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Post by Vo Kshaa on Jul 30, 2015 20:02:14 GMT
Vo listened to Belle, Fiel, Lu and Volodja and felt he should say something.
"Belle, sending you or two of you off to Esthete would be the same as it was with me. The team will be weakened, and you'll be held hostage with Esthete demanding whatever it wants from us threatening your lives. I think all negotiations should be held on a neutral territory with all participants properly guarded. I like Lu's idea of having the VBI territory underground. Since we already had the drones with military program roaming around these grounds, VBI can send a cease and desist letter right away based on those evidences without any additional papers signed or property rights transfer. Besides, Fiel, you can easily sign a personal contract to become a VBI employer especially with your project of new shield-breaking synergy for weapons The thing is, we still have to find out where exactly is VBI compound located related to the underground territory. By the way Zack, have you found anything about that crystal cave we were inspecting recently?"
"Well, not too much. The territory above is mostly inaccessible and marked as "under construction". It was there for years like that. From the street view it looks like a large building behind a fence standing adjacent to a crystal mountain right at the edge of the city's border. Some non-finished abandoned storage depot or something."
"Actually, I found something interesting", Zic voiced, making Zack look at her with surprise. "It does look like a simple storage, but at the same time it has several broadband fiber optic channels connected to it and most of the goods transferred there were computer and radio equipment as well as power backup batteries and power generator parts."
Vo smiled and summed it up, "So, we have some building at outskirts of the city but protected by the mountain that just screams "I'm a Hidden Data Center!" and if this Doc person in my EGO is the creator of the Esthete, although amnesiac, but he just happened to remember he was planning to install some cooling system right below it, I think we can just knock at the door of some really aesthetic person or at least visit his summer residence. So, the only question that still stands is the borders of the VBI territory then."
"Not so difficult question", Zack said proudly and started the holographic projector, showing the three-dimensional model of the village. "I've did it as a rendering test, but all dimensions are correct, so all we need is the compound coordinates. Miss Starr, could you provide them please?"
Once Zack received the coordinates, a red dot appeared above the map and a vertical line was drawn down to the model of the village.
"The infirmary and nursery buildings", Zack pointed at the results of his drawing, "Right where those military drones were reeled in while searching for no-ID people and where Mr. Vo had to fight them. I think Esthete will have a long time apologizing for intrusion."
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Post by Belle Starr on Jul 30, 2015 20:06:13 GMT
Belle thought for a second, then remarked, "Okay, I was thinking squatters' rights under the common law, because your village looks like its been there awhile, but if the village is under the VBI complex topside, that's an even stronger case, and I can change the contract into an employment one, with you Fiel as their union representative. I still think I should negotiate with Esthete alone, but whoever goes needs to go unarmed, except for their wits and their EGOs. However, Vo's idea has the most merit, so lets see if we can find neutral territory to meet, but if Estette won't agree, then into the lion's den I'm going, preferably alone! Now let me send a sit-rep to Trevor Tyler of VBI's Board of Directors, so he can grease the wheels as to this deal so to speak!"
Then Belle added with a grim look on her pretty face, "But sooner or later we are going to have to have a long term solution to the problem of Esthete... and one that won't leave Red Deer defenseless!"
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Post by Taffer on Jul 30, 2015 22:07:31 GMT
Taffer sneaked behind Lena and Marcel with Frond under his jacket when something caught his eye. What he noted was noted Gil's body. He could not help but sneak closer and examine him. Surprisingly he was still alive and his torn clothes, dirty hair, empty guns and a scar from a charge blade created a perfect image of him fighting to the end. Taffer could not help but smile at Lena's idea as he continued up the stairs to the upper part of the building and then to the street leading to the park. Cloaked, he sneaked to the next building.
"Like in good old days, caught in a crossfire", Taffer muttered either to Frond or to himself. Once he reached the building, he sneaked around it and darted forward, only to be caught by a double-shot of someone Ranger Sniper. First bullet made his shield go down; second one hit his leg, making him stumble and fall. He managed to fall on his right shoulder to prevent the infant to be injured and rolled under the remains of some stairway, trying to stop the bleeding with his belt.
"Amateurs", cursed Taffer, "Can't maintain their weapon properly, can't aim, can't handle the recoil and can't understand that cloak means invisible."
