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Post by Lady Christianna on Aug 23, 2015 14:38:11 GMT
Lady Christianna sat on her throne of skulls, her head draped over one arm of the chair as her thin legs hung over the other; her large pink eyes staring upwards upwards as if watching something crawl acoss the ceiling of the huge circular room. She wore a look of extreme boredom on her chalk white face as one of her red armored Inquisitors gave a painstakingly detailed report of their progress in getting Taffer's silver Challenger out of the Presidio Bunker that was her headquarters. "Mistress of Sorrow, we do think we have all the booby traps removed, although Bob will have to have a robotic replacement for his right hand. All tracers too - we think. Whoever rigged the car was a mastermind at such stuff though." "Affirmative," Said Lady, still looking at the ceiling as she thought, blowing a huge buble with her bubble gum. "Why we got to get the car out of here and where Taffer can find it. Put it in a tree somewhere in Marin or on a high ledge near The Fork. Otherwise, Taffer will trace it here. Maybe if we lose it, he'll be happy just to find it - maybe." Micor Newlo, the Master of Stealth, was standing near the door into the throne room when an Inquisitor rushed into the room and whispered into his ear, "The mission failed," Then rushed out again. A frown crossed Micor's handsome Castithan face as he realized the importance of the report. Taffer was still alive. The assassination plot failed. Ergo, Taffer was still a danger to the Mistress' master plan. He had little faith that Lady's plan to lead Taffer astray would work, so now the Inquisition had to prepare for her former team mates to find her and try to stop her. "What mission failed Micor?" Asked Lady with an enigmatic smile, derailing his train of thought. Micor thought quickly, "Damn those EGO enhanced ears!" and answered, "A minor one that in the long run is inconsequential! However I do have good news: We were able to find a huge supply of the bubble gum you crave!" Lady's pretty teenage face brightened as she said regally, "Good news indeed!" Then added in a mischeievous tone, "Just thought of it: Car wasn't booby-trapped, it was Bobby-trapped!" As Lady giggled, Micor and the other Inquisitors laughed politely, but Lady was already too busy thinking of other things then to notice their insincerity. Lady was thinking of Atticus, and his hearty laugh whenever she told him a joke, whether it was funny or not. Being a minimalist at conversation, she never did it often, and only when they were in quiet times by themselves, but when she did, he seemed to enjoy it. "I really miss our quiet times," Thought Lady to herself. "Then why don't you go back," Thought MOM, her EGO psyche, back to her. "Because I have to DO my master plan!" Lady thought back, a pretty pout now on her chalk white face, "To prove to the world that I am somebody to be reckoned with! To make the Mistress of Sorrow as much a household phrase as Harbinger of Death!" "Bwa HA ha!" Said Lady out loud, then said as her Inquisitors looked at her in question, "Get on with it!"  |
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 24, 2015 9:34:30 GMT
"At moment it's acceptable offer, Atticus. I don't see any reasons to be formal with you any more, after our hard labour session together. And thank you for being reasonable. We need a reason more than anything else now. The world is mad enough these days. As one certain Meerkatze would say:
"Das ist die Welt;
Sie steigt und fällt
Und rollt beständig;
Sie klingt wie Glas –
Wie bald bricht das!
Ist hohl inwendig.
Hier glänzt sie sehr,
Und hier noch mehr:
"Ich bin lebendig!"
Mein lieber Sohn,
Halt dich davon!
Du mußt sterben!
Sie ist von Ton,
Es gibt Scherben.""
(The world behold;
Unceasingly roll'd,
It riseth and falleth ever;
It ringeth like glass!
How brittle, alas!
'Tis hollow, and resteth never.
How bright the sphere,
Still brighter here!
Now living am I!
Dear son, beware!
Nor venture there!
Thou too must die!
