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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 11, 2015 12:05:04 GMT
I heard Belle's were volge utter something, then saw her leave. However I was busy trying to stop my soulmate from making a huge mistake, so I had to hope she would just wander to the Warf like the last time. Then Volo came over and started talking to Lady as I started charging my body for something that I knew I would regret later. However Volo's conversation at least got Lady to sit down and listen, even if she was still obsessing over that damn button. So after Volo said his peace, I tried again.
I put gently placed my hand on Volo's shoulder as a sign of trust and friendship, as I said, "Tianna, my love, our Mighty Fool is right as usual. Look around you. Friends and lovers are fighting friends and lovers. Some under a form of control, others fighting to save their friends from said control. If one rules completely then others will always fight for their freedom. Those that just give in and do what their masters want, have no humanity left at that point. Believe me, I know because I was at that point before meeting you and Belle.
This world that you grew up in was created by terraforming, the same terraforming that you want to use now. It may create some nice terrain but at the cost of thousands, if not millions, of lives. I know that deep down you would never want to be the cause of so many innocent and good people being injured or killed. If you did then you would have shot me just minutes ago when I told you to. Besides not everyone wants the fame. You think I like that I am a monster that is hated by most?! Well I don't! Look at me! I always hid behind a helmet, not because of what others may think of me, but because I have always hated who I see behind the damn helmets! You have made me realize that the man behind the helmet is truly the important part about me, that there is a part of me that can be a part of humanity, instead of destroying it, like the Inquisition is planning to do with your teraspires and the Omec technologies that they now have. That is why I now let our friends see me in just my organic mask and don't always wear a helm in base anymore. Although I am not certain I will ever be completely comfortable with the idea of letting everyone see the face behind the mask.
Also my name, Atticus, was not only borrowed from a fictional villain, but it is also part of Old Earth's history. There was an infamous prison where they sent the worst of the worst named Attica. Sound familiar? Anyway Atticus means man from Attica. I have said before I am not a stupid man. I know that the old me belonged in such a place or honestly dead and rotting in Hell. That is not me anymore. The Harbinger of Death that was so infamous is a terror in the hearts of men and a creature of darkness. I am no longer that man although I can feel that beast fighting to get out. A fight that I must always win to be with the only woman that I will ever love unconditionally. Also a fight that I am......dak this is hard to finally admit but...honestly having trouble winning at the moment, without you in my life.
However I also tried being completely good and realized that Atticus the white knight will never work either. The real me is the man in front of you right now. I am Atticus Batman, Shadow Warrior and Commander of Fortress Ka'shaa. However it is empty without you there with me. I have had a second Command chair made for the War Room just for you. It is red and if all agree then when WE return home it will be placed by the side of mine. SO you can sit with me, as my equal and the WOMAN that I love completely, whenever you want.
As I said, I also acquired a private home for us. It has a Control room as well and that one already has both of our Command thrones in it. The twins are in their new cribs, in our new home as we speak, with two of the five men I would most trust with their protection and care. Darling you do not need fame. Besides those that truly are remembered forever are those that earned the fame or infamy without ever trying for it or wanting it. I love you completely and know that one day you will have gotten the recognition you deserve. However this is the way The mistress of Judgment would want. Not the way your father would want you to be remembered and one day you will realize that it is not the way you want remembered or the way that you want our kids to remember their mother.
So please come home and at least take some time to actually think about everything with out the influence of Newlo, your mother, or their drugs. We also have a sister to help. I am afraid that this time, Volo, Vo and I may not be able to help her.