"Perforation wound, regeneration process on maximum using the shield as well, I'll get you running again in a minute", Em Dash informed.
"It's okay, just taking some rest before the final run", Taffer whispered to Frond, trying to calm him down more with the tone of his voice rather with meaning of the words. The child was still about to cry, so Taffer put off his glove and tried to tickle the infant's face with his bare finger, which he immediately bit with all enthusiasm. Surprisingly, it made the pain in Taffer's leg feel less intense.
"Could you be even more helpful", Taffer whispered kindly. Then he reactivated his cloak, took a stick found nearby to help with his movement and sneaked carefully to the vehicles. He handed the child to Erika too, saying "Alive, healthy and kicking. Or rather biting. I had some misstep, so… can shoot but can't drive. So I guess we're ready to move once Atticus returns or gives us a command."
He also saw Sandy's injured but already almost healed hand and said nonchalantly, showing on his blood soaked trouser leg, "I'm starting to think they really don't like humans here."
Then he took a position close enough to vehicles to be able to quickly jump inside but not too close so that he wouldn't draw fire to them, and started to score headshots with his Ranger. He didn't try to impress anyone, but if anyone would watch him, they could see he often hit two heads with one trigger pull.
"Ah Lena, nice work on Gil's promotion arrangement by the way", he sent an EGO message to Lena.
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jul 30, 2015 22:51:17 GMT
If a Castithan can turn even whiter in complection, Lena Marr did so when she heard Taffer's message to her, thinking, "Shit! Shit! Shit! He KNOWS! Taffer knows, and now he is going to blackmail me! Shit! Shit! Shit!" Then sent an EGO message to him as she began shooting her detonator with it's bio nanos to cover their retreat, asking, "Okay, how much scrip do I have to pay for you to keep my uncharacteristic lack of professionalism secret? I've got a reputation as a psychotic killer to protect, you know!"
Meanwhile, Erika Widowmaker noticed the wound in Taffer's leg, so she pushed Sandy Bell into the back of the armored Durango with the terrified six year old, Marla, then handed the baby, Frond, to her, saying, "You're still healing, so you're elected as the care giver! Lock the door, protect the children, let your arm heal, and don't open up if you don't hear three knocks in rapid succession."
Erika locked the Durango's back door, then put a battlefield bandage on Taffer's leg as he continued sniping. Once finished with her duties as a medic, she began firing as well with her Piper assault rifle, hoping that Atticus would arrive soon and saying to all of them through their EGOs, "On Atticus' command, we leave; until then, fire for effect!"
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Post by Lady Christianna on Jul 30, 2015 23:26:25 GMT
"Why?" Asked Lady Christianna to the Master of Stealth.
"When you destroyed your mother, the Mistress of Judgement, you became the new Mistress," Explained Micor Newlo, a confused look on his face. "We Inquisitors came to assure your safety. When our spy told us of the Indogene finding information we have long been seeking here, that was an opportunity we could not pass up."
"Safe," Said Lady, her enigmatic smile in place, although her mind wondered when she killed her mother.
"What do you mean?" Asked the perplexed Master of Stealth."
"Safe here! Leave!" Ordered Lady, a cold look in her pink eyes.
"What?" exclained a surprised Newlo.
"Take your men and leave," Demanded Lady, "NOW!"
"Let me just download this information for the Inquisition," Began Newlo.
"Now means NOW!" Said Lady sternly, pouting as she glared.
"Yes Mistress," Said a nervous Newlo, who saluted again, then quickly signaled his companions to leave, laying down a red fireworks spike as he said, "Fire this from the top of your fortress when you wish us!"
With that the Inquisitors left Fortress Kshaa as fast as they came, leaving Lady to wonder in irritation, "What the fuck?"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jul 30, 2015 23:28:53 GMT
While doing my thing all over the battlefield and in the surrounding buildings and tunnels, I saw a lone sniper with a ranger aiming towards where my EGO radar had Taffer's location. I Lined up my bolter and fired but didn't manage to behead him with my one well-aimed shot until he got off his first shot, due to having to adjust for distance and wind. He also managed to squeeze off a second shot, as my bullet exploded his head. I saw Taffer's signal flicker for a second but it stayed strong, and after a few seconds it started moving again. I then moved back towards the rendezvous.