It is of clay;
'Twill crumble away;
There fragnients lie)
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Post by Atticus Batman on Aug 24, 2015 10:58:38 GMT
I listened to Wolfram, then I got up and put the sleeping twins back in their cribs. Afterwards I asked Wolfram to help me remove my dakking IV as it was empty. Then I started to put on my armor.
As I did I said, "You know Wolfram, I really should hate you, if not because you are a dakking psycho-babbler who seems to be better at trickery than even the most deceitful villains and magicians, then because you have made me remember that it is not about me specifically. However everyone here does seem to depend on me as the Commander to be strong and continue to keep Fortress K'shaa in shape and intact, while at the same time finding our missing loved ones, as we wait for the away teams to return.
So forgive me for stepping out while you are on a roll with all of your songs and literary quotes, but I must finally put my misery aside. So I can be the Commander that this Fortress needs. As well as the Father, friend, uncle, brother, husband, and fierce warrior as the situation requires. Besides...... I think.....No, I know that I am starting to love being in Command. Of course I will love it so much more when my Queen has come back to me, and brought my sister with her.
Besides the twins are clean for now, thanks to you and Di. They are asleep peacefully, and thanks to you, I am ready to once again focus on being the Fortress Commander. So I must bid you Adéu, for duty calls."
I walked over to the cribs and adjusted the twins' blankets and kissed their foreheads. As I did so, Wolfram noticed that although my jumpsuit stayed gray, my eyes and aura flickered green and then they had once again turned electric blue and this time seemed to stay there instead of returning to the depressed gray coloring that they had been and my outfit remained, even after I secured my helmet. Next I re-equipped my Thawandeye Surge Nano-Fragger Mk V, a Monitor Sidearm Mk II, and my Amakune blade, as well as grabbing my bootflask from the drawer and putting it back in my boot. Then I walked out of the room. I told Doctor Orion that I was feeling much better thanks to his treatments, Wolfram's patient and understanding conversation and more importantly, some quality bonding time with my kids.
After leaving the infirmary, I stopped by the Mess long enough to refill my flask and grab a new bottle of Irathient rum. Then I went to the War Room. Corporal Lebeau and Chris Robet filled me in on everything. Then Chris excused himself to return to his duties, now that I was back on my feet and ready and willing to resume Command. I started using our satellites to scan as much of the San Fransisco area as I could for unusual activity, but currently having no luck, although the satellites did show a newly discovered Shrill nest in Silicon Valley. While at the same time, I was also trying to send a message to Taffer and Belle that both teams are needed back ASAP. I did manage to discover that both teams would be coming back via helicopter. So I had Chris make sure that the Helicopter pad on the roof had working lights. I also adjusted the sensors to let me know just as soon as their EGO and Hailer freqs were in range. So I could be on the roof to greet them personally. As the Commander should when possible.
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 24, 2015 13:44:59 GMT
"Welcome Atticus. Always glad to help," said Wolfram von Eschen, turned around and left him prepare himself for duties. His task was done and successfully. He made a big step closer to Atticus, resisted his fears and learned to change diapers. Not a bad score for an old man. And he really liked that remark about his cunning wits. That made him rub his hands together.
Now he had some spare time again, but there was also a lot of work to do, so he decided that latter is more important. He had to visit his patients and do some paperwork. And have some Schnapps. And then arrange Kara's meeting with her daughter. And not exactly in that order. His Schnapps can wait, patients not. He moved along the corridor and his footsteps were firm and loud like he dropped few decades from his shoulder and turned into that eager young man, he once was.
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Post by Lena Marr on Aug 24, 2015 13:56:43 GMT
Lena Marr laid naked lanquidly on the bed she shared with Marcel Letrange as he ranted yet again about Volodja Uljanov. She and he had a full night of raucous love making, using her full repetoire of sexual positions plus some they invented on the fly, so she was feeling incredibly satisfied and more than a little lazy. She lay on her stomach, her pretty white tressed head laying against her chalk white arms as she watched him excitedly pace back and forth. Lena could never understand why Marcel was so obsessed with Volodja, as he wasn't half the man Marcel was, or so she thought.