She blames herself for everything that is happening between us. So I am certain that only the Lady Christianna that we all love and care about, can convince Belle to come back. So please prove that you are indeed the wonderful WOMAN that we all know you are, and deep down that you strive to be, and help us get her back. Then come back home, so I can be by YOUR side where I truly belong." |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Sept 11, 2015 14:23:08 GMT
As Lena and Marcel made love in the hallway outside Lady Christianna's throne room, this time not controlled by anything but their own libidos, Broderick Smythe, still dressed in the tattered wizard's costume, crawled through the secret door from the honeycomb of passages he had the Inquisition install throughout Presidio Bunker. As Lena and Marcel were otherwise occupied, he continued crawling, blowing bubbles with the gum in his mouth as he did, until he was next to the unconscious body of Sandy Bell, an Omec control rod in his hand. He stole a quick kiss from her sweet lips, then as he prepared to thrust the rod into her neck, he began to hum lowly a tune from an old video game and television show, Pokémon, mumbling at the last, "Gotta catch them all." Whether it was the unwanted kiss or the off-tune humming that woke up Sandy, even she couldn't tell, but she woke up undeniably angry, as the mad look on her tanned pretty face would attest to, when she exclaimed, "Not in this lifetime, buster!" Sandy slugged Brody so hard that his whole body rose inches off the ground, which was a pretty decent accomplishment when one considers she was punching from a prone position. Never-the-less, Brody fell unconscious like a load of bricks. Sandy stood up, dusting herself off, and looked at him with a frown before pulling the Omec control rod out of his neck and the bubble gum out of his mouth. Sandy then glanced over to where Marcel and Lena were still making love, uninterrupted in the slightest by what was going on around them, and said with a look of disdain in her big blue eyes, "Jesus, why don't you guys go get a fucking room!" Lena smiled wickedly, not bothering to look up but between one passionate French kiss and the next, asked, "Oooohhh! They have those here?"  |
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Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Sept 11, 2015 14:29:57 GMT
"So, my little byte-muncher, do your parents finally allow you walk this far?" Lu said, looking at the Monolith with a smirk. "Yes aunt Luusuk, they finally understood I've grown up enough", Esthete returned the joke, seemingly surprised by the fact he could understand and even say jokes in real time without having to plan them beforehand and they didn't need to serve any specific purpose for them to be included in his speech. "I also can finally take the control of this Ark's AI to prevent any misuse of it", he added to Lu, who was looking back at the Ark with concern on her face because Klimi, her Ego psyche, informed her that Chase's EGO signal disappeared. She queried for his last known location and to her dismay, it was at the other side of the Ark. "What the jek is going on?!" She muttered, scanning the environment for other enemies they might have missed but finding none. "Esthete, I trust you to do your job for these people. Keep them safe, commandeer the Ark, do whatever you think is best to do. Something is still going on here and I'm going to find out what." With that said she jumped into her Hellblazer truck and speeded back to the entrance of the Ark. She scanned for enemies or other life forms again and found no one other than tied up Inquisitors they left in one of the hallways. With a sinking feeling that something went terribly wrong, she rushed to the room with the Terraspire, as it was the important part of their mission and should be finished no matter what. She saw Iri on the floor and got up to her with several leaps, checking her for life signs. "Klimi, didn't you tell me there are no life forms in here?" "Her life signs are very weak; I've detected them only when you got closer. She's in coma and I'm afraid I can't give any good prognosis." Lu found a big wound at the back of her head and started to bandage it, although the bleeding had already stopped by the action of Iri's implants. "Esthete, are you in the system yet?" She called through her EGO while she worked, still remembering what the important part of their mission was, "Can you see in what status is this terraforming system?" "Yes I can Miss Luuzuk. The calibration data is missing from the Core. The system's AI cannot start without it. "So does it mean it's off for good?" "Definitely yes, until the Ark Matrix is placed back into the Terrasphere or a new one is created for it. The Ark Matrix contains the calibration data for both the Core and the Spire. Given they are individual for each system, it will take a lot of work and time to perform all the measurements in order to recreate it. Besides, this might be interesting for you as well. The Terraspire was connected into some sort of an array to work in sync with other Terraspires. I'm in the process of retrieving additional information on them." "Good, good, keep me informed", Lu replied to Esthete, feeling relieved that their mission here seemingly ended with success, but still concerned about the newly acquired information about the whole array of Terraspires ready to be activated. But as she could not do anything about them at that moment, she concentrated on what she actually could do to bring Iri back to life and also find out what happened to Chase. With the help of Klimi's scan of her head and the smashed bullet she found right beside Iri's hand she found out that her brain wasn't injured by the bullet as her head was shielded by something strong enough to deflect the bullet (Lu immediately thought of Chase's prosthetic arm) but the impact created a huge swelling in her scull which, in its turn, had put her into a coma. After making sure Iri's condition were stable, she pulled her up on her shoulder and started her way back to her Nomad, not hesitating to thank Iri for keeping herself fit and in a rather light form. Once she reached her truck, she folded the back of the passenger seat and placed Iri in it, making sure her head would be safe when the truck started moving. After all precautions were made, she drove the truck where Klimi had received the last signal from Chase' EGO. The site she found there was horrible. The body of the Inquisitor with his head smashed into a mess, a bag she identified as Chase's and a sign that read "CARE NO MORE" written in blood. What happened there finally dawned on her. Someone had shot Iri and Chase thought she was dead. Driven by revenge, he chased his enemy until he killed him and then he left into the desert according to the trace on the ground. "Jek, I need to find him and do it quick before he does something bad to himself or someone else." She quickly sifted through Chase's things in his bag hoping to find any clues on where he could go to, but found nothing except the small part which Klimi identified as Ark Matrix and another one which was the freshly extracted EGO unit She secreted both of them in her pocket and then got back into her truck, pulling Chase's bag with her. "And now, my indigo-eyed friend, let's find let's find your man and show him that he greatly underestimates your survival abilities", Lu said to the still unconscious Iri as she moved the truck forward, following Chase's traces in the dust. But she could not advance for too long because the strong wind raised clouds of dust around here roller, masking all traces and blocking the view. "It's never easy", muttered Lu. "Klimi, mark this spot on the map. Now visualize your scan range for me and keep scanning", she commanded to her EGO and started to zigzag her roller around the rough direction Chase was last known heading to by now disappeared traces. "Lu, you ordered me to remind and warn you so I do. The razor storm is coming and we're going too far away from known safe shelters", Klimi said in her head in an impassive voice, in contrast to what feelings those words invoked in Lu's soul. Lu hit the brakes, making her truck to stop in place and lowered her head until her forehead met the steering wheel. She sat in that pose for about half a minute without moving until she finally raised her head and turned it to Iri, her eyes becoming wet with tears hidden behind her goggles.  "I thought I'd never have to do that again, but I have to play the bad guy here", she said gloomily, "Someone should survive this mess and it will be me and you. I don't know what's there in that direction he probably went. If he finds a shelter to wait out a storm, he has a chance to survive and come back. And if not… then he made his choice and I'm going to make mine. If you hate me for this too, then I'll find my consolation in the fact that at least you're alive enough to hate me." Having said that, she turned her roller around and raced back to the Ark while first chunks of razor rain started to hit the shield of her Hellblazer. |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Sept 11, 2015 14:45:17 GMT
Marcel grinned after Sandy's remark and between kisses said innocently: "Not our fault that you are dating with an obvious impotent who missed his opportunity when you offered it. You can watch some more and learn something from able people or give us some privacy, soldier girl."