As I did so, my radar showed that Taffer had arrived at the location. Since my powers were currently on cool-down, I ran to get there as fast as I could, knowing most of my way was clear. I activated blur as soon as possible to get there faster. As I got there, two goons had come out holding SAWs in their hands near the team. They started to address the team, however all they managed to say was, "You bastards will pay for killing Aska..." Then both bodies hit the floor, just as Marcel and Erika spun to try to defend the team. As they turned, they saw that both bodies were already on the ground face down with a knife in each of their backs.
I retrieved my blades and said, "Looks like those two, were the ones to pay." I noticed Taffer's injury and said, "Sorry about the sniper back there. I am glad that my killing blow caused him to miss anything vital though. Fortunately for us, the sniper wasn't as good as you, Slipknot, Marcel or myself. It looks like, with the arrival of those two Durangos full of Slipknot's men, they have it handled here. So let's go, while they have the attention of Askaru's men. Erika and Sandy will go with Taffer and the children, in the Durango. Marcel and Lena with me. Taffer, the first team to the ship starts it up and prepares to provide the other team with cover fire. Slipknot is leading the way in his blue Durango to clear the path, then Taffer's group, then ours to protect their rear."
As we loaded up in the appropriate vehicles, Slipknot's team used explosives to blow up the vehicles blocking our way out of the area and clear the way for us. Then Slipknot drove up to us in his Durango. He nodded toward our exit then drove out of it. Erika quickly followed in our Durango. I jumped into the Raptor's cockpit, as Marcel hopped into it's turret, and I said, "Lena, in back and make sure you have that detonator ready. You may need to use it to slow down anybody that follows. Marcel, be on the look out for any snipers or other hidden attackers or traps on the way."
I then quickly pulled out of the park, following behind Erika as she followed Slipknot. Sure enough Lena had to deal with followers and Marcel started taking out snipers and traps with well-aimed shots. I saw on my radars that Slipknot's Durango had stopped at the edge of town and Erika's continued. Then my radar showed that Slipknot's Durango was now following Erika's team. I continued driving and avoiding the rockets and grenades shot at us from our stalkers. As we got near the location that Slipknot's vehicle had stopped at for a few minutes, I noticed Slipknot running towards us and slowed down long enough for him to jump onto the front of the Durango. As he managed to maneuver himself into the scouter's seat up front, I accelerated fast and stomped on the boost as I signaled Marcel and Lena, through EGO, to hold on tight, because knowing Slipknot he had just done something crazy.
As we boosted away, we could all clearly hear Slipknot yell, "For the Death Watch!" Then there was a huge explosion behind us, as remnants of an old forgotten building collapsed into the road, successfully stopping our current pursuers. As we got to the ship, Erika was guarding the area with a couple of Slipknot's men. Taffer was in the cargo hold and I told him to go get the ship ready for takeoff. He nodded and did so. Slipknot and two of his men helped me quickly load the vehicles, in the way Taffer had instructed, as Marcel and Lena helped Erika and the rest of Slipknot's men defend the ship from the few pursuers that managed to follow us, with Sandy keeping the children calm.
The ship was already preparing to takeoff as we finished. Erika, Marcel and Lena quickly entered the ship, once Taffer said we were taking off. Slipknot's men were already out, however he jumped out of the hanger and onto his feet on the ground as we lifted off. As I looked down at him kneeling where he landed, He flashed the old Earth peace symbol, as we took off. Something he always did when he departed ways with somebody he actually liked, respected or cared about in some way.
Kaj helped Vo out of the water, then listened to the team talking. He simply said, "I will protect innocents and the team. So I will go where you need me to. However we can not leave innocents defenseless against the trouble that we may have caused. So we must keep that from happening too."
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Jul 30, 2015 23:46:39 GMT
"I assume brother," Erika Widowmaker asked of Atticus Batman, "That we will abandon temporarily abandon our blood vendetta against Skarr. We have two wounded, three if you count Marla, which I do, and out foe is surely prepared for us by now, as we have lost the advantage of surprise. Even if it was concern for Marla alone, I would advise retreat, but the decesion is yours as team leader."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jul 31, 2015 0:22:07 GMT
As I closed the hangar door after returning Slipknot's sentiment, I noticed Erika still by my side and she started to talk to me.
