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Post by Atticus Batman on Jun 19, 2015 12:50:39 GMT
Kaj Opened his door and listened to Erika. After she finishes asking for his help there is a glimmer of happiness in Kaj's eyes when Erika asks him to visit Kara. However he swallows hard andglances at his two meager boxes of belongings in his otherwise empty room, then at the resignation on his datapad, that he is still considering submitting to the Triumvirate, in his hand, then back at Erika.
Trying not to show much emotion, since his having so much emotion seems to be what keeps getting him into trouble, he says reluctantly but truthfully, "You could order me, but it does not mean I will listen or that I am obligated to do so much longer, for that matter. I would like to see Kara again so I will go, but I am not sure why anybody would want to see a nothing like me.
However perhaps the duplicate is a better choice. I do not want to hurt her more, and she is married so I may have already made a mistake, not to mention you seemed to really hate my comforting her earlier, which helps me believe that I did indeed screw up again. I suppose I might have shown too much affection for her, for some reason. I can try not to do so again, but can not promise that I will not. However you could program a duplicate not to do so and it will obey you without question. It would not be broken, like I am.
Besides I am just a broken Bio-man from an extinct line of broken Bio-men. So why would you want my help? I screw everything up and always have, so it is probably best if I hit submit on this resignation in my hand. Then send Zork in maintenance a request to come deactivate this broken machine, although I got the impression that you would love to deactivate me personally. However if my going to see Kara will help her, then I am more than willing to do so before I submit those forms, and before I tell you how to deactivate me. I always do what I can to help others. For Kara....I will do everything possible to help and more. If it is my leaving or being deactivated, then I will do that as well. As you can see, I have already prepared for that inevitability .
If it is seeing her, then I will very willingly go. If you prefer that it is just to say farewell, then I will do so as well. However I would prefer that not be all, but I am starting to realize that all anybody, maybe including almost everyone here that I would consider friend or family, will ever see me as is a worthless broken-down machine. So my feelings, which go against my programming anyway, do not matter and probably never will. I must learn to accept that if I am to stay active."
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Post by Lady Christianna on Jun 19, 2015 12:58:38 GMT
Old habits die hard. Lady Christianna had always listened into conversations she was not a party to, and had so from as far back as she could remember. It was a way for her to learn and gather information. She also felt it was an advantage to being socially invisible, because most people just didn't notice her, although that seemed to be changing the longer she remained part of her team, her adopted family, and particularly the love interest of the notorious Atticus Batman, the Harbinger of Death. She would rather not have the public attention, but she loved Atticus with all her teenage heart, and wouldn't trade that love for the world. However, that didn't mean she wouldn't listen in on his conversations even though he might not want her to - old habits DO die hard! Sandy, her EGO psyche, had standing orders to monitor all EGO transmissions from her team mates, as well as from her EGO carrying clan mates in her ark hunter clan, Team Evolution, for whom her father was quartermaster. The majority of the time, she never acted on the information she gathered, but occasionally, having such information had helped her become "invisible" if her father or the clan's founder, Somedude, wanted her to do some task she didn't want to be bothered with. Now days, it was more a habit than an instrument of avoidance, so she heard the EGO communications between Volodaja and Atticus. Lady knew they did not want Belle Starr to know what really happened as to her assassin, that Atticus could have taken her alive, but that Atticus killed her instead. That was Atticus Batman's way, and although not Belle's, Lady accepted that about him without question and even agreed with it. Lethal enemies left alive could come back and might be successful in their nefarious plans next time. Belle Starr was Lady's mentor, and even her adopted big sister, but she was a stickler when it came to law and order, and Lady was not nearly as lawful and definitely more chaotic then her friend. Lady knew Atticus and Volodja were protecting Belle, and Lady loved them both for it, so when Atticus walked up to where she waited at the refreshment table at Ara Shondu's dance, Lady merely smiled enigmatically at him, hugging and kissing him. "Thank you. Love you. Tired pregger lady. Go home after last dance?" Asked Lady as she took his hands and led him to the dance floor. Lady and Atticus slow danced to the band in the Gazebo's music, oblivious to those around them, as she gazed lovingly at him with wide pink eyes, thinking she was the luckiest girl at the prom.  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jun 19, 2015 13:20:05 GMT
Wolfram on Eschen was sitting on a high stool by the bar counter pouring another glassful of bubbling Champagne to Chloe and listening her witty chat, although he didn't understood half of it. His English was quite fluent, but it didn't covered Australian slang, Chloe used to spice up her talk. Actually it added more charm to her. Wolfram was sure about that and as an old school officer, gentleman and aristocrat, he would protect her rights to say whatever she wanted to the end. As long as Chloe didn't said something bad about him, of course. But even if she did, Wolfram didn't understand it and he doubted that most of people ever will. Australian English was a Greek to him.
