacks. Soon he was discussing about his late breakfast opportunities with Ralph and as usual for him, found himself manoeuvring with the platter of delicacies after the fruitful chat. Unfortunately Ralph hadn't got him any replacement to his lost brandy stock, so Volodja had to settle with a bottle of wine.
Wolfram von Eschen accompanied him when he was eating his modest meal and told, that work with Kara's long term therapy is in progress and Di was gladly agreed to watch her during treatment and then he fulfilled his earlier promise and recited Goethe most of the time to get his revenge for the Latin phrases, Volodja was bombing him, so Volodja's Goethe obsession grew stronger until he just raised his hands and begged: "I give up, Wolfram. I will forgive you destroying my brandy, but only if you put Goethe aside and join me for a glass of wine and quote somebody else, who lived as far as possible from Germany."
Wolfram hadn't a chance to reply when Chris Robet connected him and reported of successful end of repair works on his poor Dodge, but when he suggested a pair of fuzzy dices as a rear-view mirror decoration, Volodja had to calm him down and explain that as a simple man, he prefers his wheels undecorated. At least some good news for a change - he got his carriage to ride too the ball now and avoided getting dices as a free add on.
After his modest meal Volodja went to check his kingdom and it's inhabitants. He had a discussion with Di, who keenly observed Kara in holo therapy chamber. Everything seemed to be peaceful there, because she still held the holographic baby and sung her Irathient lullabies, so Volodja let Di continue her permanent watch. Wolfram stayed behind, trying unsuccessfully flirt with Di, while Volodja went to visit the War Room, finding Atticus staring intensively at computer screen.
"Hello Giant," he greeted. "Long time no talk. Mind if I sit down into empty chair, because I feel homeless at moment? Can't keep Wolfram away from his office forever, although he enjoys walking around more and more every day."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jun 12, 2015 11:27:18 GMT
Still staring at my screen, I gesture towards Lady's chair, that she keeps next to my desk. "Help yourself. However you have a classroom with a desk you can hide at. Or if you want a desk here, there are a couple available. Glad Wolfram is starting to get used to our insane asylum. However, I assume you want to talk about something? If not then enjoy the hectic going ons of the War Room. If so then talk. Not sure why you want to though. The only one I am not pissing off lately is Lady. Dakking life was so much easier before I met Belle. However she brought me here and more importantly brought Lady into my life. So I will just have to keep fighting to adapt to the dakking 'Good guys do not hurt, maim or kill unless it is a life or death situation' bullshtako. Everything outside our fortress is daking life or death!" I am still staring intently at my screen the whole time.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jun 12, 2015 11:40:00 GMT
"Matter of choices, Giant," said Volodja. "Everything is not always about life and death, because one day we will have to finish this bloodshed and start to rebuild everything. Think about that. And if we want to build something, we need a lot of crowd. Unfortunately it will take way too long before majority realizes it and all I can hope, that it won't be too late. Actually I needed a hideout for a while. Bloody Wolfram and his Goethe mania forced me to retreat from the canteen. I run out of brandy as well and what about that drug deal I saw earlier? It rose my curiosity."
Volodja leaned himself backwards and stretched his long legs to feel more comfortable. "Maybe I should use one of these desks for awhile?" he pondered to himself. "Wolfram needs his room and in classroom I don't have enough working space if we finally start our school program. All my materials will be placed there - books and holo disks with different environments and so on."
He continued with louder voice while Atticus was thinking about what to answer: "Everything was easier before, when we didn't had to worry about anybody else than ourselves in most of cases. Except when I was busy fighting for some cause and it happened a lot. And now we are doing that again, so we have to see the big picture where everything has to fit in. Even things which aren't painted yet."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jun 12, 2015 12:11:12 GMT
I pull a small bottle of Irathiant brandy out of the bottom drawer of my desk as well as a bottle of rum. I take a drink from the rum and hand the bottle of brandy to Volodja. "Enjoy it's the only bottle of Brandy I have. I know it isn't that imported stuff you like, however you can't get much more imported than genuine Irathiant Brandy, and take your pick of desks. Taffer's is clear over there. There is one by Chloe, and a couple by Erika's and Belle's desks. As for the drug deal, it was the easiest way of getting some of their most recent batch of Blue Devil to investigate a hunch. I have seen too much of that drug today to not be curious." I then turn the screen to Volodja. "look for yourself. The results on the left are the ones from the guy in the Brig. They match the Piercer's version, yet Piercer was reported killed by some Arkhunters.
