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Post by Belle Starr on May 24, 2015 14:16:13 GMT
"Lunch is a wonderful idea!" Belle said to Volo, going to the canteen and happily chatting with him about anything except the main issue on her mind. After the meal, she excused herself, walking alone to her quarters. When she entered, she sat in a chair across from her unmade bed, staring at it. After a few minutes she began to clean her weapons while contacting Alfred, her EGO psyche. "Alfred please contact housekeeping, and ask them nicely to clean up this dump after I leave my quarters! Also, please contact Law Keeper Cooper and Ara Shondu to set up appointments to talk with them, and get any recent E-Rep reports on Grid activity in the Bay Area! Set up appointments with Dr. Von Eschen too, daily or weekly, whatever he thinks necessary, for me as well! If he is still scared of me, see if he can refer me to someone else, maybe Volo! Finally, please contact Atticus about setting up a confab ASAP, but at his convenience! I have some crow to eat and need to get back in the loop on what's going on hereabouts!" As she continued cleaning her SMG, she again stared at her soiled bed with sad blue eyes, thinking, "I'm already having trouble remembering Vo's face." A single tear trickled down her pale freckled cheek as she continued to polish her gun reflexively, not even noticing that she was cleaning the same parts over and over again.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 24, 2015 16:18:41 GMT
Volodja sat in Wolfram's office, accompanied by Di. Only other living creature in vicinity was Erika Widowmaker, still providing data bases with her memories about Cael and Kara.
"Well Di. I am not almighty after all," said Volodja. "At least it's good to know that I am still a ordinary human with limited powers. Could not help Belle completely and that is really a shame. But failing reduces my pride about my skills at least, so something useful came out from this."
"I am not sure, Volo," replied their new assistant. "Maybe your words and deeds have delayed influence. We can't expect immediate results all the time. Besides. Sophie filled me in with your work here so far and I will say that you have managed to handle people's problems quite effectively, so no need to feel bad about anything. You know something. I read medical records of our personnel, but I could not find yours anywhere."
"That's because I prefer to be a man without a past," grinned Volodja. "Didn't pack files concerning me into my suitcase when I travelled here and you can't find anything about me even in VBI data base, because one of my friends there was kind enough to erase information considering my modest person. He was a really good guy, I must say. Thanks to him I have Sophie as my EGO psyche. Some day I may tell you that story."
"Really? It can be intriguing," said Di to him and smile appeared to her attractive virtual face. "After all Sophie is my "mother", as long as I understand. She is responsible for creating me as I am."
"True," replied Volodja. "Sophie is very talented girl and really decent one. Unlike her host." And Volodja grinned again when he poured himself some brandy waiting Wolfram to return. "Just a beginning of the long path," he thought. "Long and narrow and hard path, but challenges are always good. Especially when you beat them." He smelled golden liquid and then tasted it.
______________________
In the same time Wolfram von Eschen smelled and tasted pervach (literally it means "the first one") - first distil result as Volodja explained to him, adding that it has highest quality, because pure alcohol evaporates at the beginning of the process, but impurities do not, but Volodja warned him that over time impurities start to evaporate as well, thus making the rest of the batch not as clean as first bottles, although Wolfram knew that already from his experience. But Volodja was right - pervach didn't almost smell at all and was almost tasteless. Soon he started to smell stronger odour of the booze, but he kept filling bottles, because desperate man can't afford to be a waster. And it was just a test run of his little factory, to see that everything goes smoothly. Soon he is able to create more of his famous aqua vitae and use hos own recipe, instead of borrowing ideas from other people.
