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Post by Lady Christianna on Aug 19, 2015 4:45:33 GMT
MADNESS!
 As Micor Newlo led Lady Christianna and her mind controlled entourage of two into the Inquisition's headquarters at the Presidio bunker, a score of red armored Inquisitors guarding the door fell to one knee and saluted her by hitting the left side of their chest with their right fist, which made Lady giggle and exclaim, "Wow!" "You are not really buying this, are you Lady? This is not real! Your family and friends back at Fortress Kshaa is real! Your life and love with Atticus is real! This is pure fantasy!" Admonished Erika Widowmaker, Lady's sister-in-law and the first of her mind controlled entourage. Lady frowned as she wished the Omec rod controled Erika's tongue as well as her brain, but evidently it didn't, as Erika had been trying to convince Lady of her folly the whole trip from Fortress Kshaa to Presidio Bunker, and now within the bunker as well, so she replied, "Don't ruin this for me Erika!" "Yeah, don't ruin this for us Erika," Added Brody Smythe, the second mind controlled subject of Lady's entourage, although Erika was starting to think he was of a mind to follow Lady's orders even without the control rod. Although Erika couldn't make a physical move contrary to Lady's wishes, she was not about to give up on trying to convince Lady to release her and to go home, asking, "Why are you doing this Lady? What do you hope to gain from all this?" Lady sighed thinking she would never convince Erika that her reasons were valid and important, at least to her, but still felt she had to try, so she turned her big pink eyes towards Erika and began to explain, "Tired of being invisible! In all you heroes' shadows! Anyone even think of me for the Triumverate? Part of the team longer than Teach! No one thought of me for anything important in the team! Just Atticus' girlfriend, then wife, then mother of his children! His children, NOT MINE! None of me is in them!" Erika looked at Lady with sad jade eyes, noting how haunted Lady looked with the huge black circles around her eyes, but saying, "Atticus loves you Lady! All of the team loves you Lady! What more do you want?" "Not Lady, Mistress of Sorrow! Tired of being loved but forgotten! Want to be feared and respected - like Atticus!" Lady spit out the words like a snake spits out venom, then she smiled enigmatically as she jutted a small chalk white thumb at herself, "Second hand hero, first class villainess!" Then Lady pointed an alabaster forefinger to her temple as eyes widened so much that Erika could see white all around them, saying with a blood chilling laugh, "Have a plan to rule the world - and make it better! My dream's bigger than Belle's - and will do more good! Everybody will know who I am! Everybody will be grateful to ME! Bwa HA ha!" Erika was struck speechless as she began to wonder if the carefree teenage friend she once treasured had become a dangerous madwoman. Micor Newlo, Master of Stealth and second-in-command of the Inquisitors, cleared his throat, hoping to get Lady's attention, then said dramatically, "With that in mind, I really think you will like this Mistress!" Micor led them down several long hallway that ended at a large metal door. Every red armored Inquisitor Lady passed fell to his knee and saluted her, whereupon she would smile like Mona Lisa and nod regally. As they faced the metal door, Micor pushed a series of button at a side panel and the door opened to show a large circular room filled with numerous machines all humming with life. What caught Lady's attention was at the top of the dais in the center of the room was a huge throne made entirely of humanoid skulls. Lady skipped up the steps and sat quickly down in the throne, scooting back and fort to make herself comfortable, before asking with a huge smile, "How do I look?" "Really cool!" Answered Brody with a lopsided grin. Everybody but Erika looked incredibly pleased, and she began to wondered if in fact she hadn't wandered into a madhouse.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 19, 2015 11:39:46 GMT
Back at fortress K'shaa, I had found what I wanted concerning the long forgotten building at the edge of our compound. It was once used for some experimentation, when Command felt it was to be kept of the records. However it's main purpose was has the housing for a Votanis Collective black ops team that once worked on this base during the Pale Wars, back before it became a Dark Matter Base, and then forgotten until our team took control of it. Most importantly, from what I could tell, the black ops team had made it completely isolated from the main base. It had it's own security systems, power and water. As well as it's own communications systems. I also discovered that a former associate, one Lieutenant Seto was listed as a member of the team that was housed in that building. As I had taken all his command codes when I had killed him, I figured that was a good start at gaining access to the building.
So I got up, kissed Caprice on the Forhead and placed my sleeping daughter back in her crib. I looked at Cosmin who appeared to be sleeping peacefully in his incubation chamber for a few seconds. Then I said to them, wondering if they could hear me and understand, "Your father loves both of you completely and I will be back to see you later. Hopefully you can go home with me soon."
I then left the room, making sure a nurse knew that they were asleep and I had some important matters to attend to. I went to my quarters, where I put on my some old Arkhunter infiltrator armor and my old Collective Predator helm, and equipped a Thawandeye Surge Nano-Fragger Mk V, a Monitor Sidearm Mk II, and my Amakune blade. I also equipped a Hurricane regen Ark shield. Then I picked up my 'hero garb'(consisting of my Trion Supporter armor and tunic and my VBI Infiltrator helm) and my EXL guns and shield. Next, I went into the sitting room and locked the 'Hero Garb' and gear in my trophy case.
Afterwards, I walked out of the main building. Some security personnel asked if they could be of service but I quickly dismissed them and told them not to disturb me or mention my location to anybody. Then I headed to the back of the compound, where the building I had been studying sat, just inside the perimeter fence on the edge of our compound. When I arrived at my destination. I entered one of Seto's codes. However it did not open the door, and I got notified that it was incorrect, by two hidden panels above and to either side of the main door of the building opening and revealing two very nasty looking turrets. As well as two beeps signaling that I had two more chances then the turrets would fry me. My second try also failed. However the third succeeded so the door opened, and the turrets went back into hiding. After I entered, I closed the door behind me, then I readied my shotgun and looked around as I found and activated the lights.