After some evil laughter, Marcel became serious and said: "I hope that it won't be the last straw to break his spine. Man can take only that much and if Volodja breaks, then I will lose my competitor for good and unfortunately he is the only, one I consider to be almost equal opponent. Without him...Nothing will be the same any more. I actually could feel sorry for him but he had it coming. That unfortunate dreamer reached out his hand for someone who was way too above him and burned his fingers. He should stayed on his level. I think I should send the Boche Wolfram to the consolatory mission."
Lena's log lashed sky blue eyes regarded him sleepily, one shapely leg kicking backwards so like a cat sunning itself in a window, with it's tail reflexively moving, as she remarked, "You worry way too much about the dweeb do gooder, My Love, when you could be thinking about something much more interesting - like me!"
Lena yawned as she sat up and slowly stretched her alabaster arms above heads, her perky breasts thrust forward in a most appealing way as she continued speaking, although Marcel was finding it hard to concentrate on her words and not her actions, "I guess every arch villain has to have their heroic arch hero with feel of clay. You have your Volodja Uljanov, I have my Belle Starr. We need them to make us look good," Then she galnced up at the large mirror she had her Raider henchmen install on the ceiling above their bed while she was gone and added, "However, I think I look just fine anyway."
Lena laughed melodically as she thought to herself, "Pride is definitely in charge of my EGO this morning!"
Just then, her thoughts were interrupted by the sounds of several cars arriving just outside the shack by the bay they called their home.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Aug 24, 2015 14:29:25 GMT
Lady Christianna had insisted on driving Taffer's Silver Challenger all the way from the Presideo Bunker to the Diabolical Duo's shack in Marin. She really hated to give it up, as it was a sweet ride and possibly the fastest vehicle in the Bay Area, but she knew that if she didn't, Taffer would trace it back to her, and she couldn't have it. Of all her former team mates, he was the one she feared most because he had both the smarts and skills to not only figure out her master plan but also a way to twart it.
Micor Newlo had ridden with her, followed with two red Durangos full of heavily armed Inquisitors, and Lady smiled as she swerved recklessly down the dirt road to a screeching halt in front to the shack, noticing that Micor's already white Castithan knuckles appeared even paler from clutching at the dashboard as she drove. As she and her entorage exited their vehicles, a red armored Inquisitor almost falling down in his hurry to open her door before she did, several raiders came out of the bushes around tthe shack with drawn guns. Lady rolled her large pink eyes, then reached into a secret pocket of her skin tight black with red trim polymer armor, pulling out a wad of scrip notes throwing them right and left as she made her way to the cabin's door.
As the Raiders scrambled to pick up the loot, Lady straightened her Hellbug skinned Cowboy hat and knocked on the door, asking, "Decent?