He loved Lena's way of taking him down. It was most enjoyable and there was a reason to celebrate - Lena was alive! Lena was well! And Lena was in the mood for making love! Great! And good doers did the most of the job by themselves. But he still had a score to settle with Inquisition. They made him to suffer for the presumable loss of Lena and they will pay for it. Later, of course. First they will take everything from their reunion party. Sex first, violence second.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Sept 11, 2015 14:51:30 GMT
As pink tears began to stream out her eyes, smearing her war paint into long streams of mascara as they went down her alabaster cheeks, Lady Christianna lost all pretense of being in command of the situation. The Mistress of Sorrow was gone, and all that was left was a lost little teenage waif. Lady ran to Atticus, throwing herself at him and hugging him as she sobbed, like a child that was lost in a mall and has finally been found by her parent. Her head burrowed hard into his chest, as she continually said over and over, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry..." Suddenly the sound of one person clapping filled the room as the five screens above the throne room's door lit up, all of them showing at the same picture of a red robed woman in an elaborate horned mask clapping where she stood, the Mistress of Judgment then saying, "Wonderful play, although not the ending I hoped for, but still a wonderfully dramatic ending! I would have preferred, Lady, that you had pushed the button, just to show that you had the strength of will to do so, but we can't have everything. Of course, if she had done so, nothing would have happened. My grandchildren need a world with people to rule, not an empty wasteland, no matter how well intentioned it's conception. However Lady, for the most part you passed my test, and went father then my expectations, so Bravo that!"  As Volodja glanced over and could indeed see that the red button was not attached to any wires, he reached over and opened the casing, seeing that in fact it was empty of any electronic mechanisms. Lady meanwhile stopped crying, frowning as she lifted her young chalk white face from Atticus' chest to view the screen better, but still holding him as tight as a drowning person hold a life preserver, then said belligerently, "A test? All this was a stupid test?" "Of course, my child, and you passed, although not with flying colors as you would have if you had pushed the button - but still a passing mark! The plan, as you said, was indeed yours, and quite grandiose if not flawed! I merely wanted to see if you would use the spire here in Presidio, but you went much further linking it with the others! Finding the Indogene slave drug formula was just lucky kismet, but you ran with that as well! I gave you the resources and the initial nudge, but you ran with it quite nicely! Bravo again!" "But...why?" Tears began to run down Lady's face again, the magnitude of what she had done threatening to overwhelm her, but she forced herself to stare straight at the screens with unblinking pink eyes, although her lower lip began to quiver, "Why would you want me to do... all this?" "Why, to show to me that you are a suitable replacement for me, to become the future Mistress of Judgment when I do decide to retire, and to be a suitable parent for the future conqueror of Earth, little Cosmin, and his sister, Caprice, who herself will one day be the Mistress of Judgment," Said The Mistress of Judgment with confidence, her chalk white hands gesturing wildly as she spoke, "To be sure you are the proper guardian of the prophecy. You proved yourself as ruthless and conniving as I hoped you would be, if not more so! So fear not, you will make a wonderful Mistress of Judgment when you are older and more seasoned! You have great potential there!" Lady merely whimpered, burying her small head once more into Atticus' broad chest as her heart sank like a lead weight, fearing that everything her mother said was true. |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 11, 2015 15:48:59 GMT
"I assumed that you were behind all of this," said Volodja calmly. "It was your style to manipulate with others. And I expected to you to show up at one point. Don't bother say something, like "Oh the pet can talk". Just spare me from that. I remember your attitude from the last time we met. You still seem to underestimate human mind, Mistress, and one day it backfires. I am quite sure about that. But since you obviously prefer that the family reunion will be a "Votans only" event, then I hope that you are not mind if I leave, Mistress. I can't offer you any entertainment. It wasn't exactly a honour to meet you, and I believe that our opinions about each other are mutual.