The place was covered with dust from not being disturbed in a long time. It was a two story building with a basement. The first floor had sitting area in the main room, as well as a small kitchen, a bathroom, a decent sized control room with it's own bathroom, a small armory next to the control room, a four bed medical room also with it's own bathroom as well as a decontamination room and shower, and a secured garage accessible through the control room with enough room my purposes. I looked around the control room and discovered that it was not only set up like a smaller version of the Base's War Room, but that it did indeed have it's own completely secure network and the Fortress could not access it in anyway. However I did also discover that it had secret access to the Base's War Room computers and systems.
So even though, it was completely isolated from the Fortress and secured from anything they might try, I could easily access their systems and view any data or security feeds that I so desired. It's communications were even completely secured. I did set it up so if anybody tried contacting my while I was in this building, all communications would be directed to a recording system on it's secured communications channel. That way everyone had to leave a message. I made it so the only EGOs or hailers that could contact me directly in here would be Lady's, Erika's and even Belle's. I would never shutout my Snow Angel in any way(even if she did abandon me, our love and our children), nor would I completely shut out my sisters' calls. After looking through the building's systems, I found files from Lieutenant Seto that made me completely certain that Seto's team was the last ones in it and that they had completely abandoned it, in favor of fully joining Nim Shondu. So they bugged out and destroyed all experiments but left the building operational and only accessable by Seto's code, just incase he ever decided it was best to return here. I also found a private log from Seto stating that he was going to delete all access codes from the building's systems that way nobody could ever enter without his say.
After I brought all of it's systems online including the rest of it's security systems, and was done searching them for now, I went into the basement to look around. It consisted of a medium sized holo-training room, a morgue, a huge armory complete with test-firing range, and a huge storeroom.
After I was done down there, I went up to the second floor. It had a common area and five bedrooms each with their own bathroom. Four had multiple bunks in them, showing that most of the crew for this building bunked together. The fifth room was clearly the Commander's quarters, as it was locked with Seto's code and had a huge bed and it's bathroom had a big tub and a big shower. I went back to the command room and entered my most secure access code into it, effectively claiming the building as mine, I also temporarily entered Jose Hemenez's access code into it, as well as Zork's.
Then I left the building. I had Dinara, My EGO psyche tell me Jose's location. Then I went to where he was and told him exactly what I wanted done in the building, and that only he, Zork and I had access to the building and he could get a group of four to help him with the cleaning and rearranging I required, but was not to leave them alone in there, and definitely not to let any of the Fotress's Command team in there without my permission, knowing damn well that I was not planning on telling anybody else any of my plans for the building anytime soon. Then I found Zork and told him pretty much the same thing except that I gave him a list of modifications to do, and I told both that their crews were not to discuss any of this with each other or anybody else on base.
After I was done, I went back to the private hospital room to see my children awhile longer, still in my newest outfit choice. I just sat down, removed my helm and set it on the nightstand near me as I watched the twins sleep. While I do so, I think, "Lady may not want us anymore but she does want me to keep the twins safe. So I will most definitely do so. Once Doctor Orion releases them, they will be completely safe and secure with me." |
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Aug 19, 2015 12:41:25 GMT
"Amber, are you having any luck getting through to the other?" Asked Erika as she stuggled metally against the Omec mind control rod to no avail. "No mother, something about this rod is keeping me from reaching anyone! I've never seen techmology like this control rod! It's so alien, even compared to Castithan technology! The Inquisition never could have made it, although it looks they may have modified it! I've been concentrating on reaching Dinara specifically for the last hour but I'm getting nothing!" Said Amber mentally through the telepathic link they shared, adding in a frantic tone, "She is going to be so worried about me! And we didn'thave much time together after..." Amber's voice trailed off into dispair, as Erika ordered sternly, "Keep it together Amber! Dinara knows the duty of an EGO psyche, for she has been doing it much longer than you, but keep trying to contact her. Just concentrating on her rather than them all is a good plan. With your special connection to her, maybe you can get through to her in time." "In time for what?" Thought Erika to herself. "I still don't know what is going on in Lady's head - this behavior is so unlike her! Has she really had such resentment buid up that it has come to this? Lady was always a somewhat selfish teenager, but since her relationship with Atticus, she had become so much more caring of others. Somehow, did we really alienate her by not considering her as an equal? She was always the youngest of the team, and then she got pregnant, so we only sought to protect her. Did we do wrong in doing that I wonder?" Erika's reverie was interrupted when Micor Newlo said, "Do you wish me to commence the mission you whispered to me in the helicopter, oh Mistress of Sorrow?" On her throne of Skulls, Lady smiled enigmatically and ordered regally, "Yes bring me the heade of Eren Niden!" Then, with a worried look on her chalk white face fearing her order might be misconstrued, she quickly added, "Still attached to the body. Alive." Broderick Smythe laughed and clapped his hands like a small child, making Erika wonder yet again if he was truly mind controlled, as he said excitedly, "You are just SO awesome Lady!" "Your wish is my command," Said Micor Newlo with a flourish as he went down to one knee and saluted. Lady sighed, then ordered, "Enough with the knee thingee! All my soldiers are going to have bad knees! Salute is enough!" "As you command, oh Mistress of Sorrow," Answered Micor with a wry smile as he stood up, then turned on his heel and left the throne room, the metal door closing behind him as he approached the outside entrance to the Presidio Bunker putting on his ornate helmet as he did. "Did you hear, mother?" Micor said to the hidden encrypted communicator in his helmet. "Yes, she is progressing nicely, although her finding the Indogene control formula was lucky kismet! Her taking that was her own initiative, and took no push from me! I do wonder what she wants with Eren Nidel? A test subject maybe?" "I don't thing so," Answered Micor with a frown on his handsome Castitan face to the the disembodied raspy female voice in his helmet, "I think that would go too much against her true nature! Even with your great powers mother, I think she would rebel at that; however, I could be wrong. She has some kind of world conquering plan in mind, but she hasn't shared it with me." "Let us hope it involves the spire as we planned! Have you sent an Inquisitor fire team to San Diego to get what we need?" Inquired the voice breeming with authority. "They should be arriving there as we speak," Answered Micor with some annoyance at even being asked such a question, "Now, if you'll excuse me, mother, I have an Indogene to acquire." With that, Micor Newlo left the Presidio Bunker and joined his squad of Inquisitors in the waiting helicopter.  |
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 19, 2015 15:26:50 GMT
"Unglaublich," said Wolfram von Eschen by himself. "Ich muss ehrlich sagen, dass die Aussichten auf Fortschritte kurzfristig gesehen nicht allzu ermutigend sind." (Unbelievable. I shall have to be frank and say that prospects for progress in the short term are not overly encouraging). Since he was alone at moment, he could afford speaking German.