Champagne was good, Chloe's company was excellent and Wolfram was happy. Volodja and Belle were still on the dance floor and now Atticus and Lady Christianna joined them too. Maybe when they planned to play something slower, like a decent waltz, Wolfram dares to ask Chloe to dance. Man must know his limits and Wolfram knew them quite well. Times when he danced something faster in night clubs were in past and most of those clubs vanished during the war with most customers. But as a part of his education, Wolfram knew how to dance something more conventional, classic and sophisticated too. All he needed was a suitable music. And Chloe's approval, which he might not get considering circumstances. Wolfram could not be sure that Chloe prefers his company with such amount of young bachelors around. But in that case he can always enjoy couple of more drinks and sight of dancing people.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Jun 19, 2015 13:58:23 GMT
Erika Widowmaker sighed as she confronted the obviously depressed bio-man, regretting any part she might have played driving him to such depths of emotions, then asked, "May I come in and sit down please?"
Kaj gestured to a chair in the Spartan room, which she immediately took, staring at the far wall with unblinking jade eyes for several minutes, before she turned her gaze to him and said, "Part of being a sentient being with all the accompanying emotions is being broken, I think. My late husband use to say I was the most broken person he ever knew, but that fact made me more interesting than most people. The Pale Wars had just ended, and I had wandered into his fishing village, just sitting on the beach clinging tightly to my assault rifle, still in uniform and not knowing what to do with myself after my purpose for living was taken with me. My whole adult life up to that point was keeping myself and my squad alive, which I did fairly well, but when the war ended, my squad members went back to their previous lives, but I had no previous life to go back to. I had no family that I knew of, they all dying in the ark fall that I miraculously survived, or so I thought at the time, so I just sat there, contemplating the Gulf of Mexico and thinking of swimming out to the horizon until I could swim no more. But then my future husband sat by me in the sand, and began talking, and talking, and talking until the sunset."
Erika smiled at the memory, something Kaj had never seen the austere Irathiant woman do before, continuing, "Brother, that man could talk, and about nothing at all, but it always seemed to comfort me! It never seemed to bother him that I never had much to say in response. That day I didn't respond at all, but slowly... so slow I didn't even notice... all thoughts of ending my existence slipped away! That night I spent in his hut was the best one of my young life, and I never would have experienced it if I had ended it. Shortly after, we married, then Cael was born, then Kara, and then Amber, although she died shortly after her birth, as did my husband. All of those experiences - both good and bad - I wouldn't have had if I ended my life that day on the seashore, and my personal world would be less rich for it. I like to think that we both do good here as well, and that too would not happen if we were not in existence."
Erika stood up slowly, the smile on her red clay face replaced by a sad look of loss, "I miss my husband every day, but would not trade all the treasures of the universe for my time with him. I guess what I'm saying is being broken reminds us of how... human we all are, and if we feel bad, then we have the potential to feel good, and to do good. It makes no logical sense to end such potential."
Erika turned to the door, and opened it, saying as she looked at the huge bio-man with world weary jade eyes, "I will leave it up to your discretion as to whether you accompany me to the holo-therapy room to meet with Kara, as I also leave to you your decision to stay, go, or even end your life. Part of being human is also making such decisions on one's own."
With that Erika exited Kaj's quarters, closing the door behind her as she slowly walked back to the base infirmary, missing her husband so much that her heart ached, but not regretting a moment of her life before or after his death, because it made her the person she was today and she was comfortable with that person.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jun 19, 2015 15:29:45 GMT
"...Oui, naturellement si cela entre dans les limites des conditions, monsieur Blowfield (Yes, of course if the conditions are respected, Mr. Blowfield), said Marcel Lestrange to his hailer, finishing the call.