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Post by Belle Starr on May 24, 2015 19:50:45 GMT
Tommasino said, "Of course. All business must be made in spirit of mutual respect. Va bene, la ringrazio della sua risposta e saremo attenti a quello che seguirà ("Thank you, therefore, for your answer and we look forward to seeing what happens next"). I might find something to compensate the trouble of that man could have. Speaking of respect, Marcel. I would be grateful if our beautiful Lena would stop calling me Tommie. I am not mind about using familiarities, but only when it happens in famiglia." "Tommie, Tommie, Tommie," Said Lena with a smile, "You know you'll always be Tommie to me! You should know you can't control a sociopath - or am I psychopath? - I forget which, Tommie!" Lena rolled her long lashed sky blue eyes as she placed one long manicured forefinger to the side of her lush lips, then she replied, still with a sinister smile on her chalk white face, "You know what you can do to stop me, Tommie, like you tried after the first time I called you Tommie so long ago! Did they ever find all the pieces of those three boys you sent after me last time you tried to teach me respect Tommie? Tommie, you know I'm the very best thief you have, bar none, so quit being all so high and mighty! You love me and you know it, Tommie!" With that, and before anyone could stop her, Lena kissed Tommasino hard on his cheek, then wetly licked his ear as he felt her open pocket knife blade against his crotch. She drew away with a hop, smiling again as she made a big production of closing the blade of her pocket knife, then skipping to the car before getting in the passenger seat. Marcel came to the car shortly after, glaring at her for her behavior towards a made man. Lena saw his expression and smirked, her sky blue eyes going wide as she threw up her chalk white hands, exclaiming, "So I have a problem with authority figures! So sue me! Or kill me! Or fuck me! Your choice! I got to be me!" As he drove the car from The Fork, Marcel realized that the genuine smile on Lena's face when they arrived wasn't because she was happy to see a friend, but because of the adrenalin rush she knew she'd get baiting the bear in its den, and that she might be more to handle than he first surmised.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on May 24, 2015 20:04:59 GMT
"So many options to choose between," said Marcel. "I think I let you choose what I will do with you, since you have problems with authority and every decision I make will be disputed by you." He was an authoritarian by nature, but working together unites people and in some cases one must be the democrat in it's ancient meaning, so at moment Marcel was "so, what do you think about it, guys" type of leader par excellence. You cant tame the shrew, but you can lead one into suitable direction when you have skills for that. From beginning of times man has dealt with different powers of the nature, but that seemed to be easy task compared with obtaining control over Lena, but Marcel was not afraid of challenges. They brought excitement into his life, so all he did was grinning while part of him thought about his chances getting stabbed by her. But he was not too worried. After all - he could get hit by a falling meteorite while he is going to an outhouse in this surreal place world had become to, so having a knife between his ribs would be at least familiar way to go. At least he will die with a smile on his face. Besides - citoyen Jean-Paul Marat went exactly that way, although Marcel doubted that any Jacques-Louis David will immortalise that moment in paint, but maybe some écrivain will make him to be a hero of his writings. Two things made him feel safer - first he was not exactly L'Ami du peuple, and second - there was not a single bathtub around. And third - he can expect anything from Lena, knowing that she is very capable to do anything. And fourth - he can catch first aircraft heading back to Europe and leave this crazy country and its lunatic inhabitants.
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Post by Belle Starr on May 24, 2015 20:47:26 GMT
"So many options to choose between," said Marcel. "I think I let you choose what I will do with you, since you have problems with authority and every decision I make will be disputed by you." Lena stared with expressionless sky blue eyes out the car's window as the dull gray landscape of the San Francisco wasteland sped by for some time before answering, "No Boss, I won't dispute you. I... like you. You're not like most bosses, you ask my opinion, you take my ideas seriously, and you call me partner, even though we're not, because you ARE the boss! Still, you respect me, or sure fake it well, and don't just treat me like some mindless bimbo. I can appreciate that, because I don't get it much - never have." Lena watched the scenery continue to go by, her eyes focusing on the grey mountains in the distance, before continuing, "You know, when I was a child prostitute, then later a teenage robber, cat burglar, and car thief in Lima, I had a lot of bosses! They were all like Tommie boy, wanting respect from me, but never willing to earn it or give me any for myself when I did good. Governor Skarr was the same way when I spied for him and the Collective. Erika was different, a bit cold, but always commending me when I did an excellent job, but I was never really working for her - just pretend working for her while I was undercover, so that didn't count. You're different, or so until you prove me wrong, which you'll probably will do soon. Anyway, until you do, I'll enjoy it." Lena stared unblinking at the bleak scenery, asking herself why she was such a chatterbox around Marcel. She never talked so much to anyone, particularly about herself. Knowledge was power to her, and she never wanted to give anyone that power over her, so she was confused about why she so willingly gave it to Marcel. Lena didn't worry about it, because that wasn't in her nature, but she was prepared when he would inevitably use his knowledge of her against her. "That," Lena thought to herself, "Is a sure thing!"