Then he saw Di to enter, after Lexy and Marla finished their playing date and Di escorted her into her new room in psychiatric wing. Di looked at his worried face, came closer and sat down to opposite side of Wolfram's table and asked: "Would you like to talk about it?"
"Actually....I would,"was Wolfram's reply. "Lady Christianna left us and she obviously suffers from postpartum depression. I am sure about my diagnosis.Miss Widowmaker left with Lady Christianna so I can't talk with her about Marla and Kara. Herr Atticus enclosed himself into his rooms and doesn't want to see anybody so I can't even inform him about Lady's mental condition. And I barely managed to calm down poor Dr. Orion who was on the verge of nervous breakdown. Katzendreck!"
"I see, I see. You have two unsolvable problems, unless you want to turn every stone to find Lady and Erika. You can't do anything about them. You handled Dr. Orion's' condition so that problem is successfully solved. As for Atticus...Have you tried to talk with him?"
"Nicht jetzt, Not yet. I informed hi about Lady Christianna's disappearance and almost got a nervous attack myself. I might like to destroy my life, but slowly, and do it with the help of the good Schnapps, but I most certainly don't want to kill myself immediately. That kind of heroic form of self denial is more suitable for Volodja. But I might try...But you will have to arrange my funeral."
"Don't rush into your grave yet, Wolfram. Maybe he will calm down and gives you a chance to talk with him. Or Volodja might return and throw himself into that affair for you. Just try to relax now and don't reach for your bottle. Better allow yourself some time in holo-therapy."
"Actually Di...It's a really good idea. But I will allow myself one Schnapps as well. But what about duties here?"
"Since I am a holographic assistant, I can work 24/7 shifts and keep things covered. Makes me feel useful. Even holographic assistants have feelings, you know."
Wolfram sighed. He remembered how they tried to create assistant for themselves with the help of Broderick Smythe. And now he really felt nostalgic. Oh Brody, where art thou? Then he left his office slowly, turning around and smiling to Di who pointed him the door and showed with a gesture that he should get out from her sight for his own sake. While Wolfram tapped (and cursed) codes to the computer terminal of holo-therapy room to create a scenery, Di's virtual fingers tapped the panel of the psychiatric department's computer (without cursing). Thanks to holo emitters, she could feel anything and fulfil her duties like a real human being. At moment she increased their data base, adding information about their newest patient - Marla.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 20, 2015 6:43:00 GMT
Still sitting in a private hospital room in Fotress K'shaa's main Infirmary, I continued to watch Lady's and my children sleep as I talked to my EGO, Dinara.
"Dinara have you managed to reach Amber or MOM yet?!"
She sighed and said, "No Atty, but I will keep trying! Besides I miss Amber. We didn't get any time together since before the last mission!.....As for Lady she did at least leave you a note saying she loves you completely and that she trusts you to protect the twins. So we do know that no matter whatever happened, while you were in your healing coma, she does still love and trust you completely! She apparently just needs time away from the base to clear her head."
I snapped, "Damn it! You are to dakking optimistic! Is it because you are a diplomatic EGO, young and naïve or a girl?!"
She snapped back and said, "Hush you...you... GRUMPY OLD MAN!" Then she giggled nervously as she said, "Perhaps it is D: all of the above! And what is with the building you claimed as yours anyways? Never mind...You won't tell me, and even if you did, you wouldn't listen to my opinion on it. However I do think you need to talk to somebody instead of keeping your feelings to yourself all the time!"
I growled, "Why?!?! So they can lock me up and drug and torture me like all psycho-babblers love doing to me?!?!?! They help others, but use me for daking experimental purposes!!!!!"
She sighed again and said calmly, "Atty, you know Doctor Von Eschen and Mr. Volo aren't like that! You did after all personally create the Psych ward for them yourself, and out of your own pocket to boot! At least think about it, and think about this! We know with Lady gone that the care of the twins rests completely with you. However with Erika gone so does the rest of your family! So as they are currently in Doctor Von Eschen's care, if something comes up he or Mr. Volo will need to reach you to discuss it, even in that building you are having Mr. Zork and Mr. Hemenez modify and remodel for you....I assume into some kind of isolated bunker. And NO them being able to leave a message is NOT good enough!"