"Lena, My Love. I have told you before that one who possesses the information, has the real power. Le pauvre Volodja does not know what will happen to him, but everything will happen soon and then he will be really upset. Now we have to deal with our daily business and buy to our new friend Trevor Tiberius Tyler something to drink. We are going to be polite and really delicate with him," explained Marcel.
He took Lena by her elbow and lead her to Trevor, greeting him in most polite manner: "Mr. Tyler, I assume. The most promising director of Von Bach Industries. We are not formally introduced, so I will have to do it myself. Maurice Le Forger, an independent businessman and this is Lena, my lovely girlfriend, assistant and guide. I am glad to see a man who does not care about mundane entertainment, like some vane people do." And he pointed his forefinger to Belle and Volodja with such condemnation, so they would fell through the floor from embarrassment if they knew about that gesture. Then he continued with flattering:
"I find your organization to be most fascinating and I really admire young men who dedicate themselves to make the world a better place and reach to the top when they do that. Hopefully you are not mind having a drink and a small conversation with us?"
Trevor was not sure what to do with that charming, but a bit annoying foreigner and his pretty Castithan girlfriend, It didn't seem to be very polite to say "no" right away, because Maurice might become useful in future. Especially when he looked like as admirer. Besides - Belle's dance chart didn't seem to have any openings soon, because she still danced with that scholar Volodja Uljanov.
"Good wine is a good familiar creature, if it be well used," he declared, before joining with Marcel and Lena.
Soon he was sitting on a small table, listening Marcel's compliments and having another drink. He glanced at Lena, who smiled to him with a hint of admiration in her sky blue eyes. Trevor really enjoyed conversation with that polite and not very bright couple and kept quoting Shakespeare, although ever glass they drank, made his tongue a bit softer and loosened it. Soon he was talking about his work and subordinates and personal career and found himself flirting with Lena, although he didn't noticed that she was constantly squeezing Marcel's hand with her alabaster one under the table and whispered something to his ear from time to time, that made Marcel grin. After another whisper from Lena, Marcel leaned back to her, whispered something to her and kissed her white ear.
Somehow they started to talk about EGO psyches. Maybe because Marcel introduced Trevor with his exotic Asian EGO psyche Moira and mentioned that she was creation of a genius, but guy who hired this wizard must have even greater mind to find and keep such a valuable asset. Trevor felt really flattered now. Maybe because of alcohol he consumed or all that admiration he received or company of two beautiful girls - one Castithan, one holographic, but he started to tell how he personally hired Petka Yershov and still keeps him working to VBI in Defiance.
"Enough about work," Marcel finally declared, after Trevor kept telling about his good nose when it's about hiring personnel. "Time to have more good time and drinks, mon ami." And once again they raised glasses to Trevor's success.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Jun 20, 2015 2:39:32 GMT
Sandra "Sandy" Bell, Lady Christianna's EGO psyche and former Captain of the EMC, watched through Lady's pink eyes as her lover, Volodja Uljanov danced divinely with Belle Starr, her niece who she really barely knew, and felt helpless, thinking, "I can't compete with that! Belle was gene spliced to be the perfect woman as well as the perfect soldier by VBI and my crazy brother-in-law. Then she was taught to be an intellectual's dream, with finishing school up the ying yang while I'm just a grunt with a Bachelor's Degree in Engineering. Add that together with the fact that I'm just a ghost, I don't have a fucking chance! I'm screwed big time!" Sandy watched them dance, truly beauty in motion, and thought that maybe it was better this way. She held that mindset for only a moment, for Sandy was a fighter, fighting to survive despite all odds. Sandy always fought for what she wanted, and Volodja would not be the exception, for she wanted him with all her heart. In the depths of Lady's EGO, Sandy narrowed her eyes and with a look of determination, said to herself, "Just wait until I get my corporeal body, bitch! This battle isn't over yet!"  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jun 20, 2015 3:22:05 GMT
Standing with Lady near the refreshments table, she said, "Thank you. Love you. Tired pregger lady. Go home after last dance?" Asked Lady as she took my hands and led me to the dance floor.