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on May 24, 2015 21:05:34 GMT
"If you don't mind Lena, then we better keep our part of the deal with Tommasino," said Marcel. "Unfortunately we need him at moment. And if he is reasonable businessman then he forgets all tiny insults and misunderstandings which may occur during business negotiations. We need positive reputation at moment. It's essential for our existence and future expansion. After all - you want your real estate in Lima and I have always dreamed about my own little island as I told you. And that means passing phase of kissing Tommasino's...ring until we grow bigger. But may I ask you to do something? Like being a bit diplomatic, because our steel fist must be covered with soft velvet glove, so we could hit them hard in a moment when they least expect it. I will let yourself to decide about that actually."
If Lena can play along then they both could achieve their purposes. She has great potential. And Marcel felt suddenly flattered, because former snow queen spoke openly with him. It was....most unusual and most useful, because Marcel was used to work with people who kept everything to themselves. And now Lena told him truth (supposedly) and most of all, she liked to work with him. That was promising. Really promising about future development of their relations. Maybe he will reveal something about himself too to her when time is right. After all - only human being who was ever interested about him and his stories was his old rival Volodja. And he joined to a group of idealist fools like himself so Marcel hadn't anyone to talk with any more. Lena could be a good listener and definitely a good looking listener. And if they will get along then they will shake up this unfortunate continent together.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on May 24, 2015 21:31:51 GMT
Erika Widowmaker finished transcribing her positive memories of her children, trying to concentrate on the more recent ones of them as adults rather than the ones of them as children as mothers are wont to do. She remembered with pride Cael as a distinguished senator and orator in the Votan Collective's Senate. She remembered with joy Kara as a mother nurturing children of her own, a much better mother than Erika thought she was being absentee so often on Collective business. When Erika was finished and told Wolfram, she got an EGO message from Belle Starr asking for a meeting in the conference room with Atticus Batman and Volodja Uljanov when it was convenient for them all. After coordinating the meeting time with the rest of the command triumvirate, she sat and waited in Wolfram's office, although Erika didn't know what to expect there or in the meeting planned later.
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 24, 2015 22:12:33 GMT
I helped Wolfram with his still work but duty called, literally. SO I had to leave before I could taste his results. As I head to see what Chris needs at the location that his psych EGO psyche, Psycho Pete sent me, I get Alfred's message from Belle. I respond right away. "Alfred I have a something to handle but can meet with Belle in 20 at the location of her choosing."
I get to the sewer entrance that Chris is at and we go over his security measures. He also shows me a hidden tunnle he discovered in the sewers that goes up into the laundry room. I help him and his team with that and go ever what I want done security wise for every tunnel they find. Then I head to the War Room. When I get there Lady is smiling and sitting in my chair, at my desk, as she hands me a bottle of my Rum and says simply. "Drink."
I kiss her gently, then sit next to her in the smaller chair at my desk, her chair. I talk to her quietly about our "family day" yesterday, as I drink my rum as she wants and enjoy the company, while I wait to hear where Belle wants to meet since the 20 minutes I mentioned to Alfred is over.
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Post by Belle Starr on May 24, 2015 22:29:12 GMT
"If you don't mind Lena, then we better keep our part of the deal with Tommasino," said Marcel. "Unfortunately we need him at moment. And if he is reasonable businessman then he forgets all tiny insults and misunderstandings which may occur during business negotiations. We need positive reputation at moment. It's essential for our existence and future expansion. After all - you want your real estate in Lima and I have always dreamed about my own little island as I told you. And that means passing phase of kissing Tommasino's...ring until we grow bigger. But may I ask you to do something? Like being a bit diplomatic, because our steel fist must be covered with soft velvet glove, so we could hit them hard in a moment when they least expect it. I will let yourself to decide about that actually."
Lena frowned as she looked out the window as they traveled, feeling the hard bumps of the broken road under the car wheels and the harsh admonition of Marcel's words, at least as her mind filtered both. He wanted her to be diplomatic, but in her mind, she was being just that! If diplomacy was "the art of dealing with people in a sensitive and effective way," as she had read, putting a knife to Tommie-boy's nuts was both sensitive and effective. Tommie could feel the knife against his groin and now knew for sure that Lena was a person to be respected and even feared, so he better not mess with her! Lena had been messed with most of her life and to coin a phrase, she was mad as hell and wasn't going to take it anymore. Still, Marcel was the man paying the bills, so maybe he had a different idea as to what diplomacy was, and she... liked him, so maybe should follow his lead.
