|
|
Post by Taffer on Sept 12, 2015 20:38:55 GMT
As Atticus had ordered, Taffer carefully collected the footage they had on latest events at their Fortress and some other that could evidence that Lady was manipulated. He suspected it was the case long before it was revealed, so he could easily recollect the information that led him to that conclusion. First, the sudden appearance of Micor at the Fortress with their obviously staged little presentation of loyalty to Lady. Next, the results of the scan of the interior of the Conference Room where Lady was led to believe she defeated the Mistress, with his own comments pointing out evidences that it was a ruse. Then, the report on Lady's medical condition after giving birth. Then the presentation she sent to the Fortress with his comments added to accentuate the feigned loyalty of the Inquisitors who were present around her at the moment she was giving her speech. The final part was the research that was made on the piece of paper with several points on it made with red marker, including San Francisco and Red Deer. The commentaries were accentuating that the map had finger prints of Micor Newlo and Governor Skarr but not Lady's.
Taffer hesitated for a moment and then added another archive of information he was collecting before. It was about the assassination attempt that happened in Red Deer when Lady was busy working on the Terraspire in Presidio.
"Cooper", Taffer's letter said, "This assassination attempt was definitely done by Inquisitors and it makes me the injured party in your investigation. With all that I know I can assure you Lady was not the one behind this attempt. All that she had done to our party pursued the only purpose to hinder our efforts, but no lethal means were ordered. This assassination clearly differs from everything else that was done by her orders. Besides, the way the members of our party were described in the data pad found on the assassin's body, were definitely not Lady's style of writing. So even if she tries to take all the blame on herself, she definitely won't know these details.
I know you've never been satisfied with easy solutions John, and you know neither do I. The one who's behind all this is still on the loose and I'm going to find and eliminate them. I have already promised it to people who fell victim of this Inquisition long before Lady was being manipulated by them and I tend to keep my promises which you definitely know as well. I know we're not the best friends but I trust you to see the whole picture as you usually do."
Taffer sent all the archives including his letter directly to the Lawkeeper's ranch through the encrypted channel. He also knew the if the legal method failed, he was determined to get Lady out of the prison by any possible means even if it meant the bounty on his head for the rest of his life.
|
|
|
|
Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 13, 2015 6:38:34 GMT
"Are you trying to tell, that you don't give a damn about finding real culprits and throw Lady into the cage to please angry masses?" asked Volodja semi politely. "It's kind of twisted understanding of justice, isn't it? It reminds me Salem witch trials. And let me remind you that Lady Christanna needs therapy first and utmost, because she is suffering from the depression, so I'd rather see her in our custody than yours, Cooper. We have all means for that in our facility." Considering the circumstances Volodja was reasonable and rational. He understood Cooper's motives, but that necessarily didn't meant that he has to approve them. Sandy Bell was by his side, squeezing his pale hand with her tanned one and biting her lover lip. They looked at each other and then the "Black crow"" which was taking Lady away. The story wasn't over yet. ________________________ Marcel Lestrange observed Inquisitors working under his command and Lena's watch, because when she had a chance to hurt former upper class Castithan males, then she took it and now she had much fun poking their buttocks with her Bowie knife when they stopped to catch a breath. The truck was manoeuvred under the tilted plane and now Inquisitors had to pull the plane to the roof of truck's cargo hold and fixate it. Those spare parts and box of bubble gum that truck carried, were their trophies - they could sell parts and Marcel had an idea of putting the gum into a good use. Unfortunately rest of Inquisition fled like bunch of cockroaches before Marcel could act, but it was only matter of time when he finds and eliminates them. And then there was a drug traffic business waiting for takeover. Closer future seemed to be full of action. |
|
|
|
Post by Kaj Oenfer on Sept 13, 2015 11:35:36 GMT
After everyone left Vo and Kaj in the secured home bunker of Atticus Batman and Lady Christianna, Kaj made a baby monitor as Wolfram suggested. Then Kaj suggested Vo get some rest either on a chair in the sitting room, a bed in the infirmary, or one of the beds upstairs in the bedrooms. Afterwards Kaj went into the Control room and took his part of the monitor with him, so he could keep an eye on the sleeping twins while keeping himself busy. When he glanced at the monitor he noticed that Vo chose to stay by the twins like a true guardian. However a little later when he glanced in Vo was asleep in Atticus' big comfy chair with the rolling cribs right on either side of it, so he will immediately know if they move for some reason.