"I assume brother," Erika Widowmaker asked of me, Atticus Batman, "That we will temporarily abandon our blood vendetta against Skarr. We have two wounded, three if you count Marla, which I do, and out foe is surely prepared for us by now, as we have lost the advantage of surprise. Even if it was concern for Marla alone, I would advise retreat, but the decision is yours as team leader."
I opened the lenses of my helmet so she could see that my eyes were glowing green, showing that I have temporarily found my emotional and power center, as I said calmly, "My darling sister. It seems that I have been in the light for far too long. For I feel our family's matters and current well-being are more important than vendettas, for now. Although I reserve the right to deny saying that later. So what we do now is simple." I then took her hand and led her to the common area, where Sandy is talking to Marla.
After we got into the common area, I picked up the baby, Frond, who bites at my gauntleted finger. I took off my helm and let him rub my masked face and see my slight smile. Next I put him in Erika's hands, as I said calmly but sternly, out loud where everyone on board could hear me, "Let's go home! We have wounded to take care of, children to return to their mother, and family to get reacquainted with." I glance at Marcel and Lena as I continue with, "Not to mention, debts for me to pay to our 'friends' for their help." |
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Post by Chase Lonehart on Jul 31, 2015 3:53:16 GMT
Chase couldn't tell what Belle had said from her yelling, but her hand gesture of waving upward was an indication that she wanted him to come up. He looked up at Belle.
"Sorry," was the only thing he could say.
"Don't worry," Belle told him. "At least it wasn't like last time."
Chase sort of froze for a moment.
"There was a last time?"
"Don't worry, you didn't intrude on me. I accidentally intruded on you and Iri," she told him. "In a rather... intimate moment."
He couldn't understand what she meant at first, but then it came to him.
"Oh," he replied. "Okay."
He got out of the water, giving him a chance to help anyone else to get out as well. Chase couldn't figure out what was weirder, the fact that she had seen him naked or the fact that he didn't remember it. He hung back, covering the rear of the group whenever they got moving again.
"More than likely, the fact that she saw you and Iri doing the horizontal mambo," McCoy piped up.
Not funny, McCoy.
He thought on it a little and realized that what he did was worse than her seeing him naked. He saw her emotionally naked, in a vulnerable spot, both her and Volodja. That had to be worse than seeing the outer skin that is typically hidden underneath clothing. It was seeing the realness of a person, and he had trespassed on that unknowingly. And then it occurred to him.
I wonder how Iri felt about that moment?
-----
Iri has removed the blade from Newlo's neck, allowing him and this croons to leave. Iri brought a stool over for the pregnant Lady to have a seat and rest on before heading over to Brody to attend his gunshot.
"I wouldn't have been shot if you hadn't egged him on," Brody accused her.
"Hey, I was stalling in hopes that there was someone else awake in the base. And, clearly, the stalling worked. The gunshot was just an unforeseen consequence."
She secured his wound, helping him up onto a stool himself.
"I hope that they were the only ones outside of this complex to know about the drug formula," Iri told Lady. "Maybe you're right about deleting it, but if we are going to do that, I'm going to look through all the notes, see if there are any names or locations that are related to it first. Even keeping the file time locked seems to be a problem on its own."
Iri got Lady a glass of water, knowing she may have been exhausted from moving to the lab.
"It's a good thing Chase wasn't here," she continued. "If he was, he would have more than likely gotten himself hurt or dead. I don't think I could handle that kind of loss a second time. Or, possibly worse."
"What could be possibly worse than being hurt or dying?" Lady asked.
Iri took a moment before responding.
"Becoming a cold-blooded murderer," Iri responded. "A terminal crazy. Believe me, I've seen my share in my time on this planet. And some of them were made through one bad day."
Lady took a moment to take a gulp of water before she cleared her throat to ask the following question.
"Would you have killed Newlo?"
Iri remained silent, unsure if she would have or not.
"I would have chosen the lesser of two evils," she finally replied.