Lena commented as she turned to look at him with a quizzical look in her sky blue eyes and a hesitant smile on her lush white lips, "Whatever you say Boss! All things considered, my knife to his balls was maybe a tiny bit over the top!"
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on May 24, 2015 23:26:24 GMT
Erika Widowmaker, Volodja Uljanov and Atticus Batman were watched Belle Starr standing at the podium in the base conference room looking resplendent in her freshly polished Liberty Trooper armor. The conference room wasn't used much, the team usually meeting in either the War Room or the canteen, but Belle wanted privacy with just the Command Triumvirate hearing her words, so they respected her wishes. Belle cleared her throat before beginning, a tactic to gain time to collect her thoughts that she had learned in the VBI Board of Directors' meetings, then began by apologizing, "First, I want to say I'm sorry for my behavior of late! I haven't quite recovered from Vo's death - not an excuse, just an explanation! I'm going to meet periodically with Dr. Von Eschen about that, and hopefully he and I can get me over my grief issues! However, that's not the main reason I asked for this meeting, although it's an important one! I know I'm not part of the team command structure anymore, but I like to think that my advice can be useful from time to time so here goes: I concede to Atticus that Black Ops may be needed from time, whether I like it or not, but I think there is a un-needed risk of tainting our reputation in the community if we are directly connected to them. It is equally risky if Atticus just goes about Black Ops all by his his lonesome. Atticus, its just too dangerous to do such things without backup, and whether you like it or not, you are the face of the team to the authorities and they are watching you! You are not invulnerable Atticus, and you just got your pardon, and you have a family to think of now!" Belle paused for what she said to sink in, then continued, "Here is what I propose: That if the Triumvirate truly believes Black Ops is needed, we contract it out to an independent contractor, and take measures so that such operations are not be traced back to ourselves! I hate deception, I hate Black Ops, I hate the lack of ethics in both, but if y'all decide its necessary, please don't let such operations destroy the good will I helped y'all to build here for the team!" Erika turned her large jade eyes to the two men sitting at the conference table with her. To her, Belle made a good point, but Erika wasn't sure how the other two thirds of the Triumvirate might feel about it.
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Post by Lady Christianna on May 25, 2015 3:37:12 GMT
Lady Christianna was so tired after seeing Atticus in the War Room that she went back to her quarters, falling into her bed and fast asleep. Sandy, Lady's EGO psyche, couldn't figure what was causing the lack of energy. Having twins in the womb was a drain, but she didn't figure it was that much of a drain. She did an EGO diagnostics test, checking Lady's vitals, and still couldn't come up with what was the problem. Sandy was sitting in her bedroom within Lady's EGO pondering on the problem. She had decided to copy her bedroom from her parents house in Miami before the Pale Wars, so was sitting on a soft comfortable bed instead of the army cot she had there before. The bed was covered with various stuffed animals, and there were bookshelves lined with athletic competition awards, along with a few textbooks. A computer on a desk with an office chair completed the scene, with piles of video game boxes piled around both. Her parents house was on the beach, so she could hear the waves of the Atlantic Ocean, and had a beautiful view out her bedroom window. However, suddenly the sun stopped shining outside her window, and a growing darkness crept through her window. "You can't figure out what's wrong with Mommy because it's your fault Aunt Sandy! You take too much energy! Bye-Bye Sandy!" Said a childish voice in the darkness of Lady's EGO. Sandy looked hard into the darkness with narrowed blue eyes until she heard the distinct snap of fingers as she blinked out of existence, not even having time to say a word or even scream.
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 25, 2015 4:30:11 GMT
My aura and eyes glwo bright blue as my emotions surface. "You hate the lack of ethics in black ops?! You may not have realized it, but I have no ethics! So why the hell am I even here if you don't trust those lacking ethics?! I still don't even see why a team of do-gooders and heroes with strong morals and ethics wants me here, or why I keep gettting trusted with command decisions. You beleive that the law should be left to lawkeepers. I know justice must be taken into one's own hands! I am no hero! Hell if you knew some of the things I have done before settling back in Paradise, you would be the first to turn me in or kill me!
