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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jul 10, 2015 4:12:39 GMT
Marcel Lestrange enjoyed everything at moment. Moving speed of their vehicle, extra scrip they earned and will be earning, touch of Lena's hand on his thigh and last but not least, knowing that he managed to be better than Volodja Uljanov. He looked at rest of people in his car. Lena seemed to be satisfied with everything, deciding from her eyes and that gentle squeeze of her fingers, Marcel felt through canvas of his trousers. Belle Starr looked through the window with her diamond blue eyes and was not very talkative mood. Volodja's brown eyes were travelling along the lines of his E book while his posture showed that he felt kind of defenceless at moment. Why else he settled himself to a corner, keeping a distance from rest of them and used the book as his barricade. "Good guys never win," thought Marcel, memorizing sight of Volodja. "They may try but eventually the world will be ours to rule, because good guys limit themselves and we are ready to take everything and feel good about it. And only man who can stop me from taking everything feels lousy at moment. Have to love it."  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jul 10, 2015 10:36:07 GMT
I am in our quarters changing out of my "Death Garb" and into my "Hero Garb" consisting of my Trion Supporter outfit and VBI infiltrator helm, when I get my lovely fiancé's and our Pilot Commander's message that our broadcast party is returning and Lady has all systems ready for takeoff. I send her a message back saying, "Alright Tianna. I am on my way." I place my VBI helm securely on my head and make sure my EXL pistol is holstered on my side and my Amakune blade secured to my belt, with a boot knife secured in one boot and my flask in the other as always. Then I go to the bridge, since I feel as Director of Security I should be on bridge during takeoff, just in case we have any more issues with any hostiles that still may be in the area.
As I enter the bridge, Lady glances at me and smiles and I nod in acknowledgement, as there is no reason to smile back since she can't see my facial expressions through my helmet, even though I do, since she always brings a smile to my normally hateful and fearsome visage. Besides I am certain she knows that I am indeed wearing one under my helm, as there is always a smile waiting there for her when she removes my helm after we are both off-duty, as well as one there for her as I put my helm on right before I go on-duty. I go to my station and nod to Corporal Lebeau as he steps aside and goes back to his previous station on the bridge.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jul 10, 2015 16:14:45 GMT
Volodja enjoyed Tristram's narration of his life story. One of the central jokes of the novel was that Tristram was unable explain anything simply. He had to make explanatory diversions to add context and colour to his tale, to the extent that Tristram's own birth was not even reached until Volume III. Volodja knew that major influence on "Tristram Shandy" was François Rabelais' "Gargantua and Pantagruel" - the book Laurence Sterne and Volodja Uljanov both liked.
The interior of the car was warm and he started to feel safe in his comfortable corner. Even Marcel kept silent and didn't interrupt Volodja's reading with another set of mocking remarks at his address. Volodja's sub-machine gun rested on the back seat by his side in case someone shows up with an unhealthy interest towards their vehicle and Fantastic Four travelling in it. Safety was on, but Volodja was able to grab his SMG with lightning speed, pull the safety off and...you know the rest. Belle looked out from the window, enjoying wild beauty of snow covered hills and trees.
They managed to fulfil their task and Belle had her chance to became even more known for her good deeds. That was great and made Volodja smile, because he felt good about Belle's success and that kiss he received after the broadcast was over. That pleasure Volodja experienced from the latter was a guilty pleasure but it won't happen again and it was just a delayed good luck kiss as Belle explained, Volodja convinced himself. They shared same principles, interests, preferences and both of them were good at art, science and dancing. And they got along really good so one shared kiss seemed to be natural way to celebrate their success. And if he apologizes to Belle for stealing that kiss and prolonging it...maybe she forgives him his inappropriate behaviour, because she was still a high class beauty and he was just a wandering jester who stole a kiss from a wonderful girl. "A tramp, a gentleman, a poet, a dreamer, a lonely fellow, always hopeful of romance and adventure," like Charles Chaplin once said about his Charlie-character. "I am so sorry, Belle," he whispered, although he knew that he enjoyed that kiss too much."I took advantage of you. You are the most adorable girl and I am just an old fool who fell in...never-mind that."