Kaj smiled at that and continued his busy work. Eventually of course the twins started to fuss and Vo woke up to see what was wrong. As Kaj walked into the sitting room, Di merely stated that the twins needed fed. So Kaj went and prepared the twins' bottles according to the directions that Doctor Orion had given them, as Di came in and double-checked to make sure Kaj did it right. She smiled and said, "That's pretty good for the first time, but the nipples aren't seated right. So just open the tops and re-adjust them, and it should be fine." Kaj did so and Di said. "Much better. Now be gentle when holding and feeding them. I will give you advice if needed, but am not doing your work for you!"
Kaj nodded and walked back into the room, where Vo was already holding Caprice. So Kaj handed him Caprice's bottle. Then he picked up Cosmin, sat down in another big chair and began to feed him, with Di coaching him on the best way to hold and feed a baby. As they both soon had the hang of it, Di smiled and remarked, "You two are great! The twins are lucky to have such wonderful and protective uncles as their nannies and guardians!"
|
|
|
|
Post by Belle Starr on Sept 13, 2015 12:20:54 GMT
"Mr. Uljanov, you have a bone to pick, you pick it with Ara Shondu. She authorized and signed the arrest warrant for Lady," Sternly said Law Keeper Cooper, adding with a small measure of spite, "You know where her consulate is. You were just dancing with Belle Starr there not long ago." Law Keeper Cooper immediately regretted saying that when he saw the crestfallen look on Sandy Bell's face, for he had not meant to hurt the young woman with unpleasant memories, but these ark hunters with their EGO's and airs of superiority pissed him off. Still, such pettiness was usually beneath him, but truth to tell, he wasn't anymore happy with the situation than the crew at Fortress Kshaa. Cooper had watched Lady Christianna grow up at his Iron Demons Ranch, for her Team Evolution clan of ark hunters hung their collective hat there, and her father, Bocar, as clan quartermaster used to have her by his side there all the time. Lady had been a quiet kid, running errands when asked, but mostly just staying out of the way, so much so that most times he never even noticed she was there. Cooper guessed it was true, that it was the quiet ones you always had to watch out for. As the paddy wagon got underway, led by a dozen deputized Team Evolution clannies on ATVs, Cooper touched the brim of his hat to Sandy before getting into his police Charger. With a deputy law keeper in the driver's seat, he began the long trip from Presidio bunker in the San Francisco wasteland back to his office at Iron Demons Ranch. Several times they had to change the route, for curious ranchers and miners had inadvertently blocked the road trying to get a glimpse of the wanted criminal mastermind they believed had orchestrating the kidnapping of so many of their Indogene neighbors. The Bay area was much like a small town, with information spreading fast, but even Law Keeper Cooper wondered how the route of their prisoner convoy had spread that fast. When they got to the Iron Demons Ranch, there was a huge crowd of demonstrators in front of the ranch's main entrance, shouting and screaming for Lady's head. As Belle looked out a window in the paddy wagon no bigger then an arrow slit, she noted there were people of all races and sexes in the crowd. The only trait that they seemed to share was that they all appeared angry. Belle couldn't help but notice a group of white robed Castithan priests holding a huge banner that had written on it, "Let us do the cleansing ritual!" That put a chill up Belle's spine, for she had seen the ritual once in Defiance, which was essentially a death sentence where the accused was put on a rack, and the whole Castithan community put rocks in buckets as weights to essentially pull the victim apart.  As the line of ATV's formed an arrow to separate the crowd away from the paddy wagon and Copper's following Charger, someone in the crowd threw a bottle at the prisoner carrying Durango. It broke with a large popping sound, and Lady visibly jumped, her large pink eyes growing wider and her lower lip's quivering grew more intense. Bocar held both Lady's delicate handcuffed hands in his large ones, but Belle couldn't help but notice that the look on his chalk white face was grim, and that he seemed to be aging quicker moment by moment. Once behind the ranch's fences, things went much smoother. Lady was moved safely inside the Law Keeper's office, and she was put in an austere jail cell without incident. Law Cooper allowed her father to remain in the jail cell with her, even though it was against his own policies as to prisoners, but which he did out of respect for Lady's father. Soon Lady was calmer, and even fell asleep, her small alabaster head in Bocar's lap as he stroked her soft hair like he often did when she was a small child. Lady looked like a small porcelain doll left carelessly on the jail cell's cot next to the big man. After making a situation report to her team mates in the Bay Area, Belle joined Law Keeper Cooper in his office, and he poured both himself and her a stiff drink as they sat across from each other from the bottle of whiskey he kept in the bottom drawer of his desk. A frown grew on her pretty rose petal lips as she slowly shook her blond tousled head to emphasize her saying, "Coop, you know this isn't right!" "No," Law Keeper Cooper admitted as he took a long sip of whiskey from his glass, "But it is the law."  |
|
|
|
Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 13, 2015 12:39:14 GMT
French social psychologist, sociologist, anthropologist, inventor, and amateur physicist Gustave Le Bon, best known for his 1895 work "The Crowd: A Study of the Popular Mind" detailed three key processes that create The Crowd: Anonymity, Contagion and Suggestibility.