The results on the right are the ones I bought from Tommasino. They match the information from Defiance about Tarr's drugs. So our Casti did not get his drugs from the Tarr Family. Look at the results in the center. Both vials are from that dead kid, Belle was upset about. However one vial is Tarr and one is Piercer." I then bring up the info on the dealer,Loorea Moree. "Now look at this information. This Australian human is suspected of selling what's left of the Piercer's drugs at Happy Pow, and it is believed she hides out in Mount Tam somewhere, and Piercer's base of operations was Delta Bunker East in Mount Tam. She wears a Zwanze warrior outfit and uses a straightblade razor to kill, and Lawkeeper Pooper is certain beheadings with the razor is her motis operandi.
I know our Fork Massacre killer is a certain Casti woman. However I find it an interesting coincidence that she went on a killing spree at the Fork, while this human with the same initials as her, is working on stealing the Tarr's clients right out from under their noses right in their own backyard. I know it must be killing Belle that we didn't supply her a name. Now we have two. The actual killer and a different killer who is trying to start a drug war. So there's my dilemma. Do we give Belle this name and therefore stop a drug war before it starts? Do we give her the correct one and see how that blows up on me? Or do we just give her both names and all the info on Loorea Moree. Then tell Belle that it fits both women's personalities and let her decide where to go with the information? Or do we give this info to the Tarrs and see how the upcoming war plays out?"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jun 12, 2015 12:15:38 GMT
Volodja took a sip of Irathient Brandy and said: "We don't need another war at moment, I think. It brings along too many innocent casualties, because guys who fight these days aren't exactly sophisticated ones and don't follow the code of conduct. And I have a problem with lying to our Tinkerbelle. I don't want to do that. That's why I preferred to fight in that Ark fall almost unarmed, because I got stuck between betraying her and Tommasino.
I don't want Belle to lose her faith to better future. It keeps her going and Belle is the reason why we still keep fighting for the better world. We must be really careful about telling her name of the killer, who actually did a favour to society, because most of the victims were criminals. But that don't justify the massacre, of course. And since it was Lena and I and Belle are responsible of releasing her, although Lena's deeds are not Belle's fault, it might upset her and I don't like that to happen. If it's anyone's fault then it's mine, because I vouched for Marcel. By the way - If we tell the truth then we still must take care of the drug dealer. Fighting drugs seems hopeless, but we must try to keep this neighbourhood free from drugs as long as possible, because people tend to get drug money by stealing, robbing and killing innocents and it's our responsibility too to prevent that from happening. So we must consider that matter with full concern."
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Jun 12, 2015 12:38:53 GMT
Erika Widowmaker watched her mentally unstable daughter singing Irathiant lullabies to a virtual baby in the holo-therapy room through a one-way window. She had been doing so for hours, or maybe days, she wasn't aware of the passing of time lately. Di the holo-nurse came up behind Erika, with a look of concern on her pretty holographic face. "I know enough about Irathiant physiology to know they can go without food or rest for long periods of time," Began Di, "But even an Irathiant needs rest and food sooner or later, and it should be sooner in your case. Be assured, I will monitor Kara and notify you immediately if there is any change in her condition." Erika stared at Di with intense jade green eyes, ready with a retort that Erika couldn't abandon Kara again in her time of need, like she felt she had when young Kara was growing up and Erika became an ark hunter to spy on VBI for the Votan Collective. But that was an emotional response, and not one that Erika was wont to give. Erika prided herself on being incredibly rational, and she could see that logically Di was correct, so she responded, "Thank you Di, I will follow your expert advice."  However, Erika didn't go to her quarters or the canteen, but instead to the War Room. While watching Kara, Erika had an idea she wanted to follow up on, and felt that it should be acted upon immediately. Her EGO told her that the two men she needed to talk to were in the War Room, and when she got there she found them there sitting together. When the seven foot-tall muscular Irathiant Amazon stood before them in an at-ease military posture, both Atticus and Volodja knew this was more than a social visit. Although Erika was older than both men, she usually looked much younger than what she actually was, looking like she was in her mid-twenties than her actual mid-forties, but today she looked her age, for her face was haggard and dark circles hung around her large jade eyes. "Gentlemen," Erika began, "I fervently believe that it is of paramount importance for Kara's recovery that we find and bring Kara's children to Fortress K'shaa. I know Taffer had them secreted somewhere safe using one of his underworld contacts, but since Taffer's disappearance, I have been unable to find any trace of them or Kara's husband using what's left of my resources in the Collective. Both of you have many more contacts within the criminal underworld than I do - don't bother to deny it, I have done my research - so I am asking... no, I am begging you to please find my grandchildren and have them brought back to their mother, for her sake, and quite frankly, mine as well." |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jun 12, 2015 12:42:59 GMT
"Agreed," said Volodja. " As Kara's therapist I must point out that having her REAL family with her is essential part of her recovery. At moment she is just a stable, but we need her fully back and seeing her children might be the best cure for her, because we can't rely on placebo effect forever. We need progress, not stagnation.