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Post by Taffer on Jul 31, 2015 8:03:49 GMT
"Okay, how much scrip do I have to pay for you to keep my uncharacteristic lack of professionalism secret? I've got a reputation as a psychotic killer to protect, you know!", Lena sent to Taffer through her EGO. "Well, I didn't plan to blackmail you, but if you feel more comfortable that way, then… I think just not crossing our team will be enough to keep my mouth shut about it," he answered to her EGO, smiling with corners of his mouth. He thanked Erika for bandaging his leg and then kept protecting the team and following Atticus's orders until they arrived. It was that he found he has a little problem. "Dash, ease off on painkillers please, I need to feel my leg to control the ship.""Sorry Taffer, but returning senses on your injured limb is not possible now. It's either pain or numb now, but nothing else. It would be easier if you didn't keep moving around so actively", his EGO replied. "Damn it, how am I supposed to control the yaw without feeling my legs? How I'm supposed to follow down the ridge without it?" An idea came to his mind and he sent to team's EGO "I'm afraid I need Sandy's help here in the cockpit. And I need it now." When Sandy reported to him wondering how she could help, he instructed her while he was powering up the ship and readying it for takeoff. "Sandy, we have to do some maneuvers to avoid getting shot down as we take off, but my leg is still not fully functional. So I need you to work as my legs. Here's the deal. You'll sit on my lap, lean against my chest and put your feet on yaw pedals. I'll hug you with my forearms while holding the control column and will be pushing you left and right. When I tilt you to the left, you press the left pedal. When I tilt you to the right, you release the left pedal and press the right one. When I set you upright, you release both pedals but keep your feet on them. If I push you forward, you press both pedals, but that would be needed only on landing. It should come pretty natural. We'll take a couple of slow turns on our vertical takeoff to get a grip on this system and then follow down the ridge maneuvering between mountains to avoid getting shot down. Sorry for suggesting a much closer contact than you might like, but that's the only way I can think of to keep our team safe on our way." |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Jul 31, 2015 8:57:04 GMT
When Sandy Belle began to hear Taffer's instructions on how she might help him fly the plane, her blond eyebrows went up and her blue eyes got big, but she also smiled in amusement thinking it was a joke, until she realized he was dead serious, so she shrugged and sat in his lap, then quipped with a lopsided grin as they began to fly the plane, "No apologies needed. This really is a close team!"
Although Sandy would be loathe to admit it because she still felt she was in love with Volodja, she enjoyed the warmth of Taffer's body against her and the pungent smell of a man of action. Although the holo-emitters did a great job of simulating real life situations, it was still only a simulation, which couldn't compare to the real thing. Sandy had gotten back her corporeal body just before the mission and hadn't been this close to a man since her transfomation into a real woman again, so it was natural that she found herself sexually aroused by their close contact.
Sandy briefly felt guilty about that, for even though she believed Voldja had dumped her for Belle, she still loved him and she was beginning to think Taffer might be right that she had just misunderstood the situation, so she felt a little uneasy as she sat in Taffer's lap enjoying the ride. However, Sandy was a pragmatist as well as a soldier, so she pushed such thoughts aside as she concentrated on the job of getting the team home safely while also ignoring her jungle urges.
Sandy was very aware how physically fit Taffer was from the hardness of his chest as she leaned against him. She could feel the strength of his arms as he hugged her, but also his gentleness as his forearms pushed her first one way and then another. She was an apt student and followed his non-verbal instructions perfectly, but by the time he thrust forward into her backside signaling for landing, she gasped as she almost orgasmed and felt she might press both foot pedals through the floor of the plane.