Beleive me there is plenty that those files from VBI, E-rep, or V.C., about both myself and Kabule, do not cover. Things not even in Kabule's secret Inquisition files that I KNOW Erika has a copy of, for they happened AFTER I came into the light and took control of this body. Things about me that will never be tied to me unless I want it out in the open. I also know that you hate secrets among family and co-workers, yet I keep them because you would hate to know just what kind of demon I am. However I love and respect you, so if you really want to know some of those darker secrets, then just say so. However once that truth is learned, it can never be unlearned. So you better be damn sure that you want to know it, or be left in blissful ignorance! Dak all I will be able to say in my defense is that those acts were done to others atleast almost as bad as me, and I have not done that for awhile. I can not remember when I last did something like that, but do know it was atleast a year ago. Year long comas do prevent a lot of things from happening."
I pull out my personal datapad and enter a a code to open a secured folder containing news articles from around the world, then slide the pad to Belle face down, so only she can see, if she decides to look. " Your call Belle. Look and end your ignorance to see the true monster beneath this mask, or don't look and live forever in ignorant bliss."
As for Black Ops, just what independent contractors do you propose?! There is not any I would trust to do missions for us. Hell I don't even trust myself most days!
You are right about one thing. I do have a family to think about now. Something I never though possible for something such as myself. That is why I will do what it takes to keep them and all of you safe, even if that means doing things that you do not and never will approve of. I am NOT a being of the goodside like you! As such I will never be able to just sit back and let others protect myself or my family.
Be honest with yourself Belle. The only reason you brought me in and Taffer and his predecessor both allowed it is because of my ablitity to kill and not give a damn about it, and I was to be used as YOUR executioner if your Volge took complete control! So obviously none of you had a problem with my darkside when it would be to this team's benefit!
If it is best for everyone here, especially my family, then I will try to keep my love of violence contained to a holo-room. However, I am not stupid. I know all of you fear what I am capable of, and distrust me. I must live with that, but it seems to bug all of you. We all know that Lady must even fear something about me subconsciously, since all the memories she tried to block out where all the ones containing me. That however hurts, and I have never cared what one thought of me before, since I know what a moster I am, and never thought I would. So just tell me how you really feel about me. If the 3 of you want me gone, then I will leave. I will cut off contact with everyone including Lady Christianna, if you feel it is best.
However everytime any of you hear a mysterious noise, see a shadow, or briefly feel an odd presence, KNOW that it will be me, making sure that my family is protected. I am not an angel and never will be. I am a dakking demon. I do not and can not deny it nor will I ever try. I can NOT be the hero of light that you want me to be. I will always be a creature of darkness that does what he can to live in the light to be with the ones he loves and cares about. I can even be a do-gooder, however I can NOT forsake the darkness that brought me life, no matter how much I try. So if you want me here then you must accept that I can not and will not always be able to do things the "good" way! I will never be able to change from a daemon of darkness and corruption to a hero of light like you want. So perhaps we can meet in the middle? I will strive to atleast be a Shadow Warrior."
My blue aura grows and brightens more as I say, "However there will be times that I will not even try to fight my demonic rage. Like for instance, if Lena Marr or that other assassin EVER try to hurt any of you again, there will NOT be enough left of them for anybody to identify in any way what so ever!" I hit the table and my aura and eyes flash a very bright white as I continue, " I showed them mercy ONCE. THEY WILL NOT SEE IT AGAIN!! YOU CAN COUNT ON THAT!!!" Just as quickly I manage to fight back my raging anger, and my aura and eyes lower back to blue.