I promise to you, Erika that I will use everything, I have in my hands, to help to find your grandchildren. It's time that criminal element will do something good for a change. By helping Kara, we will help you and by helping you we will help all of us and by doing that we will help the rest of the world." Volo looked at Erika with his brown eyes, stood up and hugged her warmly just to show his support and total agreement with helping her. "Sorry about that, Erika," he said. "I have to excuse myself now, because I have to enter into the labyrinth of bureaucracy and start to search for Minotaur. That new post I accepted, brought along lot of paperwork."
Saying that, Volodja left the War Room and since he didn't wanted to chase Wolfram out from his office, he decided to work in canteen. Ralph will find him a nice separated corner where he can work in peace and quiet, to win his battle with unbeatable monster - documentation. Soon his lowered handsome face over the paper pile when he worked them thoroughly through. His only helper in that fight was Ralph, who armed him with lot of black coffee, to avoid his premature surrender.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Jun 12, 2015 13:19:26 GMT
Lady Christianna wondered if she should let the genie out of the bottle. When her two unborn children took form outside the womb, they caused quite a bit of havoc for both her and her friends. Lexy appeared in speech to be about five or six, the same age Lady's twins appeared to be when they took corporeal form. Lady realized she could be opening the door to a world of trouble if she pushed the button that allowed Lexy holographic if not corporeal form. On the other hand, Lexy was a sentient AI, and Lady felt she should have her freedom, even as limited as it was, or how annoying it might be to Lady personally.
Lady consulted her EGO psyche, but Sandy was not much help, replying, "Shit, I don't know Lady! There was a reason I didn't have any kids when I was alive! I'm lousy with kids!"
Lady's frowned, which within moments turned back to her enigmatic smile as she put in the security code and enthusiastically pressed the green flashing button with one small chalk white forefinger, saying, "Born free."
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jun 12, 2015 13:36:19 GMT
"Good girl," said Marcel after thoroughly testing Lena's red lipstick. "Kiss proof indeed. But now we are going to set up a little ambush, because we need party invitations. I do believe that you know the perfect spot."
Lena nodded and grabbing his hand, lead them back to their car, where Marcel let her enter first, slapping gently her bottom before she entered. Following Lena's lead brought them near to the road turn near the Consulate area. Invited guests had to pass that place before turning to the Consulate road. Marcel asked Moira to scan every passing vehicle to find suitable passengers for him and his love interest Lena to stop and free them from invitations, costumes and maybe even lives if they are stubborn enough to fight back.
Lena and Marcel left their vehicle and settled themselves behind a crooked tree, where Marcel whispered: "If we meet right vehicle, you will have to stop it. Just play sweet and innocent hitch-hiker. And when they stop to help you, we will see what will happen to them." And he kissed his girl for a good luck and because he just wanted to kiss her.