As she pulled me to the dance floor, I said, "I love you too. Of course we will go home after the dance if that is what you want. And you are very welcome although I don't know what I did....unless somebody was listening in on my EGO conversations again." I flashed her a mischievous smile, as I added, "Hmm guess you need a spanking on that pretty little ass of yours later."
I saw a slight sparkle in her intense pink eyes that I am still sure was a mix of excitement and fear-based reluctance at that promise, as we got onto the dance floor. Lady and I slow danced to the band in the Gazebo's music, oblivious to those around us, as she gazed lovingly at me with wide pink eyes, thinking she was the luckiest girl at the prom.
After the dance is over and she tiredly leads me off the dance floor, she says, "Go home now?" I smile and say, "Of course, My Snow Angel. Let us get you home and into our room....." My mischievous grin reappears as I add in a whisper, "and out of those clothes so I can admire all of your natural and naked splendor, as we get into bed together. Dak, I am the luckiest man alive to have you." I kiss her gently then we walk over to Belle and Volo who are waiting for the next song to come on, while the band takes a two minute break.
I say, "I hope the two of you don't mind but my lovely Lady is tired and ready to go. If you want to stay, I can send a vehicle for you later. However Wolfram and Chloe are over by the bar. Perhaps they can give you a ride if you prefer."
Belle tells us to go ahead and leave and not to worry about them. I agree but tell them to contact me if they do need a ride. Then Lady has me stop by the refreshments stand so she can have one more cup of some kind of Castithan juice. Afterwards we walk arm in arm out to our parked Durango. I open the door for her and help her in, gently copping a feel of her backside as I do. After I go around and get in on the driver's side, Lady gives me another kiss. Then we buckle up and I start the rig. We then head home, with her leaning into me.
We are just enjoying each other's company as we arrive back at Fortress K'shaa. I park the Durango and go around the vehicle. Then I open her door and help her out and we walk back to our quarters, once again arm in arm. Once we are locked in our quarters I smile mischievously again and say, "Let me help you out of that dress MY amazing Beauty!" I kiss her lovingly as we slowly strip each other. Once we are naked, I gently squeeze her ass and lay us on the bed next to each other, still kissing. I consider giving her a light spanking but decide to just kiss her and keep squeezing her wonderful bottom, since I am not sure she would actually want that promised spanking, and I would never consider doing anything to my Snow Angel, that she doesn't want. Besides she may be too tired for anything more than some light kissing and fondling.
Kaj listened to Erika, and watched her walk out of and close his door behind her. He sat there for a few more seconds staring at his resignation and thinking. Then he saved the resignation on the datapad and closed it and finally stopped the song as well. He could decide later. AFTER he sees Kara at least one more time. He gets up and glances at the sidearm on his nightstand but decides to leave it. He is off-duty and does not want to risk upsetting or scaring Kara just by having it on him. If it somehow gets him killed, then so be it.
Kaj gets up and leaves his quarters. He catches up to Erika near Medical. After they walk through medical and into the psychiatric ward, Erika walks into the holo-therapy room that Kara is in, but Kaj stops at the door. No longer sure what to do. He really wants to see her again despite barely knowing her other than what her file says and what little they said earlier in the infirmary, but for the first time in his 30 some years of existence, he just can't get himself to move past that doorway.
As he freezes up, a few more thoughts go through his head, "What if she only demanded to see me so she could tell me never to come near her again? What if, in her delusional mind, she just wants to fire me as her Champion? What if she wants me as more than just.....No I can not think that about a married mother of two and definitely not while she is still mentally confused. But I can not help it. She is the first to not only ask specifically to see me, but more importantly to willingly come near me and see me as a kind person instead of a machine to do with as they want, or to fear and want dead."
So Kaj finally makes up his mind and steps into the Holo-room. However once he sees Kara's beautiful face, he once again just stops, not sure what to do. With Lena it was simple. He checked on her nightly as part of his job to make sure she was alright locked in quarters, and she made all the moves and came out and said she loved him and wanted to be with him, so he stupidly got command's approval to not only release her but also to date her and give her any security job he so desired. Damn did that whole thing ever turn out to be a big mistake. However he still considers Lena a friend and would do anything in his power, but within what he considers the confines of the law, to help her if she requires. Perhaps even his loyalty protocols are busted.