I sighed in resignation as I said mentally to her, "Fine, when I move into the building, I will add Volo's and Wolfram's frequencies to the ones that are allowed to bypass my message service and contact me directly, besides I can always just hang up on them, if they get annoying. However I am still going to keep the building locked down, so only I have the ability to access the building and it's systems! Now leave me the dak alone and, keep trying to reach MOM and Amber!"
I then opened up my datapad and looked at Lady's note yet again. Then I looked at the pictures I have of her and us on there, including a copy of our Wedding Album. As I thought, "Damn it! I know she loves me as much as I love her! Dak, she even took her pendant, engagement ring and wedding ring with her! I meant it when I said I would always be here for her. I even tried to sacrifice my life completely to bring her back from the brink! So why the dak did she just up and leave us, leave me?!?!"
The hurt of being abandoned again and this time knowing who abandoned me, as well as having a typed up reason why, finally set in fully and I threw my datapad at the door in anger and sorrow. The opalescent gray glow of my aura, eyes and even outfit started becoming a lot more noticeable with my ever-increasing bad mood, and causing electric sparks to bounce off my shoulders as my emotions started to get the better of me.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Aug 20, 2015 14:05:45 GMT
When Micor Newlo and his squad of red armored Inquisitors brought Eren Niden before Lady Christianna as she lay upside down on her throne of skulls blowing a giant bubble from the bubble gum she was chewing, Eren found it hard to remain fearful. Micor kept the conversation ominous on the helicopter, merely telling Eren that she was being brought before the all powerful Mistress of Sorrow, but all Eren saw on the throne was a teenager she recognized from Topnotch Tools who used to bring her red ATV to Eren's lover Rosa Rodriguez for tune-ups. On second glance, Eren though maybe the seven foot tall Amazonian Irathient in gold armor and carrying a huge two-handed sword standing behind the throne was the true Mistress of Sorrow, but it was clear that that was not the case when Micor and his Inquisitors saluted Lady instead. Eren had overheard Rosa ask Lady one time why she chose the color of her ATV to be red, and Lady had answered because red ones go faster, and the Indogene at the time thought about what an absurd answer that was, as there was no possible science that could support it. It was hard to be fearful of such a young child, as Eren herself was hundreds of years old, so she merely crossed her arms and waited to be informed that all of this was what humans called a joke, and expected Rosa to jump out at any moment and say "surprize!" Instead, Lady merely popped her bubble and flipped out of her chair. Lady turned around with an enigmatic smile on her pretty Castithan face, then walked down from the dais as if to greet an old friend, saying, "Eren, good of you to come!" "Watch out Eren!" Yelled the Irathient Amazon, her jade green eyes flashing in alarm although she didn't move from her guarding stance. "Isn't that Erika Widowmaker from Fortress Kshaa?" Thought Eren for a brief second before feeling momentary excrutiating pain flowed by a quick loss of free will after Lady plunged the Omec control rod into Eren's neck. "Got you!" Exclaimed Lady in triumph, as she then did a quick curtsy with a big smile of pleasure for her Inquisitors, who clapped politely.  |
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 21, 2015 6:26:31 GMT
Wolfram von Eschen returned from another virtual Euro-trip. Every time he visited virtual world, he came closer understanding, why people in this fortress enjoyed virtual reality. For example - Volodja loved pre war world, where people didn't want to kill you for your possessions as a first thing, but preferred to peel you delicately, making you even feel good after that. And rest of the people who visited those chambers had similar reasons. They all had their little secret worlds to enjoy. If dosage was sensible, then it did them good. But if they got addicted to that, then...
As an alcoholic, Wolfram knew a lot about addictions, because his drinking was often accompanied by self analysis. He was test subject and researcher at the same time. A really comfortable combination and saved a lot of money, when he thought about that.But lately he had been relatively sober. Drinking became more like an innocent hobby for him, because he was usually busy these days. At moment he had one traumatized child and traumatized mother to take care of. He had suicidal Bioman wandering around somewhere in Canada. He had depressed Atticus Batman, sitting almost alone in the solitude.
That was also familiar to him. After all - he spent years alone, drinking and trying to forget his past. Now he actually had paperwork to do, therapy sessions to conduct and a social life and moonshining to make his days full and and meaningful. But now one of his friends was missing. And Wolfram knew that he must start doing something to bring Broderick Smythe, the son he never wanted, back to his life. And he had to start with Atticus - buy helping him, he will help Brody and himself.
Rest of his patients were in better condition and he decided that moment to bring mother and her child together is close. Kaj was out of the reach, but if he was around, he would be definitely participating on that reunion. That would give him a major boost of positive emotions, that Bioman needed. But at moment Kaj was out of his reach. And so was Atticus. So close and yet so far. But he could at least try to talk with him through communications. A bit obscure situation, when to think about it. He was about to establish a Lifeline, but he actually had to call for costumers himself to ask about their emotional condition and counsel them. In pre war world things were quite opposite. Customers were making calls 24/7. But world was changed and he had to change along with the world.
Wolfram sighed and started to dial the number on his hailer.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 21, 2015 9:35:33 GMT
Shortly after I threw the datapad, it hit the door and fell to the floor. The noise of it startling the babies, causing them to fuss a little. So I got up and walked over to my datapad and picked it up. As I walked towards the cribs, I tossed the pad onto my hospital bed. Just then my hailer chimed and the further noise caused the already startled twins to cry. Fortunately, shortly before I had my minor breakdown with the datapad, Doctor Orion had been in the room to check on the twins and informed me that it was safe for Cosmin to be removed from the enclosed incubation chamber. So he had a nurse bring in a crib similar to Caprice's to put Cosmin in. After that was done, the doctor had also insisted I remove my armor so he could hook me to yet another Ecletrolyte IV, as he was certain that I needed them. Especially since it was obvious I hadn't had any of my rum or anything else, besides the IVs, to get my needed nutrients from.