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Post by Belle Starr on Jun 12, 2015 13:41:20 GMT
Belle Starr was emotionally drained from the day when she arrived back at Fortress K'shaa. Deputy Law Keeper Morgan left her at the garage entrance of the base, then hurried off without even a word of good-bye, but Belle expected no less. She also wouldn't be surprised when he didn't call her back as to the dance at Ara Shondu's estate either. Belle suspected that he saw her change into the Were-Volge at the ark fall, and she thought that would certainly scare off even the stoutest of suitors.
Belle suddenly realized she was hungry, so she made her way from the garage to the canteen. As she made her way there, she engaged her EGO psyche, MOM, in a mental conversation, asking, "I should tell Sandy that I stole a kiss from Volo, shouldn't I MOM? I mean, that's the right thing to do, isn't it? Sandy is my aunt and Volo is her boyfriend, and I wronged them both by my actions, don't y'all think? I should tell her and apologize to them both, don't y'all think so too MOM?"
"Belle, Belle, Belle," MOM said, shaking her virtual head with a smile in the Vast White of Belle's EGO implant, "What good will it do? Volodja will be embarrassed, and Sandy will feel betrayed, by either you or him or both of you. What good will that do? I love that you have ethics, dear, but you always see things as right and wrong, black and white, and never see that sometimes situations are just gray. I love that you always look for a win, but some choices are only lose or lose even more badly. I guess I'm more of a utilitarian, believing that we have to choose the solution where the least amount of people are hurt by our decisions, even if it mean we have to lie by omission, or even tell a white lie. Apologize to Volodja if you must, although he appeared to enjoy the kiss as much as you did, but leave poor Sandy out of it."
"But I was just acting out of the emotions of the moment, MOM!" Argued Belle in her mind, although whether she was trying to convince MOM or herself was open to debate, "We had just fought for our lives in the ark fall and I Volged out and he talked me down and we just... kissed! Nothing to it, really!"
"The appearance of impropriety, Belle," Admonished MOM. "If it appears that your kiss was something more, than others will see it as something more. I was always warning you father about that, but then he was actually doing improper things, not just appearing to, unbeknownst to me! Anyway, that's beside the point! If you tell her, Sandy will be hurt, and is that what you want?"
"No MOM, not at all!" Thought Belle, her rose petal lips in a frown.
As Belle sashayed into the base mess hall, she spotted Volodja working on paperwork at a table far from the bustle of the kitchen. Belle bit her lower lip in indecesion, not sure if she should leave the canteen immediately, or stay and get some food for her growling stomach. She bought some time by going to the kitchen counter, asking Ralph for a mug of coffee and a Danish. Belle kept with Ralph the Cook a special pre-Pale Wars mug she bought in a bazaar in Paradise that he dutiful filled for her every time she came in, which had an embossed unicorn jumping over a colorful rainbow, with the words "Hope Springs Eternal" inscribed underneath. Belle felt probably most people who saw her with it thought it sophomoric, but it made her smile every time she saw it, and she felt smiling was a good way to start the day.
Belle thanked Ralph for both the coffee, Danish, and the food he obtained for Shakespeare, her new pet squibbit, adding with a warm smile, "Y'all always make the best vittles, Ralph!"
Belle then headed to Volodja's table, deciding to take the bull by the horns, sitting down before he could refuse her permission, and after taking a quick sip of coffee, said still smiling, "Hi Volo! About that kiss, I'm sorry about that - not that it wasn't a wonderful kiss, because it was - wait this is not going the way I meant it too, so let me start over! I love you! Wait, but not that way, but like a brother! A very close brother - wait, that's not exactly what I want to say either! One more time," Belle took a deep breath, her pale brow furrowed in concentration as she bit her lower lip yet again before beginning, "What I want to say is... I respect the relationship you and Sandy have, and wouldn't want to do anything to hurt it! I got caught up in the moment when I stole that kiss from you, and I shouldn't of done it! I hope you can forgive me, and we can go back to being good friends again, because your friendship is precious to me!"
Her smile grew more hesitant, while a look of concern crossed her pretty freckled face. As she nervously swiped an errant lock of blond hair from in front of her big blue diamond eyes, she wondered what she would do it he rejected her apology and her friendship, but also knowing in her heart that she really wished for something more between them.
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