Everything depended from the car and Marcel's driving skills now. He and Lena gave actually a good performance today by guarding backs of Belle and Volodja although they used ruthless methods, full of gore and blood. Marcel was obviously a true Machiavellian, because his features included a cynical disregard for morality and a focus on self-interest and personal gain. Every measure he took was good enough as long it helped him closer to achieve his purpose. That made him a really dangerous man who decided to linger around for longer and do it for free of charge for unknown reasons. What was going on in his mind? Another cunning scheme? Perhaps it was so, but he won't try anything until he and Lena were back in Paradise and in safe distance from the team. That seemed to be pretty sure, although one could never be too careful when Marcel Lestrange was around. Fortunately he was busy with driving and Lena was busy with stroking his thigh. That's why Volodja could lower his handsome face closer to the book again and resume reading.
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Post by Belle Starr on Jul 10, 2015 22:35:17 GMT
 "It takes two to tango," Replied Belle to Volodja's apology, still gazing out the car's window at the snow swept landscape with narrowed blue diamond eyes, then turned to him leaning forwards for emphasis, "As I recall, I stole that kiss not y'all, so I'm the guilty party if there is one!" Belle stared at his handsome face and her blue diamond eyes widened as she reached over and touched his hand gently with one pale hand, saying in a matter-of-fact tone, "But you want to know something Volo? I don't feel guilty or sorry for that kiss - not a whit! I ENJOYED that kiss, more than anything since...! Doesn't matter when, but more than anything in a very long time! Furthermore you are neither old nor a fool, and I think most people know that! You're wise and kind and handsome and...!" A blush moved up Belle's thin neck to her freckled cheeks as she left her last thought unsaid, merely adding, "If anything, I'm not sure I'm worthy of you! I'm damaged goods in so many ways! I'm a monster, a Were-Volge, - a walking time bomb - posing as a woman, and not even doing that very well! I'm no virgin, I can never give y'all babies because I wasn't strong enough to resist a rape in my first ark fall, and I got my Vo, my Prince Charming, killed, so if anything, y'all should stay away from me - for your own safety!" Belle went back to looking passively out the car's window at the now flurrying snow, exclaiming, "But if there is ONE thing I'm sure of, I sure as heck enjoyed that kiss!" |
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Jul 11, 2015 0:08:05 GMT
When Erika Widowmaker was awakened by her hailer's chime, she awoke fully aware of her surroundings like she had always had since she slept in the trenches as a young soldier, and not groggy like she had recently because of the brain tumor. "Good job Amber, and thank you," Thought Erika to her EGO psyche as she looked at the identity of who was calling, before saying, "Hello Chris, you have a status report for me?" "Yes ma'am," Replied Chris, "We got Mr. Lestrange's plane all packed up and on the strato-carrier. And Ms. Starr and Mr. Uljanov, with the two guests, unarmed as specified by Mr. Batman, are back on board as well." "How are you Chris, now that your EGO psyche is home?" Asked Erika with concern in her voice. "Oh, Psycho Pete is making himself a pest as usual, but I kind of missed him - that standard EGO psyche was really boring, " Answered Chris good-naturedly. "I'm quite happy for you," Replied Erika, although having visited Psycho Pete's island when he was alive, she could not fathom why anybody would want his consciousness as their EGO psyche. "Thanks you Chris. Please inform the others to meet me on the bridge. Erika out." Erika got up out of bed, looking much less haggard and moving much more smoothly, but also knowing that she had far to go before her health was back to normal, then made her way to the bridge of the Vigilant.  |
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Post by Belle Starr on Jul 11, 2015 0:45:18 GMT
Belle Starr and Volodja Uljanov met the others on the bridge, leaning against the wall with her arms tightly crossed against her breast, listening to the status report as to take-off preparations, and the others' comments as to it. When Belle felt the discussion was over, she stood up straight with her hands on her shapely hips, a smile on her rose petal lips a she tilted her blond tousled head before asking them the question that had bugged her since she heard Atticus admit he had another mission in Defiance. "Okay I know this might not be the time y'all, and I know I'm not part of the command triumvirate, but when Atticus mentioned his 'other' mission, why did it sound like a black ops mission, which I thought the team agreed not to get involved in, and why did I feel like I was the only one who didn't know about it?" "Me neither," Thought Lady Christianna, Atticus' betrothed, but mentally shrugged, adding to the thought, "But then, I didn't ask."  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jul 11, 2015 1:13:07 GMT
I look up at Belle, as I set my helm on my console. "Simple you didn't know because you didn't need to know, and most of the team didn't know for that matter. As for black ops, the team doesn't do them. However this was a personal matter and Erika and Volodja chose to let me handle my matter as I saw fit, as long as I didn't drag the team into it, which meant if I needed backup I would have to hire mercenaries like Lestrange and Marr. If you must know, I discovered that the last known location of the guy that hired Lestrange and Marr to kill Lady was Defiance. So I was glad to hear that we had to come here anyway. However when we discovered we would have to evacuate Pyotr and his wife, I really did put aside my revenge, as all of my family, here and at Fotress K'shaa, is the most important to me.