So, as it is safe to finally pick up Both of my children, I do so. Both twins are crying in my arms, when I answer my hailer through my ear piece, which means whoever is on the other line will have to endure the screaming of the twins, that their call caused.
As soon as I answered it, I snapped at the caller, "You just woke the twins up! So this better be important!"
The caller identified himself as Doctor Von Eschen, so I said, "Wolfram, if you MUST bother me, then come to the private room that Orion put the twins and me in. Taking care of my children is much more dakking important than getting lectured over the hailer! Besides if I wanted a lecture, I would just wait for Volodja! Nobody can lecture me anywhere near as well as our friend, the Fool, can!!"
just then I smelled something extremely horrible coming from both twins, and I said outloud, which of course meant Wolfram heard it, "Dakking SHTAKO! Wow you two stink! Damn I wish I was wearing my enclosed armor and helmet so I can use it's dakking rebreather! But NO! I had to remove them, so I could be hooked to a dakking IV! That's what I get for not drinking any Irathient rum, or something else, with my needed nutrients! Dak!! How the dak do I change a dakking diaper and clean you two?!?!"
I heard some chuckling over the hailer, which reminded me that I was still talking to Wolfram. So I said, "Look Wolfram, both kids need changed. So I am hanging up now. You know where I am at the moment, if you really want to talk. However I need to figure out how to change these to now. So goodbye!"
After I hung up the hailer, I set both still crying babies back in their cribs and addressed my EGO pysche, Dinara. "Pest how the dak do I change a diaper?!"
She responded with laughter in her voice, "I am not telling you. You should have learned that, when you found out that you would be a father! Besides it is funnier this way, and I do need the laugh! Now be a good daddy and change the kids you Grumpy OLD Father, you!"
I could still hear her laughter as, I undid Cosmin's diaper and poked my finger with one of the diaper pins. Just then, he decided to give me my first pointer for when changing a boy. He started to pee, which hit me in the chest. Fortunately I acted fast and quickly recovered him with the dirty diaper. As I was wiping the urine off my chest with a towel from under his crib, I had some thoughts, that most first time parents must have.
"Lesson 1: Be careful with diaper pins. Their point is just as sharp as a knife's.
Lesson 2: Do NOT fully uncover a baby boy, unless you have a clean diaper at the ready. So you have a better chance of avoiding a VERY UNWANTED shower!
Lesson 3: Keep a clean towel at the ready, for if you fail at lesson 2!"
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 21, 2015 9:48:52 GMT
"Di, Mein Schatz (Di, my precious). I have a business talk with you," said Wolfram with sweet voice. "According your tone you want to ask me a huge favour, so come out with it." "Could you help us to change diapers? Nein, nein. You don't have to change them, but instruct us. We are going to change them." "All right. There are obviously some areas where you, men, are just like babies. I will come and tell you how to do it. Just because I want to enjoy the sight of you at work." Wolfram thought about that idea. If they work together, it might enlighten Atticus' mood. Working on the same purpose brings people closer. Wolfram knew that Volodja had no problem with changing diapers and making it as a show. He did it in Freedom. But now he wasn't here, so Wolfram had to do the changing and not exactly the lecturing, but he had to inform Atticus about his opinion considering Lady Christianna's mental condition. And since he was a messenger with relatively bad news, he had to secure his perimeter, so he better bring some presents, like Di, as an instructor and specialist about diaper changing business. After all - being careful was a thing, Wolfram was good with. Thanks to his cautiousness he managed to live long enough to become old. And he intended to continue living. Even his previous hailer call was a sort of scouting operation before any serious battle. He managed to avoid open conflict because of that and managed to discover a weak spot in Atticus' defence system - dirty diapers. He can use it to advance.  He took his hailer and made another call: "Herr Batman. I'll be there in a minute and bring along an instructor who will teach us how to change those diapers. My assistant Di agreed to counsel us on that important matter. Just hang on. We are on our way." He instructed a flesh and blood orderly, so he could cover for Di for some time, while they are busy with that dirty but unavoidable task of diaper changing. After few minutes he was behind Atticus' door and after a second of hesitation, he gave a signal about his arrival. |
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Post by Lady Christianna on Aug 21, 2015 11:37:05 GMT
"Bet you wonder why I brought you here?" Asked Lady Christianna of Eren Niden, Lady's enigmatic smile firmly in place.
Eren fearfully made a quick nod of assent, so Lady continued, "It won't be for long," Then Lady frowned, saying, "No, lie, it's forever. But need you. Need all the Indogenes I can get. Smartest race on planet. Plan needs you."
Lady gestured to one of her red armored guards, who handed her a remote, whereupon she took a thumb drive out of her top pocket and placed it into a slot on the remote. She pressed one button, and the lights in the large circular throne room dimmed, then another and the room's ceiling became a huge holographic projection screen. On the screen was projected a complex scientific formula.
"Want you to make this stuff. Put it in aerosal form. Enough to spray a whole city," Commanded Lady.
Eren's blue eyes got bigger and her hands began to shake as she reconized the ancient Omec formula that would subjugate Indogenes to their will, "You want me to help you enslave my whole race? I can't do it! I won't do it!"
Lady rolled her pink eyes, blowing another bubble with her bubble gum and letting it pop before she continued as she pointed one small chalk white forefinger at her neck, "Eren, you have to do what I say! Control rod, duh! As for can't, will get more Indogenes to help. Brody will help too. Human, but genius IQ. Out-of-the box thinker."