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Aug 24, 2015 14:50:45 GMT
Marcel Lestrange opened the door. Seeing his former customer in front of the house, dressed in black, Marcel grinned widely and opened the door even more, revealing that he had nothing on, except the towel around his hips (and hidden gun in his hand which he covered behind the wall): "Bon Jour, Lady Christianna. What can we do for you? A cup of tea? A candy bar? Someone's head?" He looked Lady's bodyguards and yelled: "My love! We are having some visitors from Inquisition. Should I run or should I hide? After all - I am just a human being. Not the most popular species in their eyes so I think that you should do the talking because they probably feel that dealing with me is a waste of words and I am not going to play a talking monkey to them. This is not the "Planet of the Apes" And I mean Pierre Boulle's novel, not the film, they made after his masterpiece. He also wrote "The Bridge over the River Kwai" - French are geniuses.  |
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Post by Lady Christianna on Aug 24, 2015 15:23:12 GMT
Lady Christianna went on in without waiting to answer, followed by Micor Newlo resplendant in his red armor and ornate helmet as she ordered the rest of the armored Inquisitors to remain outside with a wave of her hand. Lady took in the room with a pink eyed glance and saw that both Marcel and Lena had hidden weapons, although Lena was completely nude still sitting in bed. What a dump!" Thought Lady, but with an enigmatic smile on her pretty war-painted Castithan face as she sat down at the small table in the center of the shack, turned to Lena and asked, "Clothes much?" Lena smiled wickedly, not bothering to cover up, and answered, "We weren't expecting guests. What do you want Lady?" Lady's thin lips turned to a pout, replying, "Not Lady! Mistress of Sorrow! Queen of the Inquisition. Tell them Micor." Micor Newlo stood at attention behind Lady, offering, "I am Micor Newlo, Master of Stealth and speak with full authority from the Mistress of Sorrow. You have nothing to fear from us human, as the Mistress has... revised our organizational goals to something much greater than mere racial prejudices. The Inquisition now seeks nothing less than total world domination, where under the Mistress of Sorrow's benevolent guidance the term race will not longer have any meaning, nor will the terms hunger or want. We will all be equal, with no divison on race or gender or any other artificial distinction, all humanoids only driven by the desire to serve the will of the Mistress of Sorrow for the benefit of all humanoid kind!" Lady added with an enigmatic smile as she regarded them with bright pink eyes, "Bwa HA ha!" Micor Newlo cleared his throat, then began anew, "Pardon my enthusiasm for our cause and my digression from the immediate matter at hand. First, we would like to put you both on retainer, to call on you to do certain jobs we do not wish traced back to us. Second, we will pay you well for each job successfully completed, and all you have to do for the monthly retainer fee is to agree to is not to work against our interests and to put out jobs at the top of your to-do list, if you accept them. The Mistress assures me that you have very few... moral impediments but you have great skills, so our jobs should not be a problem for you. If you accept, we already have a job waiting for you outside. So, Monsieur and Mademoiselle, is the contract acceptable to you, assuming the retainer and payments for services rendered can be agree on?"  |
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Post by Marcel Lestrange on Aug 24, 2015 15:44:02 GMT
"I do hope that it is not a full time job," said Marcel. "We have personal goals as well. You might not know what "ambitious" means. At least on personal basis. But we are willing to sell our skills and time for a reasonable (read: humongous) price and take liberty to choose between tasks. You might be part of the organization, but we are independent entrepreneurs, so we prefer some freedom of action. If you manage to agree with that then you just bought our. Dedication costs extra. And we expect full coverage of our expenses when we are on the field. Qulity is never cheap. I believe that you are not rich enough to buy cheap things. It is paraphrase of a human proverb. The interpretation of it is quite simple - if a person is to buy a product, one must take into the consideration of the product’s quality and longevity, so not to waste money upgrading or replacing the product. And now you can fill us in with details s'il vous plaît."
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Post by Lady Christianna on Aug 24, 2015 17:51:21 GMT
Lady Christianna glared at Marcel through narrowed pink eyes when he implied she didn't know what personal ambition was! Couldn't he see that this was all about personal ambition - her personal ambition? The Mistress of Sorrow's personal ambition was to remake the world into a real paradise and then rule it! Lady resisted the urge to laugh evilly yet again, not wanting to give the appearance that she was mad as a hatter, so she just continued to smile enigmatically at him as Micor Newlo explained the task at hand.
"No, we do not requst your employment full-time, for we have the devout to do the mudane tasks that are beneath your special skills," Replied Micor in a honeyed voice, " The retainer is merely to ensure your loyalty and your... discretion! The Mistress of Sorrow merely wishes that her actions and whereabouts be kept secret, particularly from her former team mates and her husband."
"No telling Atticus or, sliiiiiit!" Interjected a smiling Lady as she moved one small chalk white forefinger across her thin throat.