No matter how I try, you won't take me seriously, so there is no point to waste my time here, Mistress. When to think about it, then I don't have to prove to you anything. Atticus...Lady...I will see you later." After that Volodja smiled to his friends and nodded to Mistress of Judgement. Then turned around and started to leave the room. Proudly. Yes, he acted like an enfant terrible, but what he could do - he was one, and at least Sophie recognized that, providing him with the sounds of march by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - another enfant terrible:
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Post by Belle Starr on Sept 11, 2015 16:11:49 GMT
As a Were-Volge, Belle Starr could move much faster than any human and soon found herself at the seashore sitting on the sand watching the waves. As her inner Volge relaxed, she changed back to human form, but still took a moment to enjoy the view. Belle had convinced her inner monster to run away so that she could keep her promise to Volodja not to hurt anyone, and that was the only way she was sure she wouldn't after she had Volged-out. Suddenly her mental reverie was interrupted by the harsh ring of her hailer, secreted in a special compartment of her expandable armor to keep it safe during her transformation. "Belle Starr here," Answered Belle, "Ara? What can I do... Law Keeper Cooper?... He's headed where?... To do what?... And you agreed with this... No, I'm not happy about it, but I do appreciate the heads up! You DO know Atticus will never stand for it...Cooper's coming with that many, huh?... I'll try to intervene, but I'm not there at the moment, but I'll head back!... Yeah, me too! Bye!" As Belle began to blur back towards the Presidio Bunker, she contacted all her team mates's EGOs within range save Lady's, relaying Ara's message, "Law Keeper Cooper is coming to Presidio Bunker to arrest Lady, with about half of her and my ark hunter clan, Team Evolution, deputized in case there is trouble. Lady's father, Bocar is with them, so the hope to take her without resistance. Ara Shondu herself signed the warrant, and I'm afraid i's my fault this is going down, because I promised the Law keeper I'd keep him informed when Indogenes began to become missing in the Bay Area, and I did let him know of Lady's involvement. I'll try to intersect them at the Presidio's entrance, but if I don't make it in time - Atticus, don't do anything crazy! I know you and Cooper don't like each other, but don't let that cloud your judgment! Taffer, if you hear me, see if you can do anything to intercede at your end!"  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 12, 2015 2:17:04 GMT
As I held my crying wife, I listened to her conversation with her mother. Then as Volo dismissed himself, and Lady continued to whimper, I said to Lady, "Pay NO attention to the person behind the screen. She is nothing but an insolent gashika kaziri(Irath for: Worthless serpent/snake), or perhaps a humbug, as some humans would say! You showed great strength of will by NOT pushing that button or shooting me and instead doing what YOU felt was right, instead of what SHE wanted and you desired."
I continued to hold Lady a little longer, then I received Belle's EGO message. "Law Keeper Cooper is coming to Presidio Bunker to arrest Lady, with about half of her and my ark hunter clan, Team Evolution, deputized in case there is trouble. Lady's father, Bocar is with them, so the hope to take her without resistance. Ara Shondu herself signed the warrant, and I'm afraid i's my fault this is going down, because I promised the Law keeper I'd keep him informed when Indogenes began to become missing in the Bay Area, and I did let him know of Lady's involvement. I'll try to intersect them at the Presidio's entrance, but if I don't make it in time - Atticus, don't do anything crazy! I know you and Cooper don't like each other, but don't let that cloud your judgment! Taffer, if you hear me, see if you can do anything to intercede at your end!"
My eyes glowed white hot. So white hot that the bright white glow can be seen, even through my helmet's lense covers, but I barely managed to fight it back again. Then I look up and said, "Marcel, Lena, get yourselves together! Sandy you and Volodja NEED to get Lady and the others back to the safety of the Fortress, IMMEDIATELY!"
I raised my helm enough to reveal my mouth, then lifted lady's face, by a finger under her chin, so she is looking up at me. I gently and lovingly kiss her on the lips. After reluctantly breaking the kiss and embrace, I pushed Lady into Sandy's arm as she approached Lady and myself.
Then I said, "Go with Sandy! I must stay here and meet a welcoming party!"
Sandy said, "Commander Batman, what are you going to do? You can NOT hurt them!"
Lady looked at us questioningly, presumably not completely sure what was now happening, and I said, "I will hurt nobody today, Sandy.....Well not much anyway."
"Just help Volodja get everyone back to the Fortress. If I do not arrive there shortly after all of you, then Belle and Taffer will receive a hailer message from the lawkeepers soon afterwards. If that happens, Taffer will once again be the Commander of the team."
I gently kissed Lady again, and she begged, "Atticus! Don't leave! Whatever you are planning, DON'T!"
I took off my helmet and kissed her again and my eyes now glowed green as I said calmly, the love and commitment for my family obvious in my voice, "What I do now, I do for the love of you and our children. They need their mother. The law keepers need somebody to blame. So I will give them one more deserving of the blame."