As fate would have it though, one of the guys we encountered had information on him, that informed us that this Aveis Havph guy has hightailed it to Key Diego where he has the protection of one of the Great trading houses, which makes the Tarrs look very amateur. So I will not worry about him unless he returns to cause more trouble for us. More importantly, I also discovered that Governor Skarr is heading to Lima for "personal" reasons. That is where Erika's grandchildren are, so Erika and I will be going to Lima as soon as we have returned to Fortress K'shaa, to get the rest of our family back.
By the way, if you want me to step down from the Triumvirate for my decisions then I will, but I will NOT stop doing what it takes to ensure the safety of all of you! My family! It's not like most of you wanted me anywhere near command anyway. However I feel that I do belong with this team and perhaps even in the Command Triumvirate, now that I have learned to work with and care for others!
I also will NOT apologize for hunting the man who wanted Lady dead. Nor will I apologize for what I will do with Skarr or anybody else if they hurt any of my family, adopted or biological! I will NEVER apologize for doing what I feel best to protect those I love and care about! So little Sister, Starr Eyes, be mad at me and hate me if you choose, but don't take it out on the others. The ones that did know my intentions, knew it was best to allow me the leeway to do so in my own way, in hopes that it would keep me from starting a One man war, as long as I did NOT involve any of you in it personally. And Starr Eyes......
Even if you do hate me, which would hurt but I would understand and probably deserve, as I have come to accept all the hate in the world just for existing longer than I should have, you are my little sister and I will continue to love and protect you as such, even if I have lost your love or respect, because NOBODY hurts or touches my family and gets away with it!" My eyes flash white with my anger at the thought of somebody trying to hurt my family, as I finish what I have to say. Then I look away from Belle as I can't stand the idea of possibly seeing hate in her eyes for me, the first person who truly saw the good and heroic side of this demon and I thought cared about me for me, even though she knew I was a creature born of darkness, hatred and violence. As I do so I look towards, first Erika and see her sisterly love for me in her eyes, then towards My fiancé, Lady, and see her eyes still full of immense love for me in every way, and the white anger fades and my eyes return to a sparking electric blue.
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Post by Belle Starr on Jul 11, 2015 2:32:29 GMT
The smile vanished off her pretty face as it was replaced with a hurt look, and tears welled in her big blue eyes, as she heard what Atticus had to say, replying, "I'll never hate you Atticus! You are the big brother I wish I always had! People disagree all the time, but that doesn't mean they hate each other! And... maybe you're right!"
Belle's shoulder slumped as she looked down at the floor dejected, "Atticus, you're perfect for leadership in a post-apocalyptic world full of dangers! I guess I knew it subconsciously when I suggested you after Taffer left, that it takes a ruthless person unafraid of killing and violence to solve the world's problems and protect the innocents, willing to go to any lengths to protect them! I'm an anachronism, thinking that there was a better way, an ethical way to make the world a better place - a silly idealist with no place in today's reality! You all knew it when you kept this secret from me, and now I guess I do too!"
Belle looked up, her teary blue eyes looking at the faces of her friends and family, saying, "I've been holding y'all back from what needed to be done, and the fact you felt you had to hide from me something this important proves it! If I hadn't intervened, you would have killed Skarr the first time he gave us trouble, and he wouldn't have been alive to hire assassins to kill Lady! If I hadn't been trying to make VBI an ethical corporation in a public way, the Mistress of Judgment wouldn't have used me against y'all, and Vo would be alive today! Taffer was right not to tell me he killed my Uncle Greenstreet after all his schemes against the team - don't bother to deny it Taffer, I have sources too - because I would have tried to stop him beforehand thinking a court of law the best way to get justice, silly, stupid me! Shoot, Uncle Greenstreet wouldn't have even been a thorn in the team's side at all if it hadn't been for me being on it! I won't hold y'all back anymore! Effective immediately, I resign from the team, that way y'all can do what's necessary with out thinking twice about it!"