Micor cleared his throat, "Ahem... well, as the Mistress so abtly if indelicately put it, talking about the Inquisition's business would have dire consequences for you both indeed. Now, as to the present business: the silver Challenger parked outside! It belongs to Taffer! We want it to be taken back to him, or put in such circumstances as to be found by him on this side of the bridge!"
"Fully intact!" Lady interjected with a regal air, waving her diminuitive hand in the air like Queen Victoria as she smiled like Mona Lisa.
"Yes, as the Mistress has said, it must be returned to him in pristeen condition, just as you find it outside, " Stated Micor, "You may leave it somewhere where it can be found easily by the authorities on this side of the bridge, maybe scattering a Raider body or two around it for effect, since it appears you have more than a few to spare. Or, if you are not adverse to lying, which presumably you are not, you can take the car to Taffer at Fortress Kshaa, telling a brave tale of how you liberated it, and perhaps getting a hefty award from them for it. We know for a fact that Taffer is even now headed there from Red Deer, but I do not think you should leave it too long parked outside your... abode. Never-the-less, the vehicle MUST not be traced back to the Inquisition in general or the Mistress specifically, and you must give not reason for Taffer to go back to where it was originally hidden!"
Lady sighed with regret that she couldn't keep the car for hereself, muttering as she frowned in disappointment, "Sweet ride!" She stood up signifying the end of negotiations, then moved and stood by the door, the teenager folding her thin arms as she leaned against the wall next to it, asking with an enigmatic smile again on her pretty war painted face, "Questions?"
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Post by Taffer on Aug 24, 2015 19:07:48 GMT
While flying back to their home in San Francisco, Taffer found the Gargoyle much more difficult to control compared to the mostly automated aircrafts and spacecrafts he had a chance to pilot before. He took it as a challenge and dedicated most of his attention to the controls to ensure his team's safety. But nevertheless, there was one thing he wanted to say to one of his team mates, so he mentally said to Sandy via EGO transmission:
"Sorry for that Sandy, but I could not help but overhear what Volodya had said about you. It might be not my business, but I feel I have to tell you about that and what I think about that. He might think whatever he wants, but I've spent enough hours with you to say you're anyone BUT a simple soldier. Wherever we went, you took initiative and you did it in a well-thought way. In our last venture you were the one to scout the area first, you were the one to spot Chloe, and you were the one to fly the Monolith back through the airspace we were just shot down from. You know, if you're a soldier, then you're a damn good one. But then, I also saw you caring for Chloe's wounds and I saw your will to do anything to make Volodya happy including suppressing your pride and not being afraid to broadcast about your love to him in a way someone might see funny. This way I see you as a nice, kind and beautiful woman, and if he fails to see the soul behind the face, then it's his problem, not yours. Sorry again for not giving you a friendly hug, but this twitchy piece of metal demands my full attention at every second."
The phrase he used in his speech reminded him of yet another pre-war song, so he started humming it under his breath as he always did when he needed to concentrate on something.
As they closed in to the base, Taffer noticed the helipad lights on which gave him a signal that they were waited for in a good meaning of it. He safely landed the aircraft on his third try after he was completely satisfied with the side wind compensation he had to apply. Probably it was too much of a precaution, but he definitely had enough air crashes on this mission and was really willing to avoid another.
"Let's move out people", he sad with a sign of relief as he turned the engine off and stood up from his seat, "Then let's check up on what's going on here."
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Post by Sandy Bell on Aug 24, 2015 19:48:26 GMT
"Thank you Captain Taffer, sir," Answered Sandy Bell through their EGOs. "I really appreciate your supportive words, but in all truth, I'm proud to be a soldier. Soldiers are on the frontlines protecting their communities - the first protectors for their people from outside threats. Furthermore, if duty, honor, and loyalty make me simple, than I'm fucking proud to be simple. But again, thank you, and know your friendship means a lot to me."