"Do not worry Snow Angel. You will ALWAYS have my ugbe (Irath for: heart), and the knowledge that our love can indeed triumph will keep me going, no matter what happens to me next." I hugged and kissed her even harder and more lovingly and passionately than ever before as I continued with, "Just be strong and keep being who you want to be, and never stop dreaming. I love you completely and forever, no matter what. NEVER forget that."
Then I looked around at everyone and as I headed toward the main door I said, "Tha rikisa (Irath for: Farewell)!"
After I got outside, I placed my helmet on a rock with my amakune leaning against it. Then I unloaded my guns and placed them down as well, just as Cooper and the others arrived and got out of their vehicles. Cooper approached me with his gun drawn, and I said, "Eseneziri (A Irath greeting: literally meaning; without weapons or concealed intentions). You go no further for your journey ends with me. We know that you need somebody to blame and everyone KNOWS you would prefer it be ME. So I will put it simply. I did it ALL. Lady was drugged thanks to this gum, and ALL the blame is MINE!" I tossed a couple of pieces at him and said, "Go ahead have one of your EGO-enhanced deputies diagnose it, and see for yourself!" Just then I punched Cooper HARD in the mouth to make my point and his deputies quickly drew their guns.
When Bocar stepped around Cooper with cuffs in his hands, I sent him an EGO message. "It is best for everyone this way. So make me the villain, arrest me, and let the team get Lady the help that she needs." Then I put my hands behind my back to make it easy for them to cuff me.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 12, 2015 3:26:39 GMT
"We have two choices - to sneak out and leave Atticus behind and count Cooper's and Bocar's sense of justice or try to help him. If we decide to sneak away then main gates are out of the question. The drama occurs in front of them. Sandy mentioned possible air shafts or portals in this bunker. We entered through the main door so we could not find alternative entrance, but that doesn't mean that we can't use it for leaving the place. It's not the one way road after all. Unfortunately we don't have plans of the bunker and time for exploring the place. But we have one particular Broderick Smythe with us who is burning in desire to undo his past mistakes. Am I right?"
"Sort of...I mean...I can turn myself in, confess all and save Lady Christianna," said Brody gallantly.
"I am afraid that your noble step won't help us very much. They still want Lady," stated Volodja. "If we chose to leave then we need your knowledge about the place."
"I can always peel him until he speaks. Then we don't need the nerd at all," offered Lena in most helpful manner, hopping Bowie knife in her white hand. "What do you think?"
"I think it's unnecessary use of violence," said Volodja. "He wants to help Lady into safety. But we need to hear Lady's opinion on the matter as well. She is the Mistress of her own fate. What do you want to do, Lady? Do you want to leave or stay and take responsibility? I accept your decision and respect it, no matter what you chose to do.
Lena and Marcel. You are free to go, because you are not directly involved with this affair. You two are always on your own side and since you placed your cards well, nobody can tell are you good or bad guys.
Erika. You are the victim, so nobody touches you. They will let you go after interrogation. I believe that you don't press charges against Lady anyway.
Sandy, my girl. You are free to decide for yourself, because we entered the bunker together as a part of the rescue team. That makes you one of the good guys, so you can either stay or leave."
My personal opinion about the possible solution would be going out myself, and trying to talk some sense into the hot heads outside, but I will follow the rules of democracy."
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Post by Lady Christianna on Sept 12, 2015 5:21:02 GMT
Lady Christianna merely shook her chalk white head smiling enigmatically and said, "Invisible once more - no more!" Then cloaked and headed for the entrance of the Presidio bunker unhindered. There, as Bocar was about to handcuff Atticus behind his back, she exclaimed as she uncloaked, "NO DADDY! All my fault, not Atticus! ME!"
Bocar frowned as he put the handcuffs around his daughter's thin chalk white wrists, but Lady merely bobbed her head and continued her Mona Lisa smile, "Belle said with great power comes great responsibility. Had the great power, now comes the great responsibility."
Bocar nodded his head sadly in understanding, but before he could lead her to the paddy wagon, Lady said, "One sec please, then turned, stood on her tip toes, and kissed Atticus as hard as she could given she was handcuffed, saying afterwards as she stared at him with moist pink eyes, "Love you... always do, always will! Remember: This is Justice, and YOU are all about Justice."
Belle Starr ran up just then, quickly understanding what was going on by what she saw, and said, "I'll go with Lady! Trust me, once I've talked to Ara in person, she'll understand! Besides, Lady is a minor and no one was killed, if you don't count Inquisitors, which I don't, and I don't think anyone else will either! Y'all don't worry Atticus!"