"Why thank you Lady," interjected Broderick Smythe, a pleased lop-sided grin on his thin pale face as he pushed his thick black rimmed glasses back up his beak like nose.
"No prob - but it's Mistress of Sorrow now," Corrected Lady as she smiled at him, unconsciously batting her long white eyelashes.
"Thank you, Mistress of Sorrow," Said the lanky teenager, his grin growing even bigger.
"Again, no prob," Repeated Lady, who was interrupted when another red armored Inquisitor entered the room, saluting her by loudly banging his right fist over his heart.
Lady frowned, then pouted as she asked in an exasperated tone, "Whaaaaaat? Was just about to reveal my nefarious plan then laugh evilly! Can't it wait?"
"Uh... my deepest apologies Mistress of Sorrow, but we found a secret door at the end of one of the passages here in Predidio Bunker, and thought you should be apprised of the situation immediately," Informed the Inquisitor, not sure if he was going to be praised or executed for his initiative.
Lady rolled her large pink eyes yet again, then popped another bubble as she thought, "Oooh, a mystery door! This could be fun!" Then replied with an enigmatic smile, "Did well minion. Extra rations tonight. Take me there."
As the Inguisitor started to show Lady the way, she turned off the projector and handed the remote with the thumb drive to Brody, commanding in a regal manner, "Brody, take Eren to the lab and begin work."
Lady turned to follow the Inquisitor, then frowned, turning back to Brody and Eren adding, "Please. Oh... and, Bwa HA ha!"
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 21, 2015 16:56:02 GMT
"Gentlemen!" declared Di. "You are about to enter into the magical world of diapers! Since you both are here, you both will take one baby. No complaining! No stalling! If you want diapers changed, then you will follow my commands. Let the fun begin!
First, wash your hands. Good! Everything is ready, I see. As a first step you have to lay out the clean diapers. Done? Excellent! That was the easy part. Things are going to be more complicated from now on. Now you have to unfasten the diaper cover your baby's are wearing and bring down the front part of the cover. Well done, gentlemen! You are natural.
Unfasten the dirty diapers and pull down the front half. If your baby is a boy, you might want to cover his penis with a clean cloth or another diaper so he doesn't pee on either of you. What, Mister Batman? Too late for that already. Well, next time you know."
And evil grin appeared to Di's attractive virtual face while Atticus and Wolfram changed glances and Wolfram could hear Atticus muttering something about slavery and torturing. Wolfram himself felt like he was in hell but he clenched his teeth together and kept following orders.
"If there's poop in the diaper, use the front half of the diaper to wipe the bulk of it off your baby's bottom," continued Di with merciless voice. "I bet you have seen poop before in your lives, gentlemen so no frowning. Just wipe it gently off if there is any!
Now we try to maintain clean environment so as a next thing you will fold the dirty diaper in half under your babies, clean side up. That will save the surface and eases work of cleaning personnel. To do this, lift your baby's bottom off the table by grasping both ankles with one hand and gently lifting upward. Not that high! We are not in circus. At least yopu will learn something useful after I am done with you.
Clean your baby's front with a wet cloth or wipe now. You, with the baby girl, wipe her clean from front toward her bottom to prevent bacteria from causing an infection. Hygiene is important, keep that in mind!
Now you have to clean the poop, if there is any. If not, then don't dream to get away that easily. It's only a matter of time until there will be some of the stuff in diapers. You can either lift baby's legs or roll them gently to one side then the other. Be sure to clean in the creases of your baby's thighs and buttocks. Now you have to let babies skin to dry. if you are impatient and don't want to wait, then pat dry them with help of the piece of clean cloth. Gently, gentlemen! Now yu will have to remove dirty diaper. Show some courage and enthusiasm. It's for general good."
"She IS a dakking slaver," said Atticus to Wolfram. "How can you stand her every day?"
"You get used to it...at the end," muttered Wolfram. "I wonder if there is an opening for the next mission? Fertig!"
"Put the dirty diapers and covers aside now. Further away. Place the clean diaper underneath your babies so that the back edge is in line with your baby's waist. Are you done? You are. Now you have to pull the front half up to your baby's tummy. In case of the boy, be sure to point his willy down so he won't pee over the top of the diaper.
Since they are newborns then you will have to position your babies so the back of the diaper is higher than the front. You ask why? The answer is simple - you don't want the fabric to irritate the umbilical cord stump. Make sure that the part of the diaper between your baby's legs is spread as wide as seems to be comfortable for them. Let us continue. Fasten the diaper now and be damn sure the diaper is snug but not so tight that it pinches or I will pinch you both. See - diaper are one and it took us only about half an hour. Not a bad result for beginners. Last thing you have to do is to place the outer cover over it. If you managed to keep their previous ones clean then use them. Otherwise take new ones. Ta daa! You can out babies back where you took them. Now you have to get rid of this toxic waste and wash your hands again. No need to thank me, gentlemen. Always glad to help."
And Di returned to her post. After achieving that small but significant victory over babies, Atticus and Wolfram felt themselves like survivors of some famous last battle. They looked at each other again and Wolfram pulled out his Schnapps bottle, took a gulp and passed it to Atticus. He took a really long gulp as well and passed the bottle back. Then he asked:
"So what was that dakking important to call me and wake my babies up? And bring along that animal tamer of yours. Speak, von Eschen, or I make you to CLEAN those diapers. And as I said - no lectures! That's the Fool's job. Actually - the diaper changing would have been his job as well, but he is not here, so at least spare me from the lecture."