Sandy looked with intense blue eyes around the helicopter's cabin, at the faces of her team mates, and grinned. Each and everyone of them, including the absent Volodja, were incredible people, and she was proud to call them friends. Friendship, she thought, was so much better than love, and more long lasting too. She felt that if she had only let the initial breakup with Volodja stand, if she hadn't tried so hard to reconcile with him, to be whatever he wanted her to be, it would have been best for both of them. There would be no absent friends from their number. You could always depend on a friend, but not so much on a lover, at least in her limited experience.
"I think I'll just stick with friendships for the forseeable future," Thought Sandy to herself, than grinned at Kaj and asked, "Hey Kaj, how many aristocrats does it take to change a flat tire? One to open the hood and look at the engine and another to hail home and cry to Daddy to send the servants!"
Sandy laughed heartily, then noticed Kaj was looking a her with a puzzled expression, so she said with and easy grin, "It's a joke big guy! Let me explain to you the art of telling a joke! First, it should be a good one..."
The rest of the helicopter ride to Fortress Kshaa for Sandy was one filled with jocular conversation with good friends, so for her at that moment, it was the best of all possible worlds. Unfortunately, it also meant she missed Volodja's last EGO mesage to her as well for she was already beyond its broadcast range.
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Post by Belle Starr on Aug 24, 2015 20:34:05 GMT
Belle Starr and Vo Kshaa walked hand in hand out of the helicopter on to the landing pad of Fortress Kshaa, her fairly dragging him so that they would be out the door first. She spotted Atticus Batman standing at attention waiting for them to disembark, so she dropped Vo's hand and ran to Atticus, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace.
"I'm so sorry this happened while we all were gone and you had to cope with this without your friends!" Exclaimed Belle, reluctant to end the hug, "Just know we all will do everything to get them back as soon as possible! I have no doubt Lady loves you, and I'm a betting that it's another of the Mistress of Judgment's shenanigans! Erika especially is too level headed to just up and go without telling y'all were she was going! I bet they are all brainwashed or something! If not brainwashing, it's some horrible mistake, but we'll get it all sorted out! Together! Promise!"
Belle than hugged him tightly again, hoping she could help sort out this mess better than she did the mess with Volodja back in Red Deer.
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Post by Sandy Bell on Aug 25, 2015 4:29:14 GMT
After Belle Starr had finished hugging Atticus Batman, Sandy Bell walked nervously up to him. She really didn't feel she knew him very well, but she had been Lady Christianna's EGO psyche for quite awhile, so that she felt she had an intimate knowledge of Lady's mind.
"Um... Commander Batman, sir... I don't know you very well, but as Lady's EGO psyche I was in a position for a good while to really get to know her mind," Said Sandy with conviction, "I don't know what's going on in there at this second, but something must be very, very wrong there if she left you voluntarily! There was always an overwhelming thought topmost in Lady's mind when I was there, and that was how much she loves you, and I can't think of anything in heaven or hell that would shake that thought in her! You were the first thing she thought of in the morning when she woke up, and the last thing she thought of when she fell asleep. Lady had a lot of doubts in her mind about herself, mostly about self worth, but two things she never doubted: You and your love together. I would have given my fucking eyeteeth to share the kind of love you two have. Um... well... just thought you should know... anything I can do to help... just let me know..."
Sandy turned around and headed inside to her quarters in Fortress K'shaa. As the newest member of the team, she felt presumptious saying anything to Commander Batman, feeling that it probably wasn't her place to do so, but that feeling was overwhelmed buy the fact that she felt he had to know what she knew. Lady loves him with all her heart. Furthermore, Sandy was really worried about Lady Christianna, believing something was terriably wrong for her to leave him.
"I hope we find Lady damn soon," Thought Sandy to consciously herself, "I really like the kid."
Sandy's subconscious dwelled however on how envious she was of Lady and Atticus' love, and couldn't figure out why her and Volodja's relationship couldn't have been the same.