Cooper frowned, straightening his cowboy hat, and merely nodded curtly in agreement as Bocar led Lady to the black Durango that had been converted into a paddy wagon for Paradise. Belle still stayed near the rear, watching Atticus with a concerned look on her pretty freckled face, but not sure anyone could stop him if he was determined to take Lady by force, knowing only that she would have to try if he did.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 12, 2015 5:48:26 GMT
"Très bien" said Marcel. "We are leaving the scene and that snot (he pointed to Brody) will tell us how. I do not like to talk with representers of the law that much as you may think. They are boring and restricted. I believe in personal freedom of action and they have a different opinion about that. And I believe that we have some payback to do, Lena darling. The Inquisition will regret they moment they decided to play with US. So, Broderick Snot, it is time to clear your mouth and lead us to the back door. And one more thing. Where is Micor Newlo? I believe that I promised something to do with him and if you want to avoid me practising chirurgy on YOU, then you will tell me his location and everything else you know about the future cripple."
While Brody described escape paths and squealed on Micor Newlo to the Diabolic Duo, rest of the folk started to leave through the main entrance. After Brody was done with talking he run after them like a puppy, afraid of being left behind.
"You know, folk," said Volodja after stepping to the stage, accompanied by Sandy and Erika....and Brody who caught up with them. "I think we should arrange an improvised court session right here on fresh air to save time and trouble. We can vouch for Lady Christianna and pay the bail for her. She won't run away, because she had that chance and she decided to stay and take responsibility for her actions."
"That's fuck...I mean, that's affirmative," said Sandy Bell. "You must listen her side of the story as well."
Erika Widowmaker nodded and added: "I won't press charges about abduction against her, so there is one case less to handle, Gentlemen."
"We can inform Ara Shondu that Lady gave herself in voluntarily and that already speaks FOR her. She is ready to cooperate and as long as I see it, she was taken advantage of. Especially when we consider her delicate mental condition after giving birth and influence of certain biochemical compounds she was involuntarily subjugated to. How it's going to be?" asked Volodja Uljanov.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 12, 2015 9:18:48 GMT
As Bocar was about to handcuff me behind my back, Lady Christianna exclaimed as she uncloaked, "NO DADDY! All my fault, not Atticus! ME!"
Bocar frowned as he put the handcuffs around his daughter's thin chalk white wrists, but Lady merely bobbed her head and continued her Mona Lisa smile, "Belle said with great power comes great responsibility. Had the great power, now comes the great responsibility."
Bocar nodded his head sadly in understanding, but before he could lead her to the paddy wagon, Lady said, "One sec please, then turned, stood on her tip toes, and kissed Atticus as hard as she could given she was handcuffed, saying afterwards as she stared at him with moist pink eyes, "Love you... always do, always will! Remember: This is Justice, and YOU are all about Justice."
Belle Starr ran up just then, quickly understanding what was going on by what she saw, and said, "I'll go with Lady! Trust me, once I've talked to Ara in person, she'll understand! Besides, Lady is a minor and no one was killed, if you don't count Inquisitors, which I don't, and I don't think anyone else will either! Y'all don't worry Atticus!"
Cooper frowned, straightening his cowboy hat, and merely nodded curtly in agreement as Bocar led Lady to the black Durango that had been converted into a paddy wagon for Paradise. Belle still stayed near the rear, watching me with a concerned look on her pretty freckled face, but not sure anyone could stop me if I was determined to take Lady by force, knowing only that she would have to try if he did.
I listened and watched as Lady was escorted to the paddy wagon with Belle watching me to see what I would do. I walked to the wagon, and before anybody could respond I leaned in and I kissed Lady with all the feeling I had, then said, "This is NOT justice, but if it is what you want, then I will respect your wishes. The children and I will await your return. Let us hope it is soon, like Belle thinks."
Just then the others came out and added their two cents on the matter, as I walked back toward the entrance to the Presidio.
"You know, folk," said Volodja after stepping to the stage, accompanied by Sandy and Erika....and Brody who caught up with them. "I think we should arrange an improvised court session right here on fresh air to save time and trouble. We can vouch for Lady Christianna and pay the bail for her. She won't run away, because she had that chance and she decided to stay and take responsibility for her actions."
"That's fuck...I mean, that's affirmative," said Sandy Bell. "You must listen her side of the story as well."
Erika Widowmaker nodded and added: "I won't press charges about abduction against her, so there is one case less to handle, Gentlemen."
"We can inform Ara Shondu that Lady gave herself in voluntarily and that already speaks FOR her. She is ready to cooperate and as long as I see it, she was taken advantage of. Especially when we consider her delicate mental condition after giving birth and influence of certain biochemical compounds she was involuntarily subjugated to. How it's going to be?" asked Volodja Uljanov.
I listened to our friends talk, then said, "Volodja, I already gave Cooper some of the gum we have, so he can analyze it. Make sure he gets all the information we have with us, on the matters at hand. Especially in reference to how the Mistress and her Inquisition manipulated and victimized Lady. Erika, Belle is going with Lady so you can drive her challenger back to the Fortress, so it is not left here, if you want. I assume that Sandy will ride with Volodja, so they may prefer if you give Smythe a lift back. Do not worry about me. I will walk back. I need to clear my head, ALONE."