Anonymity provides to rational individuals a feeling of invincibility and the loss of personal responsibility. An individual becomes primitive, unreasoning, and emotional. This lack of self-restraint allows individuals to "yield to instincts" and to accept the instinctual drives of their 'racial unconscious'. For Le Bon this means that the crowd inverts Darwin’s law of evolution and becomes atavistic or regressive.
Contagion refers to the spread in the crowd of particular behaviours where individuals sacrifice their personal interest for the collective interest.
Suggestibility is the mechanism through which the contagion is achieved. As the crowd coalesces into a singular mind suggestions made by strong voices in the crowd create a space for the "racial unconscious" to come to the forefront and guide its behaviour. At this stage ‘The Crowd’ becomes homogeneous and malleable to suggestions from its strongest members.
Le Bon had an opportunity observe crowd's behaviour during the Paris Commune. Now another psychologist, sociologist and Jack of all trades, Volodja Uljanov, seemed to be getting the chance to do the same, although crowd's interest would be concentrated to one particular object of their anger this time - poor Lady Christianna - and Volodja could not afford to let that happen. They followed the convoy to the Iron Demon Ranch and stood by their vehicle, looking how crowd went more and more restless. Gustave Le Bon proved to be at least somewhat correct.
"Let's go, my girl," Volodja said to Sandy. "If Ara Shondu signed one piece of paper, then she can sign another one as well - releasing order for Lady. Hopefully she listens us, because I don't want to leave Lady into the claws on angry mob. I was almost certain that mob will appear and demand a public execution or something similar. It's a fundamental rule in our Universe that arrival of the so called "public enemy" attracts public attention and makes them blood thirsty.
Couple of loud-mouths stir up people's emotions and then they are ready to do things, they can't even imagine. After the fever ends, then they might even feel shame for their deeds, but it's usually too late. They already committed something irreversible by then so we must get to Ara's place as fast as possible, because I am not sure how long it's going to take to convince her to release Lady or at least place her under our care. You want to drive, Sandy?"
|
|
|
|
Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Sept 13, 2015 17:02:47 GMT
As the razor storm raged around the arkfall, all its Indogene inhabitants seemed irritated. The former prisoners which Iri and Eren were in were cursing the storm for delaying their return to the Bay Area, from where they were kidnapped. The residents of the Ark were complaining that the storm was hindering their ability to continue their work on restoring the functionality of the Terraspire. Lu tried to persuade them to delay it for a while at least until they got an "all clear" from Red Deer, but they all were determined and continued to work on the Spire no matter what. Only the perspective of a certain death seemed enough reason for them to stop working for at least until the storm subsided. Only Eren Niden seemed to stay focused and helped Lu to diagnose Iri's injuries and health status. "Your EGO was mostly correct in determining the origin of her comatose state", Eren said, packing the medical instruments. "The swelling caused by a hard impact is inhibiting her brain functions severely, causing this coma. If nothing goes terribly wrong, the supporting therapy will keep her alive in this state until the swelling finally dissolves. Given all the processes in her body had tremendously slowed down, I expect it will take several weeks, up to a month for her to wake up." "The way you say it… does it mean there's no way to, you know, speed up the process somehow?" Lu asked, not hoping for any positive answer, but trying to convince herself she did all that she could to reduce the consequences of this flop of a mission. "I know why are you asking this, Miss Luuzuk", Eren answered after a moment of hesitation. "Actually, there is a way, although I won't recommend it. There's a substance called Vrytex, it's a powerful military drug which was designed to… well lets' just say it has a chance to activate her brain to recover itself much faster, but also it has a chance to kill her by causing a massive cerebral hemorrhage." Eren nodded in agreement as Lu shook her head vigorously showing risking Iri's life is not an option for her. She also noted that the last phrase she said made one of the Indogenes quickly turn his head at her and stare at her intently. "Hmm, as I see this Ark is in a rather good condition, so I expect at least some of the life pods stayed functional", Eren asked the Indogene scientist, catching the moment of his attention aimed at her. "May we use one of them to help to support our friend while we transport her to the hospital? We'll send the pod back as soon as the transferring is finished, so it shouldn't hamper your works in any way." To both Eren's and Lu's surprise, the scientist turned his face away from them, showing that their presence in general and their question in particular was much less important thing in his life than watching