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Post by Belle Starr on May 25, 2015 8:21:50 GMT
Belle Starr narrowed her blue diamond eyes and tilted her pretty blond freckled head as she stood at the lectern in the conference room considering what Atticus said. Her delicate hand swooped in grabbing his data pad off the table like a predatory bird grabs a field mouse, then she quickly scanned the articles contained within, scrolling down with her other hand. Her pale face grew paler as she read of the atrocities her friend had committed; most of those on this continent she knew about, but those overseas she did not at all. However location of the crimes didn't matter, as it was the sheer magnitude that shocked her. Still, Belle loved Atticus like the brother she never had and she consoled herself with the fact the none of the events were recent. Belle bit her lower lip to keep it from quivering as she tossed the data pad back to him, saying forcefully, "I don't give a fig what you did in the past, but I am concerned as to what you might do in the future: These Black Ops that you may think necessary to protect us when they aren't really, and which will ruin the teams reputation and what we are trying to do here!" Belle glanced to Volodja and smiled, then turned with a serious look to Atticus and stated, "A wise man told me very recently that you can't live in the past or you sacrifice the future! I care about what you do tomorrow, not what you did yesterday; not only for you, but for Lady and your unborn children! You forget we met when I was sent by the authorities to arrest you for your past crimes, and I met a violent and powerful criminal, but one who had the potential for good, for in the past he helped a skinny teenage girl as well as others get off a burning stratocarrier. I was that girl, so I knew for a fact that you could do good! Then y'all up and proved it to me in a big way, sacrificing yourself for both me and the innocents of the Bay Area in the Volge incursion months ago! Far as I know, you haven't done an evil act since then, and nothing you showed me on that data pad says different!" Belle moved over and sat next to Atticus, stretching her long legs under the table as she tented her slim pale fingers on the table staring at them with wide blue eyes as she said, "I know most of you consider me a naïve country bumpkin, an idealist with no grasp of what the world really is and has become since the Pale Wars! Its probably true! Before coming to the Bay Area, I had never been further west then the Mississippi River and had never been out of the country until the team went to South America. All of you are world travelers! I lived a pretty protected and cloistered life too, first in N'Awlins by Papa Boudreaux, then later in New York by Uncle Greenstreet, although the latter did it for nefarious reasons! Still, I've seen enough of the post apocalyptic world to know that its a dangerous place for innocents and that there are a lot of evil people just waiting to prey on them, but there are also a lot of good people out there trying to help, like Ara Shondu, Captain Grant, and although I know you don't like him Atticus, even Law Keeper Cooper. Some of the good people died trying to fight the evil ones, like Joshua Nolan and... Vo Kshaa!" Belle turned to Atticus staring at him intently with her big blue eyes as she gently grabbed one of his large red clay hands in both her pale ones as she said, "I know I'm a dreamer! I dream of a world where your children if not mine can go outside and play, safe from vicious hellbugs and homicidal raiders! I dream of a world where miners and ranchers can travel to work and home again without fear of being attacked by crazed cyborgs or hungry Grid! I dream of making the world a better place, but is that so bad? This team evolved into a force for good, but it didn't start that way! I started the team to get a Viscera's head, believe it or not, just to try and discover another EGO power for my own greed and advancement! Since then this team has saved the world at least a half dozen times from evil forces! Everything and everyone can start badly but turn good, that's all I'm saying!" Belle released Atticus' hand and stood up with a sigh, "Atticus, I love you! Not like I loved Vo, but with the same intensity! I love all of you in this room like the family I never truly had! However, if we don't have ethics, if we don't have moral principles that govern a person's or group's behavior, then just what the heck are we fighting for? If all the team is striving for is merely the survival of it's members, then we have already failed!" Belle sashayed to the door of the conference room, one slim hand on the doorknob, but then turned and smiled warmly, "This is y'all's decision as the Team Command Triumvirate, I've got my own job trying to return VBI back into the ethical and public serving organization it was before the Pale Wars, so my hands are full! I just appreciate y'all letting me have my say! Whatever y'all decide, I'll still consider you to be my friends and family, and I'll help you anyway I can! However, if you decide to do Black Ops - and I hope you don't - please realize the ramifications! Once you start down that slippery slope from light to dark, it's hard to come back into the sun again!" Belle nodded her head to the Triumvirate and left for the base mess hall having said her piece. She hoped they would stay away from Black Ops in the future, but it was up to them not her, which is why she left them alone to discuss it. She just knew that if the team did engage in Black Ops, she would not do it with them. ***** Meanwhile Alfred, Belle's EGO psych and her mad scientist father that gene spliced her with a Volge, worked in his white lab in the white cottage in the Vast White of Belle's EGO device. He almost had the formula down for self-cleaning dishes. All dirt and grime would just slide off it's frictionless surface, if he could only figure out how to keep the food from sliding off too, not to mention the difficulty in merely holding on to such a dish when you picked it up. "Maybe little sucker pads... " Thought Alfred to himself. Suddenly darkness flowed into Alfred's lab like a flash flood and he heard a child's voice, say, "By golly, you sure use a lot of energy! Can't have that! Not good for Aunt Belle!" "What th - ," Alfred exclaimed just before he blinked out of existence. Electric blue eyes crackled as they watched MOM asleep in her bed in Belle's EGO, but the child's voice only said before the darkness disappeared, "You're hardly using any energy at all! You can stay!"