Next I turned to Cooper and said. "Well Jonnyboy it looks like you still do NOT get to see me rot behind bars. Poor guy. Maybe somebody should feel sorry for you since, even on the only occasion that I willingly turned myself in, I STILL slipped from your grasp. However it sure won't be me. Perhaps you can find a gullible sucker to feel sorry for you though."
Cooper responded with, "No matter how much you walk the line, I know you will never stay clean and when you slip up again, I will be there to arrest you, Harbinger. However even if you do surprise me and stay out of trouble, you are still an extreme...."
I interrupted Cooper, and I said, "Yes I know I am an extreme asshole and if anything happens to Lady in YOUR custody then," My eyes once again flashed white, as I continued with, "YOU WILL SEE THE TRUE FACE OF TERROR AND NIGHTMARES, BEFORE YOU DIE! I PROMISE YOU THAT!!!"
After saying that, I walked over to my equipment and put my helmet back on. Then I reloaded my guns and re-equipped all of my gear. Next I turned and walked into the San Francisco waste, alone to clear my head, and perhaps kill any dangerous thing that gets in my way.
As I disappeared from everyone's sight, I made a hailer call to Taffer. "Taffer, Lady is in Cooper's custody. Send Blowhard Cooper everything we have that can exonerate Lady or lessen her charges."............
"No, we didn't stop any teraspheres or find the Omec enslavement stuff that Lady had the designs for. Belle is going back with Lady, so she can try to talk to Ara Shondu. Volodja and the rest of the team are still at the Presidio but are heading back as soon as Volodja is done trying to reason with Law Keeper Pooper. I need time to clear my head. So you are in charge of everything until I get back. However I am still not sure if the twins are safe yet. So keep them under Vo's and Kaj's guardianship for the time being. I do hope that all is quiet enough on your end, that Vo has had a chance to rest at least a little and recover from his surgery.".....
"Don't worry. I just need some time alone to clear my head but I will be home before too late so I can spend some time with the twins. They need atleast one parent and the rest of my family still needs and wants me there as well...or atleast I hope that they do, even if I did fail Lady, and perhaps even the team and world, since I didn't figure out and stop the Inquisition's current plans. However at some point I WILL make sure Newlo, the Mistress of Judgment, and even Skarr pay with their lives!"
I then closed my hailer, ending the conversation, as I continued my slow walk of solitude back towards Fortress Ka'Shaa.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 12, 2015 9:27:14 GMT
"Do we HAVE to take Brody with us?" asked Sandy Bell. "We have a lot catching up to do and with Brody with us...It's like a having a baby on board."
"Unfortunately we have to take him along. Without any escort he has less chances to survive than a crippled Hellbug skitterling on the wasteland," replied Volodja.
"I will take him along as Atticus suggested. You two get should get a room or something," said Erika Widowmaker with a smile. As an experienced woman she noticed sparks and chemistry between Sandy and Volodja and assumed that they want to enjoy each others company just like Lena and Marcel did, but in more polite, private and romantic manner. "And we are going to have a SERIOUS discussion about some things while we are on our way, Broderick Smythe! All we need is a car. I think that..."
"We have a spare truck near the gate," said Volodja. "Or you can use that silver metallic Challenger. Somehow I doubt that it belongs to Marcel. He prefers black."
"We take Belle's car," said Erika. "Let's go, Brody." And she grabbed him by the collar of his tattered wizard costume and dragged him to the car. "You two can deliver that silver metallic one as long as you don't wreck it." Was her suggestion for intercontinental lovers.
"Your command is my wish, Erika," replied Volodja and bowed to her. Then he said to Sandy: "Come, my girl. We will have that talk with Cooper and then we are going to have a joyride through the wasteland, if you are not mind to go out with a secondary character who loves you so much... Just you and me. And as slowly as possible. Andante, andante, my love, my life." He took Sandy's hand gently into his and so they could move towards Cooper. To be honest - he just OFFERED his hand to Sandy because she had freedom to refuse his simple and sort of insignificant offer.
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Sept 12, 2015 11:34:45 GMT
While good guys were busy with sharing their tasks and vehicles, Lena and Marcel had a chance to leave the bunker without being spotted and their feet carried them to the truck, hijacked by Sandy and Volodja.
"Taffer's car is way too known to use it," said Marcel. "But this truck with all of it's contents PERFECT for us. "All we have to do is get our plane on top of it. We can keep the parts and that bubble gum, my love. We sell the parts and use the gum for avenging to Inquisition. And you know what is the best part? Those two suckers, Volodja and Sandy captured, are going to do all the physical work for us. I am right, suckers. First you are going to load our plane to the top of the truck. Then we will see if we let you to live or not. Depends on your performance, so you better show us your best. Volodja Uljanov, the loser, might have been merciful, but we are NOT."