the sky through the crack in the wall and waiting for the storm to pass. "May we interpret this behavior as "We don't care about all the life pods in this world and you may take any amount of them and never bother to return them"? " Lu asked in a semi-humorous tone as she tried to squeeze at least some kind of reply from the Indogene they were trying to talk to. Alas, it didn't attract his attention the slightest as he was still staring at the sky. "That's one possible interpretation", Eren answered instead of him, "The other one would be "You don't even try to take anything from us or you'll meet the lethal force, but you're not worthy of being warned about that". But then, given the firepower you presented not long ago, the second interpretation is much less probable". Eren smiled slightly, thinking it should be a good joke using an emotional aspect as an argument for calculating probabilities, but the scientist remained completely impassive for that too. She smiled again as she watched Lu waving her hand in a "screw it all" gesture and went down the hallway to see what needs to be done to bring the pod to the medical room or bring Iri to the pod. Soon she returned with the pod set on a cart and pushed by several Indogenes from the kidnapped group. It surprised Lu again that those Indogenes who were in the group with Eren and Iri gladly agreed to help her with the pod and its transportation while those who were from the original research team remained completely impassive and cold to any requests and resumed their work as soon as the storm finally subsided as if no one else was there. "Esthete", she called through her EGO once the weather calmed enough for the connection to restore, "Please ready the room for Iri's treatment in your hospital. Cranial trauma, comatose." "It's a pity your friend got injured so severely, but there's a problem", Esthete said with sadness in his voice, "By the order of the Inner Circle, Iri Sewuel is declared an enemy of the city of Red Deer and should be shot on sight, as well as anyone who helps her. That probably means you." "What?!" Lu audibly muttered making Eren and other Indogenes stare at her. "Don't worry Miss Lu, I'm still operating in an autonomous mode and verifying the orders myself. I'm not going to fulfill this one, but I highly recommend not bringing her to Red Deer as it may obviously give rise to some… complications. By the way, I'm steel keeping my mainframe building on an airtight lockdown with Ada, Fiel and Yol here, but I'm not detecting any signs of the drug Ada provided me information of and I'm not detecting any euphoria symptoms on any of the citizens I see. Shall I give the all clear?" "Esthete, your Inner Circle gives you insane orders and you're going to tell all clear? Don't you tell me you're out of your mind… again? Keep your building airtight and protect those people inside, they might be the only sane persons in your city soon. I'll probably get back later and see what I can do to help, but first I need to care for my friend and these poor kidnapped Indogenes", Lu sent back and turned to Eren. "Okay, I think we're going to take you all home to Bay Area without stopping in Red Deer. So Eren, you know that place better, so I trust you to guide us where we should land there. Do we have a pilot in our team by chance." "I can pilot a Dark Matter aircraft carrier", a male Indogene stepped forward, "But please could you enlighten me why this emotional Iratient girl tells us where to go and where to stop by?" "This emotional Iratient girl had made me able to pull the control rod out of your neck if you remember", Eren replied with steel in her voice before Lu could answer anything, "As you may see, we have an injured one here and she helped to stabilize her while you've been sitting there doing nothing. So she comes with me with anything she needs. Now let's move this pod to the carrier now." They brought the pod with Iri in it to the exit of the Ark, then loaded in into Lu's truck to bring her into the aircraft. Lu rolled her Hellblaser right into the aircraft and stopped it inside. The pilot started to protest but Eren shut him up. The Dark Matter carrier could easily hold a couple of Bulwarks along with a squad of heavily-armored soldiers, why would one roller matter?  Once the carrier got in the air, Lu waited for Eren to call Rosa and tell her she's okay as well as tell her to prepare the medical room for the new patient. Once the Indogene finished her talk, Lu took the tangent and called Taffer: "Hello Commander, I'm afraid I've screwed up. We got all the Indogenes rescued in good condition except Chase's girlfriend, Iri, who was severely injured. Chase thought she's dead and he left into the desert. There was a storm, I couldn't find him. We'll be bringing Iri under the care of Eren Niden, she says you know her. So if you need to meet Iri or me, we'll be at Eren's medical facility wherever it is. Ah, and I have strong suspicions that Red Deer is going insane again and it's not the Esthete this time. I'll tell you the details once we meet." |
|
|
|
Post by Marcel Lestrange on Sept 13, 2015 18:03:31 GMT
"Human lover," muttered one of enslaved Inquisitors, looking spitefully at Lena Marr. "Even lower kastes are way too good for lower species, like humans."