With that said, Belle blurred out of the bridge to her cabin, locking the door and falling into her bed weeping, for she was absolutely sure everything she said was true, and feeling that it would have been better for her friends, her adopted family, if she had died during the rape in the ark fall over two years ago.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jul 11, 2015 3:05:37 GMT
I look around as Belle resigns and storms off, then say, "Dak I dakked up again!" I then blur after Belle. As I get to her locked door, I am not sure what I am doing, however I open an EGO communication with her, as well as talk to her through her door anyway. "Belle, I am sorry I thought you could hate me. It's just that before I met you all I have known during the 34 or so years of my life, that I can remember, is hatred towards me. So I just assume that everyone will hate me at some point. The only ones who knew were Volodja and Erika. I didn't tell anybody else. I thought it was best to keep my vindictive mission as far from the rest of you as possible!
As for your resignation, I don't know about the others but I say it doesn't count, since it was based strictly on my stupid actions upsetting you. No matter what you think, we need you. I need you. Your ideals and dreams are what motivates us to work for a greater good. Without you where would any of us be?!
Taffer would probably be in Vegas or worse. Erika and her family dead. Lady, who was wanted by the Mistress from the start, would still be under the Mistress of Judgement's control, because the team wouldn't have been here to save her. Volo would still be wandering aimlessly. Your aunt Sandy would still be a ghost trapped outside of time, as would Haele. Chris would be dead after his vehicle brokedown in the wastelands instead of being rescued by your security. Smythe and Chloe would probably also be in Vegas.
And I...well...I would either be dead or continuing to be a violent serial killer! For as I recall it was a nosey and knobby kneed little blond toothpick who wanted to be my friend for no reason other than to cheer me up, back on the EMS New Freedom, that started me on the path toward the light, when she was in danger and I uncharacteristically risked my freedom to save her, by taking her to the one person on the New Freedom that could recognize my face because I couldn't let the one person that was nice to me, for no reason other than to be nice, to get hurt in that explosion. Then after she was safe, I actually risked my life to save others on the New Freedom, also uncharacteristic of me back then, all because a teen girl shared her chocolate with me and smiled at me without any fear. Now that toothpick has grown into the amazing young woman hiding behind this door that brought this mismatched together for good! So open it and let's work this out, because all of this team needs you. You may not believe me but you are the glue that holds us together. After you disappeared, on the beach of Freedom Alabama, the team lost our direction and was starting to pull apart. Everything needs a strong force to hold it together. For us, that binding force is YOU!"
I think to my EGO Psyche, Dinara, "Dinara is Belle decent in there?"
She responds with, "No she isn't crackerjackin decent! You upset the poor girl and she is crying her brains out! Atty you need to learn to think before you act! You keep hurting the ones you love!"
I think back, "I know that I keep dakking up! But is she dressed?!"
Dinara says, "Yes, and I suppose this is where you act without thinkin again?!"
I respond with "Dakking Right! It's what I do best!"
Then I say outloud and over EGO to Belle, "You know what?! Forget this dakking door!! I need to see your face and I can tell you need somebody even if it is your screwup of a brother! So I am coming in, and this door and lock are not stopping me!!!"
I use my security override code and open her door. Then I walk in and close and relock the door. I remove my mask so she can see my face, for once, as I sit down and pull the crying young woman to my broad chest. "I am sorry little sister, Starr Eyes. I didn't mean to hurt anybody. I kept my plans to myself to try to keep from hurting anybody, and as usual I dakked up. I love you Little sister. Please forgive me and don't leave the team or me. We need you more than I can ever put to words. Besides Lady and our children deserve to have somebody as amazing as you around as much as possible. Do not take that away from anybody just because of my stupid actions. Now please quit crying. If anybody was wrong it was me. Dak I even just broke into your room, because I wanted to see your face and let you know in person that you are needed. So I even when I am trying to be good I still do things wrong. Can you please forgive me and stay? Everyone really does want and need you here."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jul 11, 2015 5:22:23 GMT
Big things happened on the bridge and probably afterwards as well, but Volodja didn't stayed to linger there very much. When tsunami strikes then small people like him are better somewhere safe. Especially when Volodja spotted Atticus banging to Belle's door and figured that he can't interrupt their talk with his pathetic attempt to convince Belle to stay. Canteen seemed to be a nice far away place from any natural disasters occurring during last couple of minutes. He made his retreat there and as he was used to do lately, he took a corner table and sat down in his artificial solitude.