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Post by Belle Starr on Sept 12, 2015 14:28:13 GMT
"The people of Paradise are outraged at what happened to the Indogene members of their community," Said Law Keeper Cooper to the team, "Ara and I both have been swamped with demands to catch the culprits. There have been three separate attacks on ark hunters who had the bad fortune to wear red armor. They want someone's head for what happened, and Inquisitors are nowhere to be found, and even it we found a few, the people want the person who put them up to it, and that's your Lady. By her own admission, she is the one responsible, so get the hell out of my way and let me do my job!" With that, he and Bocar put Lady in the back of the paddy wagon, Lady doing her utmost to keep her chin held high with a brave look on her young Castithan face, but if one looked closely past her enigmatic smile, one could see that her lower lip quivered slightly and that there was fear in her wide pink eyes. Belle took one of Lady's handcuffed hands and gave it a reassuring squeeze as she helped Lady into the Paddy wagon, then followed her into it, but before Cooper closed the door with a resounding slam, Lady looked at Atticus' back as he walked into the wilderness while a single pink tear went down her chalk white cheek, for she truly feared that might be the last sight she would ever have of him again. Meanwhile, somewhere not nearby but also well hidden from both actual and technological observation, the Mistress of Judgment smiled behind her ornate mask as she sat on her red throne in her Inquisition lair. The Master of Stealth, Micor Newlo, came up behind her placing his well manicured hand on her shoulder, asking, "Well, how did it go Mother?" "Your step-sister did well, all things considered," Replied the Mistress of Judgment, reaching up and putting one of her own delicate alabaster hands on top of his, "She showed great promise, despite the influence of her idiot father and the misguided so-called heroes of Fortress Kshaa. Soon she will see that the human society her friends treasure and protect is a thin veneer for animalistic brutality. When she is beaten and bruised by the human system of what they call justice, she will finally realize what beasts these humans truly are. When that occurs, and it may take years, she will finally realize the superiority of the Votan ways, and then, and only then she will be ready to become truly the Mistress of Judgment." Micor smiled, but it was a smile without mirth, saying, "It is a shame my sister has to learn things the hard way, but then, she did not have your tender guidance throughout her life like I did, Mother." "But she WILL learn, Micor, she will learn," The Mistress answered, then asked, "And how did your missions go my son?" Micor's smile grew wider on his handsome chalk white face, still cold but laced with self-satisfaction, saying, "Red Deer is ours and they don't even know it! The Indogene enslavement gas was released from the rooftops of their tallest building, odorless and colorless, undetectable by the ark brain that rules there, and thanks to your brilliant alterations of the Olmec formula, the Indogene population of Red Deer, like those scientists we tested on in the Edmonton ark fall, do not even know they are being controlled. Everything you order them to do will seem to them to be their idea, and we will only have to refresh their addiction occasionally before they go into painful withdrawals. They are brainwashed subjects of the Inquisition and don't even know it! Even now, the Indogene scientists in Edmonton are repairing the spire as we speak, and they think it is their idea! Superb, Mother! You are truly a brilliant mastermind!" "And the other tasks I gave you?" Asked the Mistress, not swayed by Micor's flattery in the slightest. "Inquisitors have the ark tech from the Presidio spire as well as the two other spires in their possession and the Indogene enslavement drug supply made in the Bay Area is safely stashed underground on the island of Alcatraz," Reported Micor dutifully. "There are enough hell bugs, mutants, and raiders down there to dissuade the most stout-hearted adventurer from treading there, and I have taken care to contract with a particularly savvy mutant called the Engineer to safeguard it. Furthermore, Master Inquisitor Ganger reported that he had assassinated the Indogene that discovered the Olmec formula in the archives of Fortress Kshaa as you ordered before we lost communication with him. You were quite correct that if she found the formula, she might also find an antidote, being quite the clever Indogene, and therefore of course she had to die. Unfortunately, we have not heard from Doppler since, so I fear he is dead as well." "Acceptable loss. And the plan to implicate Governor Skarr?" Questioned the Mistress, "I have not forgotten that it was he that sank my precious submarine and tried to assassinate my only daughter and kill the children of prophecy." Micor frowned, not liking what he had to report next, saying, "I cleverly maneuvered the trollop Lena Marr into pickpocketing the map from me where I had transposed Skarr's fingerprints, figuring that she would sell it to those in Fortress Kshaa, but evidently she did not. If they had received it, it would be almost impossible to see that Skarr himself had not left the fingerprints, so I can only suppose they did not get it. Disappointing Mother, but we WILL have our revenge on Skarr another day." The Mistress of Judgment patted Micors hand gently with hers, saying in a kindly manner, "Not to worry Micor, Skarr's day of retribution will yet come. It may even be the case that Lady's friends just haven't had time to act on that information, but time will tell! On another note, after such a hard day, I feel the need for a hot bath. Will you join me?" "But of course Mother," Answered Micor, as he helped her off her throne, then the two left for their customary Castithan bath.  |
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