Marcel heard that and his voice became a mixture of honey and poison when he replied: "Not your business, bitches! If Lena is with me, then because she wanted that to happen. I do not own Lena. She is my partner, because she has talent, skills and brains. Maybe she is too good for me, but that makes me even prouder if she chose me to be her lover. And if you keep talking instead of working, you will lose something too - not your skills or talents, which you obviously do not have, because Volodja and Sandy caught you, but your BALLS. Lena needs a new pair of earrings, so do not tempt me give her two."
Lena looked at him with her unblinking sky blue eyes, making Marcel to think that maybe she regrets her decision to team up with him. He is not a Castithan noble after all. He is not even human aristocrat, but a man who achieved everything he got, by himself. Why love has to be so complicated? He remembered how he felt when he thought that Lena was dead. He was miserable without her and that was most unusual for a self sufficient man, like Marcel. Someone will pay for causing all that pain to Lena and him. And Marcel's strong tanned hand stroke gently the handle his knife, his eyes narrowed and a cruel smile on his thin lips went wider when he looked Inquisitors.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sandy Bell on Sept 14, 2015 3:15:25 GMT
"Volodja, I became the luckiest girl in the world the day you fell in love with me," Said Sandy Bell with an earnest grin to Volodja Uljanov, then kissed him hard and long before they left for their next destination. ***** "Marcel, I became the luckiest girl in the world the day you fell in love with me," Said Lena Marr with an earnest grin to Marcel Lestrange, then kissed him hard and long before they left for their next destination.  |
|
|
|
Post by Belle Starr on Sept 14, 2015 3:38:22 GMT
Belle Starr had washed her face and reapplied her lip stick when Somedude, the Leader of her and Lady Chrisitianna's Ark Hunter clan, Team Evolution, staggered up behind her and asked, "You sure you want to go out there Belle? Those people seem pretty damned pissed, and not like me in a good way!"
Even without her enhanced sense of smell, Belle would know it was Somedude who had come up behind her before he spoke, for he always reeked of alcohol. Like Atticus, he hid behind a helmet, but not to hide his physical scars but to hide his emotional ones. Belle never knew what had happened to him in the past that made him want to stay inebriated all the time, just that it most likely involved his missing family that he would talk wistfully about when he was really, really drunk, and that his real name was not Somedude. Like every ark hunter she ever met, she knew he had some tragic story in his background, and like every ark hunter she ever met, she knew she would never know the whole story even if she knew him her whole life. Still, Somedude was an organizational genius and had a charisma that could not be denied, even when he was drunk, and ark hunters flocked to join his clan when he first founded it years ago. All ark hunters were just like that: Bigger than life individuals publically, but with a secret private life that they'd rather keep to themselves. Belle Starr herself was like that, although probably sought the public spotlight more than most ark hunters, she still had aspects of her life she would just as well not have the general public know, like her sordid family history, her rape, her miscarriage with Vo, and the Volge genes grafted into her own when she was in her mother's womb. Unfortunately for Belle, too many people knew or suspected that last fact, although they might not know the details, and that both enhanced and detracted from her reputation.
Belle smilled a confident toothy smile at him reflected in the mirror, saying, "Y'all know I have to do it, both for Lady and Bocar, but also for all them innocents out there, scared and unsure of what's coming next! Indogenes tend to be the most pacifistic and law abiding of all the races, and if they can be grabbed off the street in broad daylight without the criminals being caught or punished, you got to know that most of the folk out there have got to be thinking, 'Well, what's going to happen to me and my loved ones?' You remember how I was after... what those three criminals did to me when I was alone in my first ark fall? I was an emotional wreck afterwards! You were one of first friends I made in the Bay Area when I arrived although I didn't join your clan immediately, but you still did everything you could to reassure me that the sun would rise the next day and that life could go on after what happened to me there! That's all them folks out there want too - a friendly face that will reassure them, and I sure as shooting plan to give it to them!"
Somedude merely nodded curtly once in assent, but Belle imagined he was grinning broadly under his helm, for she had learned a lot about leadership from him by example, even though he was usually drunk when he taught it to her, and she was sure he was proud with what she had done with that knowledge. Somedude, Ara Shondu, and Chase Lonehart were the three most influential people in her life since she first arrived in the Bay Area, and she had tried to emulate the best aspects of all three. From Somedude she learned leadership, from Ara diplomacy, and from Chase heroics - all three characteristics becoming ingrained into the person Belle Starr was today.