Still, once the plane was taxing on the runway of Fortress Kshaa, she couldn't resist saying with a good natured grin, "I've had worse first dates!"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Jul 31, 2015 12:00:55 GMT
Volodja Uljanov pondered about measures they could take against Esthete. One thing to come into his mind was finding Esthete's weak spots and his weakest spot was dependency of resources. Esthete and his army of mechanoids needed huge amount of energy. Whoever controls power sources in Red Deer has long term influence on Esthete. Even if he had independent power source they could sabotage it. Problem of modern facilities was hidden in their controlling mechanisms. They were usually subjugated to the central computer and if one gains access to it, then one can sabotage the whole system. Normally avoiding manual labour had it's advantages and it was more effective, but in extreme situations that strength changed into weakness, because control over systems was lost. If Esthete loses his own power source, he becomes dependent from local ones. If someone else than him owns them then he has to buy energy instead of producing it. That should make Esthete to listen the reason and leave the innocents alone. Volodja actually knew who was able to disable Esthete's own power sources without having any direct VBI connections for a long time. His dear Sophie. She was really skilful in hacking and programming because Pyotr Yershov originally intended to use her as his EGO companion until one amateur Cupid arranged his first date to his future wife Stephanie and received Sophie as a gift in return. Sophie was designed to adapt features of her host and she became much like Volodja, although she had more self confidence. But skills she was planned to have, remained. All Volodja needed was either EGO emitter or some meditation to clear his mind, so Sophie can use his body for awhile. And if they are doing it then there won't be any direct VBI connections so nobody can blame them in sabotage. "Guys. Who owns the local power plant?" Volodja asked: "And does anybody knows if Esthete has a plant of his own? If yes then can I access to their computer systems? And where can I find the guy who provides Red Deer with electricity? I might to have a little war plan to give us an advantage during negotiations. I know what usually happens when I decide to act on my own, but I will take that chance. It might save lives of innocents here and avoids bloodbath for sure and instead of holding us hostages we can squeeze his virtual balls. Esthete depends on electricity to keep himself and his army of drones going. Cut the power and you will cut his air hose Don't worry Annie. "Daddy" Warbucks is ready to rescue you from the bad guys. I always wanted a little power plant of my own. And please, don't ask where I got money for that."  Volodja was embarrassed to tell that he almost never had time to spent his savings because lacked close ones. He was usually working whole time and often in places where simple bartering was only form of economy. And when he happened to have assignments in glamorous places then he usually got all his expenses covered. When man does not have any private life, then he usually tends to spend less than he earns. That's what happened to Volodja and now he found a good purpose for his money. Besides it meant less burden from his past. If he has to face unknown future it's better to face it with light weight luggage. "Thank you guys," he said after locals filled him in with details. "Eccentrics you say. Exactly my pool to swim. I will pay a visit to Mr. Aku and Mr. Tagawa in first opportunity if rest of us accept my plan." Volodja explained to his team mates and Commander: "I really want to help those people without spilling a drop of blood. That's the only plan I have at moment, but if you have something better in mind then I will cancel that risky affair of mine." After saying that Volodja went and found himself a nice place near the blue lit lagoon where he started to practice stone skipping. Others need time to consider his plan. Maybe they will put a veto on it, maybe they will accept it. He didn't wanted to influence their decision. Circles were interesting to observe and lagoon looked so beautiful. Volodja started to feel slightly better again. At least he had something to do.   |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Jul 31, 2015 22:20:39 GMT
After Erika and I were back in the common room of the ship. I handed her grandson, Frond to her and gave the orders to go home. Then I went to the cockpit to take over the piloting, since I wasn't injured like Taffer and Sandy, who were currently piloting in tandem, were. However they told me they had it handled and were further practicing teamwork together and getting reacquainted. I saw how the were cuddled and could smell Sand'ys arousal, so I figured I was definitely intruding so all I said was, "Very well. You know where to find me, if you need another pilot."
Then I went back to the common area. I noticed Lena and Marcel were actually refraining from sexual antics with the children in the room. Erika was telling Marla a story, and upon seeing me come back in my sister handed me Frond back. I glanced at her and she said, "You need the practice. As you will have kids of your own to hold and take care of in a few months."
I said, "What's to know? Babies eat, shtako and cry when awake. Then sleep and shtako for long peroids before waking to do so all over again." Erkia said, "They also like to play and have physical contact with other people. Not to mention somebody needs to change them when they do shtako, and feed them when they are hungry. Besides Frond seems to like you." I responsed with, "Fine I will hold the biter, but I am NOT a chew toy!" So I sat down, still holding this baby, and I put my helmet on the seat next to me, then did the same with my armored gauntlets. I ended up holding Frond the whole flight and he didn't bite me once, since the one time when I first picked him up. I also had an interesting talk with 6 year old Marla about monsters during that time.
While I was holding Frond, and after Erika had finished a story Marla looked at me and said, "Grama says you is famwy. But You are a scary monser. So don' hurt Fron pwease!" Then after a small pause she said, "But Grama said you are a good monser and only hurt bad monsers. Is tru an you won' hurt Fron or me?!"