First things to come into his mind were black ops and hiring people like Marcel and Lena. He just did it himself for the greater cause and he started to think that buying their loyalty is the main measure to keep them away from attacking innocents. He didn't approved their methods, but at least this time Lena and Marcel used them against bad guys and left farmers and Ark hunters to be. He didn't regret hiring them - they gave their part so Belle could warn innocent people and maybe not so innocent officials in Defiance that the Beast is set lose on their territory. That also meant that hellish couple was busy somewhere else than establishing their foothold. Maybe hiring them made Volodja even more vicious than them, but he was willing to take the risk of committing another sin when it helps making the world a safer place. At least it didn't felt like mere justification of his misdeed.
But he still felt bad about that because he preferred more civilized methods to handle things and every kill he made, filled his soul with regret for another lost life. But life isn't a knight novel and the knight-errants like him was were extinct species already. He was probably the last one, struggling to maintain at least something chivalrous in a crazy world they lived and had to adjust himself, but it had it's price - he never felt that violence is totally justified. It was necessary to survival and protecting innocents but still not worth an apotheosis. Marcel had more practical sense about everything. And maybe it was better than chivalry dies with Volodja Uljanov.
Speaking of the wolf...or hyena. Volodja was awakened from his thoughts by the sound which one can hear when someone fills his glass with a quality brandy. And not only the sound but there was also the smell and soon the taste. Volodja raised his brown eyes and saw Marcel Lestrange, still having a brandy bottle in his hand.
"Mind if I buy my ticket to your table in that way, you happen to like? I can not say that I missed you already, but I am willing to admit that I like your company from time to time. We go way back after all and sometimes we even fought on the same side - you for them, I for myself, but still we faced third party side by side. So we can share a drink together while Lena, my girl, taking a shower."
"It's a free country Marcel and you bought your ticket already. Not with brandy but when you decided to stay and guard us during broadcast. May I know the selfish reason for acting like that?"
"Mostly because I wanted that. And believe it or not - I do love to have you in vicinity because the challenge you offer sometimes, and the fact that when you are around my boredom disappears. So I prefer to see you alive and miserable than dead. It is much more fun that way. But I can change my mind quite soon enough for your knowledge. This makes things even more interesting. You will never know what might happen to you next. Santé!" (short version of "A vote santé" (To your health)). And Marcel raised his glass to drink for that.
"Tchin!" (Cheers), replied Volodja, raising his glass as well and both guys clinked them together before taking first sip. The truce was declared for awhile. A really and unstable truce, but it should last until the end of their flight. Two old rivals had another drink together and recalled some of their adventures together back in Europe, Asia and practically everywhere where life sent them. Guess they both needed that time out from their eternal rivalry.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Jul 11, 2015 7:17:43 GMT
Sitting down with his arch enemy, old friend and eternal pain in Marecl's ass was more than relaxing, Marcel felt. It was nice for a change to sit down and have a talk with Volodja. Besides - that poor fool didn't knew what Marcel planned for him. That tiny snowball, he pur onto roll before leaving Paradise might have gained size and speed while they all were in Defiance and when it hits Volodja then....Marcel grinned that it will hurt Volodja. But if someone must get hurt then it is better be Volodja than Marcel. Until then he can use a chance and have some good time and brandy with him. Cat uses an opportunity to play with a mouse too, before giving final blow with a paw. ________________________ :origin()/pre02/949b/th/pre/f/2008/230/f/2/wint_and_kidd_sketch_card_by_dalgoda7.jpg) Meanwhile somewhere in Paradise a somewhat strange couple discussed something which seemed to be important for both of them, standing by the car they shared. "When apple clings on a tree, only held by thin stem Mr. Wynd..." said the one who's otherwise balding head was surrounded by long hair and lifted his hand to stroke his moustache. "...then it's only a matter of time when stem gives up and apple falls Mr. Kyd," the other, neatly shaved man completed the thought. "All we have to do is to sit and wait for Mr. Uljanov to reappear and then..." "...we pay him our respects and after that things are never going to be the same..." "...as they used to be." Guys looked at each other, sharing mutual understanding about how world works. Maybe they shared even more than common understandings, soft and polite speech manner and habit to finish each other sentences, although that "more" part was only assumable, because both of them didn't either confirm or denied that possibility. But that was not important anyway. They always acted together as an efficient duo and got their job done in their own creative way. They brought trouble to everyone who was on their sights and Volodja Uljanov was not an exception. |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jul 11, 2015 9:30:24 GMT
After a while Marcel rose, said that he is needed back in his cabin, because of something urgent and left, leaving his brandy bottle to keep company to Volodja. On the door he turned around and said: "You know, Volodja. You would make pretty good Hamlet at moment. "To be or not to be. Have a happy auto-communication." And left with a grin on his thin lips.