Belle frowned when she thought about Chase Lonehart. He was still missing as far as Belle knew, and she longed to fly to Red Deer to try to find him, but was afraid that the situation with Lady would explode without her here. Belle wouldn't have worried about the old Chase Lonehart, who was the Rock of Gilbralter, dependable and able to withstand anything; but this "new" Chase Lonehart didn't remember who he was and bordered on the psychotic at times. Still, from what she learned from Taffer as to the situation in Edmonton, Lady seemed the one she had the greatest chance of saving, so Belle had made a mental triage: She would save Lady, then see if she could save Chase if she could. Belle used to think she could save all the innocents, but sadly realized of late that it just wasn't possible, and that fact saddened her to no end.
"Okay, show time!" Exclaimed Belle with a smile to no one in particular as she headed to the front gate of the Iron Demons Ranch where the angry mob of Paradise citizens had gathered, demanding Lady's chalk white head on a pole. Six of Belle's heavily armed clan mates accompanied her for protection, although she had not asked them to, along with Somedude and Law Keeper Cooper. One of her clannies put down a box and gave her a hand to stand up on it so those in the back of the crowd could see her, and another handed her a bullhorn. Belle looked resplendent in her red, white, and blue polished Liberty Trooper armor, and the only weapons she wore were the Solstice Wolfhound pistol her lover Vo Kshaa had given her holstered at her side and the charge blade she earned in the Thorn Liro arenas hanging from her belt. Unseen was her potent Darkest Night energy shield, which was why she didn't fear any danger, although she appreciated the gesture of her clan mates coming out with her, and had thanked each and every one of them for it. Belle stood tall to her full six fool frame, her pale hands on her shapely hips and smiling warmly at the crowd, her friendly and beautiful freckled face and intelligent blue diamond news known and trusted to all for she often was a special news anchor for Frontier Corporation News in the Bay Area and was genuinely liked by almost everyone she met.
The crowd's murmuring hushed when Belle held up her pale hands in a placating gesture and began to speak, saying, "Y'all know me! Y'all know me from when I first started patrolling the highways and byways of this great Bay Area, eliminating Volge, Raiders, 99ers, and all sorts of varmints that made bringing your goods and ore to market almost impossible before I did it! Y'all know me from when I started doing the FCN special bulletins to keep y'all warned about the strange events that hit here from time to time! Y'all also know me as an Associate for VBI, and know me as one of their directors that brought many jobs to Paradise! If y'all know all that about me, then you also know that I'm not talking out of both sides of my mouth when I promise you that the ones responsible for kidnapping your friends and neighbors will be brought to justice, just like my friends are bringing those same friends and neighbors back home safely!"
"Our system of judgment will prevail in the Bay Area, for we all haven't worked this hard to carve out a civilized world out her for nothing! Just remember folks, that a foundation stone of our justice system is that a person is presumed innocent until proven not likely! Lady Christianna is an innocent in this here criminal scheme, I promise y'all! To the extent that she is found in a court of law that she isn't, then she will be punished, but once y'all know all the facts, I think you'll agree with me that she is as much a victim here as anyone else! I also promise y'all that I'll catch the yahoots who are responsible, so help me God! Now y'all go home, and let Law Keeper Cooper and me go grease them there wheels of justice, you hear!"
Belle smiled confidently as the crowd began to disperse, but then felt a sudden pain in her forehead. She put her delicate hand there having it come back covered in red as the light dimmed in her big blue eyes as she finally heard the echoing gun shot.
"I've been one-shot bushwhacked!?!? The varmint didn't even appear on my EGO radar after he shot!?!? That only ever happens to me in PVP..." Belle had time to think before she fell unconscious, caught by Somedude before she hit the ground, Law keeper Cooper and her Team Evolution clannies pulling out their guns but not seeing the sniper who had already disappeared as the numerous members of the crowd screamed and started running in all directions.
|
|
|
|
Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 14, 2015 3:51:39 GMT
After their kiss ended, Sandy placed herself to the driver's seat, ignited the engine and enjoyed it's roars, showing how well tuned the engine was. Controlling such amount huge amount of horse power was just like leading herd of mustangs. The only difference was that this concentrated herd was totally under her control and she used an opportunity to squeeze everything out of it.
Volodja could tell her to drive in more careful manner, but since she handled the car perfectly, enjoyed the speed and they had to get to Shondu's Consulate as fast as possible, he kept his mouth shut and tried to relax. It wasn't a very long trip and soon Sandy stopped the car at the gates of the Consulate. The usual bunch of ark hunters of every kind, starting from newbies who hanged out there, making small trades and listening stories of more experienced ones and ending with scarred battle hounds who came to visit vendors, have their clan meetings or getting quests from Ara Shondu.
Volodja and Sandy cut through that crowd just like a torpedo breaks waves to explode when it hits the target. Volodja's eyes were full of determination, so people just let them pass without saying anything. One of the rookies tried to whistle, when Sandy passed him, but one stern look from her beautiful blue eyes, made him to transform his whistle into "Ssshhhhh" sound instead.