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Post by Wolfram von Eschen on Aug 25, 2015 5:37:40 GMT
Wolfram von Eschen sat on his office and looked at his fists. Knuckles were white from the tension. "Scheißkerl," he muttered. He was really upset because his friend was in Red Deer alone. Deciding what he heard about the mission progress, Volodja needed a shoulder to cry on and he could not provide one because of the distance. "Never be fooled by a smile. Sometimes people who laugh the most in our presence are those who cry the most when they are alone at night," Wolfram thought. He knew his friend quite well to understand that Volodja was that kind of the man who's charming smile hides quantity of emotional scars, so someone weaker would already committed a suicide having that much. Wolfram was sure that if Volodja breaks under that burden then it takes lot of time to get him back up and if he has to do it alone, then after his successful return, part of his soul is dead forever. Volodja was too proud to show his pain. He did it only when he had no strength left and he was also too proud to ask for a help, so one had to force a helping hand to him, so he could grab it. Wolfram was willing to but he couldn't. Schande! He knew but could not help him. And probably he was the only one at moment who felt sad about Volodja. At least he believed so. He released his fist to grab his Schnapps bottle and poured himself a glassful. Then he drank it. Then he poured another one, still feeling powerless. And drank it. When he was looking for another bottle his grey eyes caught a sight of the package he received while Volodja was away. After some hesitation he opened it, read the letter from Henry Pine-Coffin and decided to act himself. If Volodja wasn't here and he couldn't help him then at least he could deliver the package for him. He heard about the addressee. At least he knew his name and usual whereabouts, because some time ago when he had his own distillery in half sunken ship, he dealt with his henchmen and sold them some of his produce. He instructed Di so she could cover for him and went to the garage. Wolfram hated driving but at moment he suppressed the disgust and sat behind the driving wheel of Volodja's Dodge. Package was carefully placed to the seat next to him. Wolfram made a cross sign and turned the ignition key. Car coughed at first and then started to purr like a kitten. Wolfram pressed the pedal, making car to startle, cough and stop. "Sheisse! Once again!" he muttered. It took several attempts but finally Wolfram managed to get the car to the move and he took course to the Fork. Slowly and awkwardly first. A bit faster but still awkwardly later. At least he didn't gave up and kept driving. After some time he reached his destination, stopped the car and looked around. The usual crowd - ark hunters, farm boys, POW herds, junkies. And small insignificant looking man on the background, tossing a coin. That's the man! Tommasino di Angelo kept flipping the coin until he saw an elegant hand grabbing it while it was on the air. That was unforgivable and whoever it was, he had to hear at least a lecture. Tommasino raised his glance. His eyes caught tall thin figure of an elderly gentleman who was almost a doppelgänger of Gaius Julius aka Julius Caesar. And metallic Dodge, he actually knew. Volodja's car he once helped to return top it's rightful owner. But where was Volodja? Gave his car to the gentleman in need? Possible. Elderly gentleman opened his mouth to greet Tommasino. He spoke with recognizable German accent: "Tommasino di Angelo? I am Dr. Wolfram von Eschen and I have a delivery for you. From Volodja Uljanov. Not the head of the horse or a fish wrapped into bulletproof vest. It's a gun." And he handed the package over to Tommasino. "It's not just a gun, but a hand made Lupara!" exclaimed Tommasino. "It must have cost a fortune to Volodja. And he remembered our first meeting! We discussed about Luparas then! Mille grazie! What can I do for you Wolfram?" he continued in lot of friendlier manner than he originally intended. "But where is Volodja himself? I would like to thank him personally!"  "Unfortunately Volodja is unable to come," explained Wolfram. "He is in Red Deer, Canada at moment. And frankly speaking, I think he isn't in best physical and emotional condition any more. I can't be there for him, but at least I could deliver his present to you. He would wanted you to receive it." |
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