Yes just further proof that he is beyond broken. However if having your "feelings" broken that much makes you human as Erika suggests, then maybe he has achieved humanity like he wanted. Although so far it seems to be more of a burden than the blessing he was hoping for, but the hell with it. He will see Kara and go from there. If she wants to see him and considers him to be her Champion, then that is atleast a start towards something. A start of what he doesn't know, but he realizes he just does NOT care what is asked of him, as long as it involves Kara. So he steps in front of Kara, standing at attention, beside Erika. As he awaits whatever is to come.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jun 20, 2015 7:39:35 GMT
Another pair of female eyes was observing dance floor and people on it from her VIP table. This pair belonged to infamous Stahma Tarr, who received an invitation to Ara Shondu's party among the first ones for a simple reason - otherwise she will show up herself and brings a lot of unnecessary trouble with her.
"Look at them, Tommasino," she said to a neatly dressed, but still insignificant looking man next to her. "Isn't that famous Belle Starr who seems to be having the time of her life. And who is her date? Is he someone I know already or actually - is he someone whom I SHOULD know? What can you tell me about that man, Tommasino?"
"Dear Stahma. I mean Favi Starr. I believe that you already know him in a certain way, because it is my old friend Volodja Uljanov, I have told you about, who somehow managed to get an invitation and now acts so naturally like he is in his own home," explained Tommasino Di Angelo, who was Stahma's natural choice to accompany her, because of his excellent memory, so he could act as a living "Who is who in Paradise territory" and provide Stahma with necessary information any time. For her that kind of events, highlighting the structure of importance in Paradise weren't just an entertainment, but also provided her with necessary contacts and contracts.
"Tommasino," replied Stahma: "You have told me about Volodja Uljanov and his skills a lot, but somehow you managed to forget to mention how he looks like and the way he looks and dances surpasses all my expectations. Why hide such a treasure from me, Tommasino? You should introduce us in not tonight then some other day. Yes, I know you said that he is with good guys. Being here with Belle Starr proves it and they do look lovely together. But you never know when you need a help of the good guy, so Volodja might become useful in way or another. We could discuss about...poetry together, for example."
Tall, thin and elegant elderly gentlemen stepped to the dance floor with gorgeous looking red headed woman in green ball gown and they started to whirl in a rhythm of the waltz. When they passed Belle and Volodja, the man nodded to them in a most friendly manner and the woman sent a shining smile to them, adding a remark which made Belle slightly to blush and Volodja raise his brow. But smiled reappeared to their faces soon and they kept moving gracefully like the dance floor belonged to them and only them.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jun 20, 2015 8:43:30 GMT
Meanwhile Marcel Lestrange and Lena Marr kept massaging Trevor Tyler to make him as talkative as possible. More toasts to Trevor's honour and well being were said, more drinks were consumed (mostly by Trevor) and compliments and smiles exchanged. Their evening went on with utmost smooth and peaceful manner. Only one minor incident happened when Lena dropped her fork under the table and she had to dive after it. That kind of accidents could happen to anyone so there was no reason to connect that clumsy act with a couple who was on their way to the dance floor. Trevor didn't recognize the elegant elderly man who seemed to be old enough to be a father to his date. But that date...a voluptuous read headed woman was awfully familiar to Trevor, who used his now alcohol soaked brain to connect that pretty face with the name. Chloe. Chloe MacGyver, of course! A former hacker of VBI and close friend of Belle who obviously found herself a rich sugar daddy after leaving active service.
Trevor watched them to greet Belle and Volodja, who seemed to know that elderly gentleman who was with Chloe MacGyver tonight, but forgot them right away, because Maurice kept entertaining him with his stories all over the world and applauding to his witty Shakespearian quotes, he used to comment those stories he was told. Trevor told couple of more stories about himself to Maurice and Lena, making them awed after telling them about of the impressive part he played in in huge and powerful organization as VBI. Those two could not compare with him and his success, so they just listened him and sprinkled Trevor with shiny dust of compliments which were music to his ears.