"Do I hear steam escaping?" asked Sandy Bell.
"Yes Ma'am. No Ma'am. Whichever answer is correct, Ma'am," said the ark hunter and tried to hide himself behind the backs of others.
After entering to the Consulate building. Volodja greeted Ara politely and said: "I am afraid that signing an arrest warrant about Lady Christianna was a bit...premature. I understand your motives and could consider them justified, but I know Lady's side of the story as well. The reason of our unexpected visit is to introduce you with untold aspects of the saga too. I don't have any evidence to prove my words, but I have quite good memory and I happened to be in vicinity during the grand finale at Presidio bunker. I am ready to tell you about those events under the lie detector if necessary."
|
|
|
|
Post by Marcel Lestrange on Sept 14, 2015 5:01:46 GMT
Marcel enjoyed their kiss and when their lips were finally released from others, he told Inquisitors: "Cockroaches! Lena made me so happy at moment that I am considering releasing you. Especially when you did really good job with loading the plane. But I can not let you go without a memento. I do not want to see your faces again without property tags. And to guarantee that, I decided to mark you."
Marcel draw something to the ground with a blade of his knife. Two initials L and M, The letter M was placed on L so the result reminded a square.
"This is our new company logo, my love. Marr and Lestrange, Marcel and Lena. I think we need to order a cattle iron just like that to mark our property. Would you do me an honour to be the first person using that logo? Since we do not have an iron yet, you have to carve our trade mark to their faces."
"With pleasure, my love," replied Lena and pressed her knife inside the soft flesh of the cheek of the first captured Inquisitor.
|
|
|
|
Post by Chris Robet on Sept 14, 2015 5:10:51 GMT
I sigh as I look at the mess known as Volodja's vehicle. What would drive a person to destroy a perfectly good piece of equipment? I locate my tool set and kneel down next to it. The first thing that needs to be done is to clean the sugar out and replace the gas tank entirely. I thank my experience of fixing von bach industries equipment for them when I still worked there.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sandy Bell on Sept 14, 2015 5:20:57 GMT
Ara Shondu took Volodja Uljanov and Sandy Belle to her office in the back of the consulate for a private conference. Ara sighed as she sat behind her big marble desk after Volodha had finished his statement. She bowed her head and closed her eyes as she contemplated everything Volodja had just said, before she replied, "I wish it was premature to issue the arrest warrant, I truly do, but there is enough evidence not only to show the probable cause that Lady Christianna committed crimes against the citizens of Paradise but to prove her guilty of those crimes beyond a reasonable doubt. My job is to maintain order in Paradise, just as Jon's job is to enforce the laws of Paradise. Neither of us would be doing that job if we hadn't arrested Lady Christianna. If there are defenses to her crimes, she will be given ample opportunity to show them at her trial, and if you wish to be her advocate, I see no problem in that. You are quite eloquent, and probably very familiar with the etiquette of the courtroom, and I mean both as a compliment. However, if you truly wish to help Lady and want her to be found innocent, you will find the true culprits to these kidnappings as - " Suddenly, Ara's hailer rang, and she said, "Excuse me, I have to answer this! Hello Jon, what... No... Just happened?...At the main gate of the ranch you say?... No trace of the assassin?... Please keep me informed Jon. Goodbye." If a Castithan can get paler, Ara Shondu did so as she said to Volodja and Sandy, "Someone just tried to assassinate Belle Starr as she spoke to the crowd in front of the Iron Demons Ranch trying to get them to disperse. She is not dead, but is unconscious with a serious head wound. I am sorry to cut our meeting short, but I have to make some security arrangements and call E-Rep. We may need them to bring in extra troops to keep order. Please think about what I said: The best way you can help Lady is capture those true masterminds who truly commiteed these horrendous kidnappings, and bring them to Law Keeper Cooper alive and well for trial. If the true culprits are dead, then I fear that the people of Paradise will have no one else to hold responsible for these crimes but Lady Christianna, and they will not be very forgiving! Please, forgive my rudeness, but see yourselves out!"  |
|
|
|
Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 14, 2015 5:38:14 GMT
While most of the Senior Members of Fortress Ka'shaa were trying to figure out how to convince Ara Shondu and Law keeper Jon Cooper to free Lady Christianna, Taffer got a slightly odd notification from my EGO psyche, Dinara, "Commander Taffer, Atty says that you should expect a small group of scared and badly under-armed E-rep soldiers at the gate of Fortress Ka'shaa soon. Also he ordered me to jam my signal and go dark as soon as you got my message, but he does still promise to be back to spend the night with the twins. I really really really hope he does...."