I glanced at Erika who was smiling at me and trying not to chuckle. Then I said, "Yes monsters can be good or bad. Sometimes both. However we all have jobs. Some are to just be mean, scary or evil to everyone. Others only scare or hurt children. Some are actually good and even help and play with children. I am one of the odd monsters that is both good and bad. Because I can do mean things, but some of the mean and evil monsters like me, want to be liked and part of a family. So we try only to hurt other evil monsters after we make that choice. So my job is to keep other monsters from hurting people, and especially children like you and Frond. So I mostly only do mean things to other monsters, like the one who hurt you. So Marla do not worry. I will not hurt him, even if he bites me again. You understand?"
Marla thought about what I said as she hugged her 'Grama' Erika tighter. Then she said, "Fink so. Even monsers wanna be famwy and no famwy likes evili monsers. So the evil ones that wanna famwy become protectors and only hurt other evil monsers."
 
I said, "Yes something like that."
Marla smiled and said, "Well Grama likes you and said you are her broffer, like Fronny is mine. And you is our untle. Plus Fronny looks like he likes you. Sooooooooooo......... OTAY!" Marla then came and gave me a quick but uncertain hug and I gave her a very brief hug in return. She then blew on Frond's tummy to make him giggle. After that she quickly crawled back into Erika's lap and into her arms and said, "Otay Gramma. I talkeded to him and you right. He is not as scary an mean as he looks, atleas to us. An Fron seems happy in his scary arms, so I is otay right now. Nuther story pwease, Grama?"
So there I sat in the common area the rest of the flight; Scary, mean,violent and grumpy Atticus, The Harbinger of Death; holding and playing with a 1 year old baby, talking to his 6 year old sister about monsters and how some try to only hurt other monsters. As well as talking to my big sister Erika, and even to Lena and Marcel, when and if they talked to me.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Aug 1, 2015 7:48:18 GMT
Volodja Uljanov climbed few more feet and reached to the surface. After spending lot of time in underground, daylight cut into his eyes like a razor blade. He had to get used with a light again. Finally he dared to open his eyes and start to move forward. Emptiness everywhere. First sign of life he saw, wasn't too promising. He could read from it: "Keep out. Trespassers will be shot!". Short and not so sweet, but promising at least. Sign was placed by the gatehouse. Volodja made a step forward and had to lower himself quickly because he received a warm welcome. Small but deadly amount of hot metal, shot from a two barrel shotgun zipped past his haircut. Second time this day! If things keep going like that then Volodja will lose all his hair...and his head with it.
Volodja rose his glance and his jaw dropped a bit lower, because...have you seen a Liberata with scarred face and an eye patch? A Liberata who wears a samurai armour and hold as shottie in his short hands. A Liberata who's eyes are reflecting insane courage. A Liberata who has waxed his moustache. Volodja could see one at moment. And this particular Liberata was not alone. He brought a buddy with him. Another Liberata who was equipped with two dangerous looking pistols and had a smoking butt of cigar in a corner of his mouth.
"No sudden moves, stranger," said the first one. "Whadda ya doing here, trespasser? Answer quick or my brother and I will fill you with lead."
"I have a business proposal," replied Volodja. "Reasonable one. But I am not going to discuss it when I am on my stomach."
"All right. Get on your feet. You may enter but keep those hands visible. Damn, you are tall! But that's even better. I will shoot in height of my eyes and you can guess where the bullets will hit."
"Not your business, stranger. But we want top know what business proposal you have? We won't buy!"
"Guys. You totally misunderstood the concept. I AM the one who is going to buy here. Strictly to the business. What I must do to convince you to sell your power plant?By the way. Which one of you is Aku and which one Tagawa? And don't tell that you call your home Rashomon or something like that."
"Nothing special. Just travel to the Moon and bring us load of moonstones. Then you should go to find lost city of New York and get us piece of statue of Liberty, or..."
"Or what?" asked Volodja. They were eccentrics indeed. And their ideas and wishes were...Maybe Mania Grandiosa was a relevant diagnosis for them?
"Or you can pay us nice amount of scrip and power plant is yours. Although we don't have a place to go after that. We are used to live here..." said first Liberata hesitantly.
"Well. You can always stay here and keep things going," answered Volodja. "Shall we go inside and discuss the matter in more comfortable manner?" Liberata have always node on the smell of profit no matter how loony they seem to be. Those two warmongers weren't an exception. Volodja knew that haggling will be tough task. Another trip to the Moon seemed like a joyride compared with it.