Volodja was left alone again. He poured another gulp to his brandy snifter. Instead of asking himself to be or not, he pulled out his notebook and started to scribble:
There are no times good or worse
Only this moment counts
Without a slightest remorse
It stays to my mind and taunts
No past no future but present
Is all that matters now
This time without a resent
I try to remember how
To maintain this moment forever
And live it through here and then
I'd rather take "now" than "never"
And try to enjoy it again.
Not his best verses, but man must do something he just found himself a place in canteen and life offered him a bottle of brandy. And he needed something to do to keep his mind focused, because at moment canteen was empty. If Wolfram was with him, they could have another chess game, but now only Volodja Uljanov, the brandy bottle and a bit limply Pegasus were left in canteen on their own. Maybe he was a bit wrong - past didn't matter that much, but future did and idealist in Volodja was still alive and kept pushing him forward.
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Post by Belle Starr on Jul 11, 2015 10:44:53 GMT
Belle stopped crying but remained holding tight to Atticus, his touch being even more comforting than his words, as she said, "Maybe you are right! Maybe you are wrong! I just know that if y'all feel that you have to protect me all the time, it keeps you from doing the job, and more important, puts y'all in danger! I wish I could change! I wish that I could be just like you Atticus! Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead! Not worrying about choices or consequences, just put the bad guys in the grave and get the mission done, the ends justifying the means!"
Belle say up on the bed, her long shapely legs tucked under her as her big blue diamond eyes looked intently into his, saying with conviction, "I always see these sides of gray! I see the bad guys as some not as bad as others or even some that can become good if given half a chance! Look at Lena! I know she betrayed us! I know she almost killed Lady! But did you know she was an orphan just like you at about the same age, dropped off in a Lima orphanage that was really a state brothel, where they beat her constantly and made her do despicable sex acts with adults until she finally escaped! It's no wonder she is a criminal and a bit of a psycho! I look at her, knowing her past, and I feel sorry for her, thinking that such an incredible young woman who's persevered through so much could be good if given half a chance! However, that kind of thinking will get y'all killed, given our line of work! Y'all are right - mercy is stupid in a post-apocalyptic world, and will get you killed! I don't think - no, I know I can't - be as ruthless as you guys! If I die because of it, so be it - my choice - but I don't want y'all to die for my stupid principles - my dreams of a better world!"
As Belle turned her gaze to the far wall as she recited, "All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope - Winston Churchill, a great pre Pale Wars diplomat and statesman said that! At a real young age, Papa Boudreaux made me memorize and every once in awhile want me to recite the quote, then he'd ask me what it meant! For years, I didn't know WHAT it meant, and I'd be honest and tell him so, whereupon we'd just sit around the dining room table and discuss it over a big glass of POW milk and a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies he just baked! Every time we did that, I understood a bit more about what those terms meant, and why they were important to him - and to me as I grew older! Now I realize we both were just deluding ourselves: none of those words mean a hill of beans in today's world! Survival and vengeance are the only terms that mean anything anymore!"
Anywho, I'll still be at Base K'shaa, just not with the Team PP!" She giggled nervously as she shook her blond touseled head, remarking before her pretty freckled face turned serious again, "You guys have really got to find a better name! Anyway, I'll still be there as the VBI Director of Security Analysis, providing you with logistical support, I just won't be involved with team operations! It's safer for y'all that way - you won't have to worry about keeping things from me, protecting - or me Volging-out during a mission - just do the mission in the way you do best!"
Belle hesitated for a moment, biting her lower lip as she considered whether she should tell him what she really wanted to: Her guilty secret that she felt she had to tell someone or her heart would burst. She came to a sudden decision and blurted out, "There is another reason for me to leave the team: I think I've fallen in love with Volodja, and he with me! This is NOT a good thing! First, in the field, Volo's going to die trying to protect me! Second, Vo's not even cold in the grave yet and I'm cheating on him! I am not good for Volo! I'm a terrible person! I'll get him killed just like I did Vo! Not to mention I'm betraying my Aunt Sandy, and Sandy is so much better for Volodja than I am! But if I'm not around him all the time, I can nip this thing in the bud! I know I can!"