Finally he got up to his slightly staggering feet and declared: "A toast to my friend Maurice - one and only real gentleman in Paradise territory...except me, of course. Here we are - The Two Gentlemen of Paradise. Come, gentlemen, I hope we shall drink down all unkindness."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jun 20, 2015 8:54:45 GMT
Wolfram von Eschen felt really alive after decades of hiding into solitaire places and wrapping his otherwise brilliant mind into the fog, consisting of alcohol fumes. But life had turned a new page for him at his old age. He came back from his retirement and got over his fear of people. Few months ago he could not imagine that he will be attending most glamorous social event in Paradise territory, his customers (whom he sold his infamous Schnapps) sometimes talked about. And here he was with his friends and a really gorgeous woman, more than twice younger of his age, drinking Champagne and dancing waltz, because Chloe insisted to dance with him tonight instead of running after some young stud. And she was a great dancer too! Wolfram wondered where she learned that. He nodded politely to Belle and Volodja and heard how Chloe said something about connection between dancing and mating rituals, which made Belle blushing and even Volodja reacted to that with raising his brow, although Chloe added that she was not sure if that applies to Belle and Volodja. But she didn't told anything about herself and good old Wolfram as exceptions in that context, which made Wolfram's heart jumping in his chest and look for another pill.
After another dance Belle and Volodja retreated to get some rest, because they were on the dance floor practically from the beginning of the party. While Volodja admired the ocean, Belle found herself among the children of some party guests. Inside Wolfram von Eschen demanded that orchestra should play laendler, as he suddenly became a true Austrian and since Chloe supported his wish the band gave up and they started the only melody they knew, because it was the most famous one in the world thanks to film industry.
One of the kids looked Belle with his eyes and asked her to dance with trembling voice and new pair joined the dance outside the dancing area. Kid was trying hard, but he kept stumbling to his and Belle's feet, so Volodja felt that he had to save the situation and he cut them off in polite and self confident manner and asked Belle to the dance again, without noticing that Ara Shondu observed their dance with mysterious smile on her white lips most of the time which became even more mysterious after she saw them suddenly to stop, stand and look at each other in quite awkward, but still in a really sweet way without moving and exchanging a single word for awhile before they returned to the public dance floor. The magic of the dance caused that. Or magic of the evening was to blame for that sudden pause. Or another emotional override that made them interrupt their dance in most abrupt manner and just stare at each other. Anyway - they were back in the dance floor now.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Jun 20, 2015 19:54:35 GMT
As soon as Erika and Kaj entered the holo-threapy room, they were garbed in ancient armor, she dressed in the light armor of an Amazonian cavalry officer and him in the purple heavy full armor of a knight. They found Kara in regal robes sitting on a throne in the castle's courtyard surrounded by her subjects, both and poor, of all races. Cradled in her hands was a small human holo-baby, that Kara took carenot to awaken as she rose to greet them. As Kara came down the few steps of the dais where her throne was located, Kara said, "Sir Kaj, thank you for coming and thank you Mother for fetching him. I found the baby Sir Kaj, so I release you from your quest, although he is not my true heir, but a foundling I rescued from a mother who could not protect him. My children, on the other hand, are secreted far away from the evil machinations of those who would do me and them harm." "Now the reason I brought you here: There is a question here at court about you my purple knight. Many here feel that because you are a large knight, your weapon must also be huge. Other's maintain that your weapon is probably very small, so that you might fight your battles and be quickly done with it," Kara used the opportunity as she talked to get closer to Kaj, as she whispered aside in a voice she was sure only he could hear, "This discussion is a façade, my champion, what I really need is for you to rescue me! I am kept captive in my own castle by an evil old wizard and his handsome warrior apprentice, aided by a ghostly banshee and I fear, my own mother! Help me my champion escape their evil clutches, and the Mistress of Judgment will give you whatever your heart desires!" Then Kara continued in a loud voice to her court, "I, the Mistress of Judgment, maintain that it is not the size of a knight's weapon that counts, but the resolve of the man who wields it!"  |
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Post by Belle Starr on Jun 20, 2015 20:20:52 GMT