Wolfram sighed and replied: "Aber natürlich, Herr Batman. I came to share my assumptions about Lady Christianna. She left before I could confirm them. Shortly - she is not herself at moment. I suspect that she has postpartum depression and she felt that she is all alone and nobody cares about her. Postpartum depression occurs in women soon after giving birth. It's quite common among the women, but as I told, eh left too soon to be sure. But I doubt that she has common....how to say it....Verdammt! The "baby blues" of course. Lady's case wasn't that mild if she decided to leave. Unfortunate decision, because some counselling and reassurance and care would help her to win the illness.
Unfortunately there is also a danger that she might develop more lasting form of depression if we can't find and help her soon. If she stayed, everything would have been easier because symptoms would have been gone within 10-12 days after giving birth. But now....Poop! I mean Scheisse!"
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Post by Lady Christianna on Aug 22, 2015 4:51:39 GMT
Lady Christianna decoyed throught the false wall easy enough, but was surprised at what she found: A beautiful silver Challenger! Lady frowned as she was sure she had seen it before, but then remembered it had been the prize at a special car race in the Bay Area. Several members of her clan, Team Evolution had entered, and her father, Bocar, the quartermaster of the clan, had taken her there to watch, even though she wasn't old enough to join the clan yet. It had been quite an exciting race, and she remembered thinking the winner quite handsome for a human, although she didn't know him at the time. Lady had met the race's winner later, but didn't think about it at the time, but now that she did, a pout crossed her pretty Castithan face with the sudden realization of who the winner was, as she muttered out loud, "Crap, Taffer!"  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 22, 2015 11:02:34 GMT
Wolfram sighed and replied: "Aber natürlich, Herr Batman. I came to share my assumptions about Lady Christianna. She left before I could confirm them. Shortly - she is not herself at moment. I suspect that she has postpartum depression and she felt that she is all alone and nobody cares about her. Postpartum depression occurs in women soon after giving birth. It's quite common among the women, but as I told, she left too soon to be sure. But I doubt that she has common....how to say it....Verdammt! The "baby blues" of course. Lady's case wasn't that mild if she decided to leave. Unfortunate decision, because some counseling and reassurance and care would help her to win the illness.
Unfortunately there is also a danger that she might develop more lasting form of depression if we can't find and help her soon. If she stayed, everything would have been easier because symptoms would have been gone within 10-12 days after giving birth. But now....Poop! I mean Scheisse!"
I glared at him and, with depression in my own voice, said, "More likely she left because of ME! EVERYBODY leaves me eventually! So why not the woman I love?! Besides Lady was NOT alone and I cared and still do care about her completely! So much that I was willing to sacrifice all of my life's energies and essence to save her! However you are the shrink and you do seem to care about others enough to actually help them, unlike all those psycho-babblers that liked drugging and torturing Kabule and me on a regular dakking basis! Perhaps my EGO is right, in that I created and personally funded the psychward because, deep down somewhere, I knew that you and Volo actually care about helping others and are nothing like all the psycho-babblers I had ever met before coming to Fortress K'shaa.
However that does not change the fact that Lady left me behind and wants nothing to do with me or the rest of you! Hell she took my sister and that lovesick boy that I had to threaten with bodily harm in order to get him to quit trying to get into Lady's panties! Why the hell not take me?! I would have gone without a second thought, if she just asked!
Besides you are forgetting a couple of important facts. I do not know where she went or could be. She is somehow jamming my EGO communications with both her and Erika. Hell she has even somehow managed to block most of my hive mind connection with the piece of me in her pendant! I can sense her love for me through it still. However I can not sense where it is enough to pinpoint anything about it's location, except that it never left San Francisco!...Or perhaps that blockage was caused by me expending roughly 98% of my life energies and essence to save her.
I don't really know. I have only been a Grid/Irath hybrid for a few months due to another of my attempted self-sacrifices triggering my body to force-evolve as an attempt to keep me alive. As I am the first Grid hybrid in existence neither I, Kabule, nor our Grid symbiote, Kakusi can say for sure. However if that is the case, then perhaps I will be able to once again sense the pendant's location eventually, but can not give a timeline for that possibility. But if I am the reason that she left, then why the dak would she even consider seeing me again?!
Look I want Erika and especially Lady back more than anything. However unless you can figure out how to find them and convince them to come back, then I am better off just respecting her wish to do EVERYTHING that I can to protect our children and keep them safe, and at the moment I feel the best way of doing that is to resign from my position and move the three of us into an impenetrable building with unhackable systems. So I am in the process of doing just that! I have even already written out a permanent lease agreement for the building, which the second highest ranking officer on base, Chris Robet, has already approved and signed."
As I took a second to just tickle my children and contemplate everything, my eyes flashed green for a second showing that the love and family focused Atticus is still in there somewhere, before going back to their currently opalescent gray state. Then I said, "Von Eschen....Wolfram, I miss my wife completely and want her back more than anything in existence but am not sure, based on her note and actions, that she ever wants to come back to any of us and especially not to me!.......
However, if you really are certain that she is just acting out from depression and that you can help her with her illness, then I will do anything that I can to help her in any way possible. I just want her to be happy....like I thought she was with me. I will not currently change my plans with that secured building just yet, however as it is still being modified to my specifications and Doctor Orion is not ready to release the twins from the infirmary for at least a few more days, I suppose you have at least until then before I resign completely. So I will give you access to anything that you need in order to prove or disprove your theory. And I will always be available to help Lady in every way possible, ALWAYS! Even after I move into the completely secure building. So if we can figure out her location, then I will do whatever you suggest, in order to try to help her. Although I still think she left because I drive everyone away and have my whole life! "
After a few more seconds I said almost inaudibly, "Thanks for bringing your slave driver to teach me how to change the twins, but I NEED to know something, sooooo..........Please tell me the truth! Is it my fault that she left us? Is it MY fault?!" Then after a second, I managed to choke down my anger, at myself, yet again. So I picked up both twins and sat on the bed. I then got more comfortable and leant back on the bed and held them lovingly to my chest, not actually expecting a real answer from Doctor Von Eschen, as I have never known a shrink to tell any semblance of the truth.