"Easy-peasy!" Belle muttered, knowing it would't be at all, for the heart wants what the heart wants.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Jul 11, 2015 11:23:12 GMT
As Belle blurred off of the Bridge followed by Atticus, then Volodja, Erika stared at the exit with intense jade colored eyes and said, "Alright then. I guess that leaves me in command. Taffer, if you and Lady would please lift us off and head for the Bay Area and home." Lady Christianna smiled enigmatically, as was her wont, as she bent to her task, thinking, "Drama. Lots of it. Back to norm." Sandy, Lady's EGO psyche, took a quick leave to appear as a hologram sitting next to Volodja in the canteen, giving him a quick kiss and telling him with a smile, "We're leaving for home now. I'm going to cash in that rain check for a nice night together when we get back, but for now, back to my station!" As the stratocarrier slowly lifted off the ground and into the air, it wasn't long before the town of Defiance wasn't a distant place if not a memory to all of the team.  |
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Post by Taffer on Jul 11, 2015 11:32:41 GMT
Em Dash woke Taffer up informing him that the away team was bordering the stratocarrier and Marcel's plane was already brought into the cargo bay. He went to the bridge, sat in the pilot seat and, after glancing over the dials and data digest, he thanked Lady with a smile for a job well done on readying the ship to the next flight. Erika showed up on the bridge too and he noted she looked much more healthy this time. Taffer sent an EGO message to Amber and Erika herself, approving their efforts on healing her disease. When Belle showed up as well and spat out her tirade on how her humane methods are not useful to the team and she wants to resign her membership, he listened it without saying a word. Then she ran away, and Atticus followed her seemingly upset on her reaction to his words. Taffer shrugged and turned to Lady. "Looks everything is going back to normal", he surmised sarcastically, "I've already started to worry if I entered the wrong door. Now let's turn this insane asylum into a flying insane asylum anyway." The ship took off softly and started to climb, gaining altitude enough to fly over the mountain chain surrounding Defiance. Taffer checked the weather on radar and found out to his pleasure that the sky was clear over Lincoln where he planned to connect the Network to transfer his message to Askaru. When they approached close enough to receive signals from the Lincoln communication relay, Taffer called Lexy with a mischievous smile and a wink. "Hey Lexy, how about playing pirates a little?" and seeing sparkles flashing in the girl's eyes he continued, "Well, first of all, we need a safe harbor. Please allocate some part of your memory to be allocated solely for our little game so that nothing which happens in it could affect any of our system. Good. Now I'll show you some address of a network which is hidden from everyone but can be found if you know where to look and how to contact it." As Em Dash transferred to Lexy the address and the connection protocol, a node appeared on the screen, which showed some other nodes connected to it and to each other. "This part of the network consists of different machines connected with each other and holding encrypted information about each other without the need of any coordination from gateways and name servers. Some of those machines are connected to it because their owners wanted them to, an some of them… well, I guess their owners had just overlooked what their computers do during their free time.  As you may see, anyone can do almost anything in this part of network without much risk of being caught, so we have to be very careful and vigilant when we connect to it. Everything we download from it should go to our "safe harbor" for extensive examination and testing before we could acknowledge it's safe for us to use. But now we are here not for fishing something from it. We'll drop some message in a bottle for my friend to read when enters it too. Em Dash is transferring it to our safe harbor right now. It is encrypted with the code only I and he know. It will be store in many nodes like any other information on this network. The message contains the keyword by which it can be identified, so one he's on the network, all he needs to do is to search for this keyword and download it once it's found." The message went off to the node and Taffer and Lexy watched it copied itself and how copies were traveling from one node to another until some of them disappeared in the "distance". "Well, now what is left for us to do is to connect to this network sometimes to see if there's a reply." Then he turned to Lady, saying "good piloting as always. Thank you for handling the routines while we're playing our digital games. It was important to inform those who keep Erika's children safe that we're coming and give them information on how to contact us in case they need immediate help. Now I can fully get on my shift by the controls and you can take some rest if you want to. I'll call you if I need your help, but it looks like the sky is clear throughout our remaining way". |
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