If someone stood by the window and listened business negotiation behind the closed doors that one could write a drama, comparing to which "King Lear" or "Oedipus" have seemed to be couple of light farces. All those moans and remarks a la "You are breaking my heart, Volodja. Better tear my moustache out if you want to hurt me" and "Don't offend us with your offer, pardner" and all those leaves and re-enters to the stage when Aku or Tagawa, one at the time, stormed out only to return a minute later.
They had an advantage - two against one. When one of them finished with Volodja, the other one begun. Sophie inside Volodja's mind laughed wholeheartedly. She had not been so much amused since...Volodja wiped sweat and had a gulp from his flask. Then he continued struggle against two headed financial shark. Finally they reached to the mutual agreement and signed the papers.The plant was Volodja's and he managed to lower the price distinctively. Yes, he could pay them right away, but he enjoyed the haggling process (getting a discount from a Liberata was as hard as founding the spring of eternal youth. If one finds that to be thard then one can imagine how business negotiations with couple of eccentric Liberatas are looking like) and one can never be sure when he needs another power plant. Or expensive medical treatment because within a few minutes Volodja had to transform from noble into a merchant. It took centuries for rest of the humankind to change social order that way. No wonder that he felt exhausted.
Part of the deal was that Liberata brothers could stay and work in power plant. Volodja gave them some special instructions about their potential customer in future and promised to inform board of Directors about successful negotiations. His way back reminded path of thirsty man in the desert. So slow and staggering was his step. When he finally reached back to the rest of the team, he just said: "I will sell you this part of power station for one scrip and sip of water." Then he just sat down, exhausted but satisfied with results of negotiations. Next step was eliminating Esthete's power sources. Then they can make him see the reason. It is said that the person who oppresses us today, might become our friend tomorrow. To make sure that he becomes they had to offer him something he desperately needs. And if he didn't want anything at moment, they had to create that need to find a peaceful solution to the quarrel. Even if Esthete has emergency generators and accumulators, they won't last forever.
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 1, 2015 13:32:22 GMT
Belle Starr used her data pad and hailer, boosted by the power plant, to contact Trevor Tyler of VBI's Board of Directors to set up both the claim of ownership of the village below Red Deer and the employee contract with the villagers. Belle was glad to play middleman, and negotiate the details between them. She was also glad for Trevor to file the letter of indignation to Esthete for the "invasion" and "destruction" of VBI property. Trevor used her words, but she knew that combined with his political clout it would have more effect.
Belle had been happy to take a back seat when the men had begun to dabate the pros and cons of the various plans to counter Esthete. Belle had planted the seed of an idea and the plans on the table had grown from it. She was never comfortable in the role of leader, always seeing herself more as a facilitator. Belle was a firm believer in free will and everyone finding their own way, so she never felt comfortable giving orders. After the others had agreed on a plan and she had done her work as well, she took off her coat and saushayed to the edge of the water, laying it on the ground and sitting on it. Belle drew her long shapely legs up and hugged them with her thin but athletic arms, resting her pale chin on her knees.
Belle was thinking about whether they could really pull it off, settling the conflict beteen the squaters' village and Red Deer without bloodshed. She wondered if they could somehow modify Esthete so that he would still be able to protect the innocent citizens of Red Deer from their Bioman and Gulanee enemies around them without being a ruthless dictator who persecuted them. As she pondered the options, her beautiful blue diamond eyes caught sight of a twig caught in the current of the water and watched it intently for awhile. The twig would first go one way, then another, until finally it got caught in a small whirlpool, and it was sucked down under the water. Belle couldn't help but see herself as the twig, drifting through life, going whichever way the currents took her with no control of where she went, until finally she was drawn into the machinations of the next villain with delusions of grandeur.
While she had these thoughts, the twig suddenly popped to the water's surface, floating on the water's placid surface, which made a big smile appear on Belle's rose petal lips. She saw it as a good omen, that maybe she would come up on top of the current situation. She knew she would still have her personal problems, the were-volge within her and the love triangle with Vo and Volodja to name two, but it she could help the innocents here remain unscathed, she would put that in the win category, and she desperately wanted a win in this point and time in her life.
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