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 22, 2015 18:17:08 GMT
Wolfram looked at mourning giant and said: "I should ask like Pontius Pilatus: "What is truth" Something you want to hear or something you might be afraid of? Let's just stick to the dry facts. Objectively. Show me that message again...As I guessed - not a single word to blame you for her leaving. The world is not revolving around you, mein freund. It even doesn't revolve around me, although I like to think that way. Most of us do and Lady Christianna is not an exception. You probably never had time to be a teenager. I had that chance long time ago and I still remember my insecurity about my place in the world. And now everything was made to serve me and my purposes. And that disappointment when I realized that it wasn't so.
Lady Christianna must have been feeling that way too. She wants to be somebody. She has postpartum depression as well. Together these two factors made her to make that step. Not because of you or me or anyone else, but because she BELIEVED that she is alone. We all know that she was mistaken, mein freund. Lady Christianna was not alone. She only feels that way. And if you keep locking yourself in, then you can't help her at all.
Volodja Uljanov would say the same thing, because...I am the living example of the man who locked himself out from the world and swallowed the key. He sneaked in and carried me to the daylight again, that verfluchte trespasser! But I am thankful to him for doing that. I became alive again. And his actions allowed me to be here and try to talk some sense into your stubborn head. All I ask is to think about my words."
Wolfram finished his speech and had another sip from his "medicine" bottle. Talking makes one's throat dry. And Wolfram wasn't sure how Atticus reacts to his words. If he triggered a monster then better face it being slightly drunk. And Wolfram started to sing an old song, he heard in UK when he was an eager young man, getting his degree:
"Oh when I die, don't bury me at all,
Just pickle my bones - in alcohol!
Put a bottle o' beer, at my head and my feet,
And then I know MY BONES WILL KEEP!"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 23, 2015 12:01:03 GMT
Laying on the hospital bed, still holding the twins to my big chest, I glanced at the singing doctor and said, "I have no idea who Pontius Pilate is, but I do get your point. However you are right that I never had a chance to be a teenager, nor do I know how one should act. Why would I? Everyone else on this base may be a creature of the light, a do-gooder at heart, however I am not. I was born from the contempt and hatred that this world had shown me, since I first awoke from darkness as a small 'boy' in a medical transport near Omec Colony. As such I am a creature of darkness who only knew how to hate and kill until meeting these do-gooders. Childhood is strictly for beings of the light such as you, Lady Christianna, our children and all the other lightsiders who live here. Not for creatures of the dark, such as myself. However Lady's undying love gave me a reason to ignore my instincts and want to drag myself into the light. In doing so, she taught me that I not only have a soul but that I could even love somebody unconditionally. Dak, she even made me feel like I deserved friends and family! She deserves both a lot more than I ever will!! However you have made me realize something else from my past. By growing up the way that I did, I was basically raised by the sword.
As such I have learned that the weak always perish and usually face their gruesome fate very quickly and before they can live the life that they have earned. The strongly fierce and loyal can not truly be brokrn or beaten. They will always persevere and shall reap what they sow in the end."
My eyes flashed white as I said, "I am anything but weak, and I am completely loyal to my friends and family, especially Lady! So I will do what I can to prove to her that her family will always be here for her, with open arms, when she is ready to come home.
As for locking myself away, I still can not promise I will not do so, just that I will go day by day as I try to find Lady and get her to come back to us. Nor can I promise yet, that I will go back to being the hero that everyone was hoping I was becoming, or if I will go back to being the Demon of Death that I was."
I pointed at my current armor choice nearby and said, "For now being a 'Shadow Warrior', is the best that I can offer."
"Besides even if, you do get your way and, I do eventually decide not to completely lock myself and my children away from this horrible world, I still can not currently stand going back to my quarters without Lady there. There is also the fact that our quarters is not big enough for a family, nor is it child friendly. The building I am now leasing, and having modified, is!"
Just then I felt a little movement in my arms and looked down to see a set of green eyes and a set of blue eyes looking up at me, seemingly curiously. Perhaps they could sense my inner turmoil and are also curious what I will do?
  
I smiled slightly at the twins and my eyes flashed blue, then green, as I kissed both their foreheads and whispered very quietly, knowing they most likely inherited my enhanced senses, "Relax, I will control myself and my instincts for the two of you, and your mother." The twins both appeared to smile at me after hearing my words, then they snuggled close to each other on my chest and drifted to sleep.
After I was certain that they had settled down and were indeed sleeping peacefully on my chest, I looked back at Wolfram and calmly said, "Anyway, I suppose what I am saying is: I will not lock myself away until we are completely certain that Lady will not come back to us. However if she doesn't, then my children and I move into that building as our protection from all the pain in this world, with it modified the way I have already requested. But if Lady does come back to us, her family, then she decides whether we stay in our crowded quarters, find a way to combine several quarters to give us as much room as we will need, or move into that building after it is re-modified to be a secured home for our family; instead of the impenetrable bunker to keep out the pain of the world, that it is currently being designed to be. Unless she comes up with a completely different suggestion for our family. Either way, I am afraid that this is the best that I can offer for now, Wolfram." |
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