Right after Taffer got the message and noted my current location, he lost the signal as promised, for Dinara did indeed go dark, so nobody could track me, as I ordered. Meanwhile, just feet from my now last known location, a group of rather unlucky Dark Matter had just ambushed and captured an E-rep truck and tied up the remaining living soldiers when a dark shadow formed over them. As they looked around they spotted high up in the rock outcroppings just what caused the shadow. What they saw appeared to be a huge and well-armed figure with a sword drawn.
However before any of the five Dark Matter soldiers could act, the being dropped from the rock arch that he was on, bringing his sword down and through the head of one of them. In one quick fluid motion, he spun around and decapitated another. Then stabbed the third in the arm and pushed him back. The Dark Matter lieutenant staggered back from the stabbing and hard shove and fell to his ass. The other two debated whether they should run or fight, as the ominous figure sliced the bonds on the three living E-rep soldiers and pointed his sword towards where he wanted them to go.
The soldiers had an idea of who he was but weren't sure as they had never seen or heard of him wearing his current outfit choice, but didn't feel it was the best time to ask for verification under the circumstances. So they quickly got to their feet and grabbed the closest weapons, then hightailed it the direction that their violent savior pointed them, one of them noting that the safest place in that direction and only a couple clicks away was Fortress Ka'shaa. So that is exactly where they headed to tell their tale, hoping that they would be allowed in.
As the E-rep soldiers ran off, the two still standing Dark Matter had decided that they could take the being and charged him. However I was in no mood to play or be in a long drawn out fight, so in a quick motion I sliced both their gun barrels in half. Then as they turned to run, I quickly pulled out my Monitor Sidearm Mk II, charged it, and fired it four times, hitting my targets perfectly where I wanted, the tendons in the backs of their knees, causing them to fall to their faces in pain, and just as quickly re-holstered my sidearm.
I grabbed the throat of the man that I had stabbed in the arm and said, my anger obvious, "Where is the mistress of Judgment?!"
The guy said, "Go to hell, Irathiant! I am telling you nothing!"
I said pointedly, "Perhaps I will see you there someday. You will recognize me as the man that crushed your throat!"
I then squeezed hard, feeling a morbid satisfaction as the Castithan's bones cracked and crunched in my huge armored hand. I dropped the poor bastard on the ground, and walked to one of the other two, with the first taking one last painful breath before expiring. I picked up the second and said, "Your turn to answer, scum!"
He responded with, "Dark Matter and the Inquisition will make you pay!"
I snarled, "You first!" Then I dropped the guy and as he tried to back away, sliced his head clean off. Then I grabbed the last remaining guy, who was trying to crawl away by now as I had blown out both his knees with my charged shots.
The guy crapped himself as he pleaded, "I don't know nothing and even if I did I wouldn't say because they would kill me!"
I stated, "Like I did them?!?!"
He muttered, " I wish I knew something but I don't!"
I growled, "Wrong answer!" Then I dropped the guy, raised my sword and lopped off his right hand. "Try again!"
The poor guy said, "I...I...I know nothing! HONEST!"
However as he said that, I noticed him reaching for a pistol peaking out of his boot. I kicked him and said extremely angrily, "Time's up! Death sends his dakking regards, gashika haigyi (Irath for: worthless bitch)!!!" I then chopped off his head, un-holstered and fully charged my pistol and shot him in both the brain and the heart. Then I did the same with the other four Dark Matter bodies, re-sheathed my pistol and now very bloodied sword and once again resumed my trek, as if nothing happened.
|
|
|
|
Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 14, 2015 6:09:40 GMT
"No offence taken, Ara," replied Volodja and bowed gallantly. Then he said to Sandy with a smile on his handsome face: "Seems that we have to return to the bunker and investigate it for the leads. I left my flask there anyway, so that gives another reason to return. At least for me. Hopefully we manage to catch at least one of them."
They left the Consulate and Sandy resumed her place on driver's seat of the Dodge Challenger. She waited Volodja to open the door, grabbed his hand and pulled him inside, kissing him passionately after he landed next to her.
"We better catch them fast, Buster," she said after breathtaking kiss. "I still haven't got that joyride you promised, so we better get Lady off the hook ASAP, so we could have our afternoon free."
Another thing they did, was informing the rest of the team about that incident in Iron Demon Ranch and warn them from acting hastily, because babies needed protection. Masterminds behind the plot were still in lose and able to act. Volodja also told rest of the team about their decision of catching at least one of the real culprits. Everyone responded, except Atticus Batman. And his radio silence made Volodja to worry...
|
|