Belle sighed when the music ended, both tired and invigorated by dancing with Volodja, but knowing it must end sometime, saying, "I don't think I've danced this much in my whole life, Volo! Y'all really know how to cut a rug!" In fact, dance had always been an important part of Belle's life, an emotional release for the best of times and the worst of times. As a small girl growing up in N'Awlins, she had danced for fun and scrip on the streets of the French Quarter to the Jazz music playing there, and had met Volodja for the first time dancing there, although she only recently found that out. Before she was known as a crusader for good in the Bay Area, she was known as the young ark hunter who danced to the music in her own head on the roof of the Bug N Chug and in the open back room at the Overpass, and even on the tables of The Crater if she had enough Champagne. In fact, it was during such a time at the Bug N Chug that Vo K'shaa, her dead true love, confessed that he first saw and fell in love with her. The memory saddened Belle, so she took Volodja's arm and led him to the refreshment table, getting a glass of champagne, and saying with a forlorn sigh, "I promised Trevor a dance tonight, and although he can be a frightful bore at times, he is a friend, ally, and my boss at VBI, so I need to go keep my promise! Please save the last dance for me!" With that, Belle smiled and hugged Volodja, kissing him warmly on the cheek, although her rose petal lips lingered on his cheek longer than what might be acceptable for a kiss among friends, and even longer after she left, quickly disappearing into the crowd in search of Trevor Tyler.  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jun 20, 2015 22:18:24 GMT
Kaj watches and listens to Kara, then glances at Erika before returning his gaze to Kara. Then he says quietly and calmly to Kara, "Your mother does not mean to make you feel captive. She and the others are just trying to help you, but perhaps you deserve the truth. So here it is." He steps back and looks at Erika again as he says, now outloud, "You are NOT this Mistress of Judgment. You were brainwashed to think that you are, and to forget all of your family; including your Mother, children...and husband. Whoever the lucky guy is."
He can feel the anger in Erika's eyes as he continues, still calmly. "I promised I would do everything that I could to help you. I will but I will not continue this huge lie. If it ends up hurting you more, then I am sorry and will never forgive myself for it. However you deserve the truth. Your mother, the old guy, his assistant and even the ghostly banshee are just trying to help you. They believe this fantasy world of yours will slowly do so. I see the confussion and hurt in your eyes. You need to know the truth. So I will tell you what little I can. As I said you were kidnapped and brainwashed to believe that you are the Mistress of Judgment. I told you I do NOT want to know her, I want to get to know YOU, Kara, better. The true Mistress is evil and was using you as some kind of tool to hurt others including your mother.
I do not know where the rest of your family is, but do know that your husband and children were safely hidden away, the last we knew. As I said this is a fantasy world and not real. It is a creation in our Holo-therapy room. Doctor Von Eshen, Mr. VOlodja and your mother thought it best to slowly allow your mind to adapt, heal and get better. You now know, on your own, that you are a mother of two and they are safe somewhere. You also now recognize your Mother. As I said you are also married to somebody, who is the father of your kids and presumably with them. That banshee as you called her is a holographic nurse so she is not real. I hate to tell you this and perhaps upset you more, but that baby is also holographic."
Kaj walks over to the controls and, trying to hide the concern in his eyes, ends the whole simulation, including Di and the Baby. After a few seconds he reactivates the emmitters in the room but not the program, so Di can reappear in there. Then he reactivates the holo-baby and after holding and tickling it with a huge finger, he hands it back to a noticeably distraught Kara. He sees the seething anger from Erika as he continues, calmly and with a gentle smile on his face, still trying to hide the concern in his eyes.
"Miss Kara, they were just trying to help because they care so deeply for you. I am afraid that I probably should not have told you all this, even though I was also trying to help. I see the happy sparkle in your eyes when you look at me, even now. However you are married to somebody else, and as far as I know happily. So what I may feel does not matter."
He takes a deep breath, then continues. "Besides I am not exactly real either. I may not be a hologram like Nurse Di or the baby, but that does not change that I am not actually 'alive'. I will always help you however you want, but since I have told you all the truth I know about your family and everything in this room, I must also tell you what you do not seem to know about me....I am not a living being. I am merely an automaton, an android construct. My kind was made for war, but my line proved to be too gentle most times, so we were moved from battle and into recording departments and libraries."