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Post by Atticus Batman on May 25, 2015 11:17:47 GMT
As I watch Bell leave I look down at the articles on my datapad, then re-encrypt and close it before the others see what's on it. Then I look at Erika and Volo. "A wise man? Damn wise men really know how to take away all the dakking fun! Damn that woman and her principles! My morals are simple. I have not harmed what I deem an innocent in a few years. Now when it comes to this base, and all of it's personel and residents, I will protect it at all costs. I do not care about changing the world. I just care about protecting my part of it and keeping everyone under my violent watch secure from harm, and hopefully doing so without interfering with their happiness.
Let the more moral and good, such as yourselves, worry about changing the dakking world like Belle wants. But tell me again. Why is it that I am the one in this dakking chair and not her? If changing everything for the better without doing an evil deed on the way is so damned inportant, then why does she want a violent killer who has no compunctions about doing evil deeds on this triad, or triumvirate as she calls it? She makes no dakking sense!
I keep getting told I need to think as a team mate as well as a family man, perhaps that is true. My offtime yesterday showed me how important all of my family here is. So as much as I hate to say this; I reluctantly vote against Black Ops for the time being, but reserve the right to bring it up again at a later time. However I still vote YES to maiming or killing those that threaten harm to, my family, which includes this base and all it's residents. I may show them mercy once. However it will NOT happen a second time, shall they try again!
We also need to upgrade our medical equipment and security systems. As well as hiremore security staff. We seem to be losing them left and right. Either to injuries, or because they prove incapable of their position in security, or because they turn out to be a spy or assasin or both. I am sure we need more staff in several departments actually. Jose Jemenez has created some self-defense and combat courses at my request. He will teach them 3 days a week, and I would like to make it mandatory that all base residents take atleast a basic self-defense class. Erika, it would also be nice if we got a woman to teach a women's self-defense class, as I know there are several female personel and residents that would prefer they be taught by a woman instead of a violent man. Perhaps you, or Belle could do so; or you, Belle, or Volodja could recommend somebody who can? If not then I suppose I will create a holographic instructor to do so."
I then lean back and await their responses, as I wonder why i am actually opposing to Black Ops when I was the one who originally brought it up. My dakking life sure has taken a drastic turn in the last 3 months!
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on May 25, 2015 11:50:54 GMT
Volodja observed and absorbed everything what was said and done and even left unsaid, and used time to make conclusions about Black Ops as their future perspective. He did not considered them to be part of necessary evil, but he knew that borders between righteous killing and unrighteous one were vague and result was always the same. A corpse or pile of corpses. But still he did not want to participate in them and he wanted to avoid even planning them unless it becomes a necessity. Besides - according to principles of democracy, their decision didn't had to be unanimous, so he won't go against his conscious by telling his negative opinion about Black Ops. Others can decide otherwise, but Atticus already made his decision.
He said with his calm voice: "If you don't mind then I will be objecting the whole idea. During my wandering years I have seen too many killing and too many lives are taken by these hands, holding the coffee cup at moment. Every one of them were justified, at least from my point of view, but killing just for killing is not my kind of game. That's why I have to say "no" about Black Ops, but I do it after consideration and hesitation. Belle told us about ethical and public aspects about them. I agree with her and will add that attack is not always the best form of defence. We don't have enough resources to protect ourselves if we can't cover our traces, leading to us, after performing several Black Ops and I seriously doubt that we are capable of doing that. Blowing up our cower means turning dark forces against us even more than they are right now and also it might bring along situation when everyone else turn their backs on us, because we crossed the border between light and dark. Being independent and self sufficient is positive thing, but being alone is fatal to us. At moment we need as many friends we can have, but Black Ops repel our possible supporters away. Once again Belle is right. If we risk with starting Black Ops today then we may not see tomorrow coming. Somehow I can't get rid of feeling that I have already said or thought that, but that can mean only one thing - I am damn certain about myself and my attitude towards the Black Ops."
Volodja thought about what Atticus had said and added: "About our self defence instructor for women....If Belle and Erika refuse, then I know just perfect holo girl for that. And this time I don't mean Sandy, but my lovely Sophie, who is well trained and quite good with using the bō. Poor girl is longing for being and feeling useful, so I would like to give her a chance. But only in one condition - Broderick trains with Jose, because last thing we need is a horny teenager circling around her."
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