He looks at Kara and Erika again. Then with a calming smile still on his face, the gentle giant of a purple automaton continues, as he tries to hide the unfounded love they may be showing that he feels for Kara, "I am the last of my line in existence, and I presume that if I just hurt you more, that will soon come to an end. If not by another's hand, then by my own. For I could not stand knowing that I purposely made a choice that hurt somebody so much. So there you have it. Your mother and the doctors did all of this, trying to help you because they care about you. She loves you completely and even begged me to help you, even though she has only ever faced Bio-men, my kind, on the battlefield during a war where we were created and programmed to kill your kind. I agreed to help her and you, out of friendship and my need to help others. I, your Champion, am a machine from a broken line of Bio-men that developed what was deemed too much empathy and sympathy for the enemy, and refused to hurt others unless we had to, to protect people. So my line was terminated.
I am the last of the Lincoln line, destined to die, because nobody wants a sympathetic, empathetic...and even romantic and loving war machine, who broke his programming and refuses to be used as what he was designed to be any longer. I long to find a place where I fit in, to have friends and adopted family...and perhaps even love. However I am no longer sure any of that exists for me. I have only known you a few hours and already feel deeply for you. More deeply than I should a married woman and especially one in your current situation. However I know that the only way we can help you and truly make you happy is to reunite you with your children...and even your husband; as soon as we locate them, and convince him to bring them to you. I promised you and your Mother that I would help you, so I will do what I can, for as long as I can. I promised myself that I would always help those in need. Although I am afraid I may have just hurt you more than I helped you, I will continue to try to help you and others for as long as I continue to be 'alive'."
He looks into both Irathiant women's eyes one last time, lingering on Kara's, perhaps for far too long considering she is married, then he looks away. He continues to try to hide the concern and unfounded love in his eyes as he resumes calmly standing at attention with that gentle smile on his face, and awaits the emotional backlash from one or both of the women, knowing he most likely screwed up beyond repair, this time.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Jun 21, 2015 2:27:34 GMT
Kara's mouth hung open, her arms laying limp at her side, her jade eyes unfocused. Erika was shocked at what the bio-man had done, contrary to the treatment that the experts had ordered and totally without consultation with them. Her instincts had screamed at her that Kaj was a danger to her daughter, but she had consciously ignored them giving the huge bio-man the benefit of the doubt as to his humanity, and now his actions had driven Kara into a catatonic state. Erika waved a hand in front of Kara's eyes, but they neither blinked nor was there any other reaction from her.
"How - dare - you!" Yelled Erika turning suddenly as she struck a right uppercut into Kaj's broad chin, then sidestepped him, kicking him behind the right knee toppling him like a great oak tree. As he fell on his back, she jumped on his chest making a feint move to gouge out his eyes with one hand, and when he reflexively raised his arms to protect then, she hit his deactivation switch with the other.
As Erika got up, a grim look on her red clay colored face as she glared in anger at his dormant body, she said through clenched teeth, "Consider yourself fired!"
With that she left him in the holo-therapy room collapsed in a pile, leading her catatonic daughter back to her room, then hailed Dr. Orion, Dr. Von Esclen, and Volodja Uljanov informing them of Kara's condition and how it came about, taking full responsibility for allowing the bio-man access to her daughter. She watched through the observation window of Kara's room as Di and Dr. Orion sought in vain to bring Kara back to consciousness, then made two other calls: First to Chris to make arrangements to secure the bio-man like any other type of dangerously defective machinery, and the second to tell Atticus Batman of her actions and the reason for it, then asking for an immediate meeting of the Base Triumvirate to determine the fate of Kaj .
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Post by Belle Starr on Jun 21, 2015 2:44:45 GMT
Belle Starr's wide diamond blue eyes grew even wider when she spotted her friend Trevor Tyler sitting at a table conversing in a friendly if drunken manner with Marcel Lestrange and Lena Marr. She made a beeline to the table, forcing a smile as she reminded Trevor that they had a dance due. "But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? I'm afraid, dear friends, that Belle, who is the light of my life, must break up this happy party!" Belle led him to the dance floor, where he was sober enough to dance better than most at he party, but not nearly in Volodja's caliber.  As Lena watched them dance, she remarked with a grin to Marcel, "We have the name, we have the location, I think we better leave before Belle brings Trevor back here and starts asking questions!" |
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