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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 15, 2015 7:47:48 GMT
Climbing out from the mass grave after being shot was bad experience enough. Volodja still remembered sound of shots and how he counted intervals between commands to fall into the grave before bullet hits him. He remembered the smell of fresh blood, urine and excrements, because relaxation of the sphincter or bladder muscles upon death may cause involuntary ejaculation process and during the mass execution there is always someone, to whom it will happen. He remembered weight of heavy soil dropping to his body when he was almost buried alive until sudden fire strike cut the burial. He remembered how Corporal Arnim Mueller-Stahl, who also survived that massacre, because Volodja dragged him down to the grave with him, helped him out from their mouldy bed. And most of all Volodja remembered the guilt of survivor. They where alive while rest of POW-s were shot and they could not save anyone than themselves from that fate.
Now he had another suicide mission to face. Encountering raging Atticus reminded him facing the fire squad. Yes, he did it before, but one moment he will run out of luck and who says that this wasn't the case. But Volodja also knew that he will do in no matter what. Just to save Atticus from himself and Lady from the certain death by the hands of the irate mob. Not the first time and maybe not the last time either when he acts against all the rules of surviving.
As he assumed, finding Atticus's trails want that hard. During his scouting days at wars, Volodja was used to read slightest marks from the ground - broken plants or branches, slightly dug up moss and so on - and now Atticus had left trail of split Hellbugs, decapitated Dark Matter, smashed scrappers and huge variety of other earthly remains behind him. And with every new body, Volodja spotted, Atticus' tracks became more and more fresh and finally he spotted small dark dot further ahead. Sophie confirmed his assumptions by saying: "It's him. Are you sure that you want to....?"
"I have to," replied Volodja and finally he stopped the Dodge by Atticus' side. "Now or never," he thought, before opening the door and stepping out, ready for anything.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 15, 2015 10:23:42 GMT
After I had crossed the remains of the Golden Gate Bridge, I passed by Bug 'N' Chug, as more people gave me a wide birth. However as I did so, I noticed my bloody and hateful image in the mirror of a vehicle there. As I continued walking and killing every dangerous thing that moved, in the most violent of ways, new thoughts were running through my head. By the time I got to Head first Crater, the rage and anger at the world for what was happening to Lady was now joined by the realization that I had finally started to succumb to the monster inside me again.
The monster that was considered a serial killer and had been called many things including Pishtaco, Brazilian Butcher, Manchurian Monster, and a plethora of other such names. That is not the man that Lady loves or a man I would ever want our children to know. however it was, is and always will be a part of me, a part that I had hoped was long locked away deep inside and now here it was surfacing again, and I was willingly giving into that monstrous side and even welcoming it.
How the hell can what little humanity that I regained allow such a thing?! That's simple. It can't! But what can I do, when I know I am too tired and angry at the world, and more importantly myself, for what has and is still happening to the woman I love?!
As I approached the center of Head First Crater, with Hellbugs jumping all around me, my EGO psyche, Dinara, warned me that Volodja was nearby and seemed to be getting closer. My response to her was, "I don't care anymore. I just don't care. Let him find what is left of the man he knew. However if he really does find me, before I die, then you might as well end "silent" mode and Dinara -- If he is too late and I succeed in what I am currently thinking, then....Ahiha (thank you) and tha rikisa (farewell). May your next host be more deserving of you."
As Dinara saw Volo's EGO signature getting closer, she pleaded with me, "Atty you can't mean it! I don't want another host! I want you! Lady wants you!! Your twins want YOU!! EVERYONE WANT YOU!!! The Atty, WE all KNOW and LOVE is a zushone-imi (good man) and a zuzuhakte (survivor)! So fight it and survive! Don't give in to the darkness!! Don't let it win! Don't!! JUST DON"T!!!"
By the time Volodja stopped the Dodge near my side and opened the door to step out, what he saw was neither giant nor beast, but a long defeated, tired and old blood-stained warrior, kneeling on his knees staring at his blade and cursing any gods that may listen for his existence and what was happening to his soul-mate now. At the same time, the Hellbugs around were starting to get more agitated by his presence and getting ready to attack the knight, who appeared to be ready and willing to let them do what they want to him.
As Volo got out of the challenger, Dinara ended "silent" mode and sent Volo's EGO psyche, Sophie, a very distressed and pleading message. "Sophie you gotta have Mr. Volo hurry the crackerjacks up and run to Atty! You gotta! Atty...Atty is......he is......... losing it to his dark nature and has...has......has given up! He feels he can no longer fight it but knows that he can't let it win so...he is.....he is just going to let the Hellbugs....No I can't say it! I can't! And Kakusi and I can't talk him out of it! We are trying but he won't listen anymore!! You two gotta hurry and do something! You just gotta!!! PUHLEASE HURRY!!! PUHLEASE!!! PUHLEASE!!!!PUHLEASE!!!!!!"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 15, 2015 11:28:45 GMT
"Hey big guy," greeted Volodja. "You know what? I could give you another inspiring speech, remind you all the good you are leaving behind if you quit fighting, but...But we are in seep shtako back at Iron Ranch. If you don't get to your feet, sit into this car and ride along with me, then Lady will be torn apart by the angry mob. That's first. Micor Newlo sits in jail and as a first thing he did in custody, was pulling Lady deeper into the mud, because our Sheriff, instead of interrogating him while he was on a verge of breakdown, threw him into the next cell from Lady's, giving him time to gather himself together and provoke Lady once more, blaming everything on her. I need someone who can make him to tell the truth. It can't be me, because he is a pretentious prick and sees me as a lower life form. That's second. I have been driving like a crazy all day, looking for people and places and my flask. When I came to look for you, I had to leave my Sandy behind to face the irate mob. Sheriff and his deputies are outnumbered there, so they are no match for the crowd. I am damn worried about their safety. That's third. All these aforementioned things are starting to piss me off, so if you refuse to come along, then I have to try to knock you out, pack you into this car, drive you there and release you when we arrive, so you can be useful. And I know that I am no match for you when it's about physical strength. But I have decided to bring you along with me at any cost, Goliath. If I can't talk you some sense, then I must resort to violence and I HATE violence. Especially when I am sure to lose the fight. So quit mourning the loss of yourself, find that good old violent Atticus and help me fix the situation back there."  That's how they stood by the Dodge now - the mighty half Irathient/half grid warrior, covered with blood, mourning the loss of his life and definitely weaker human who had only his smarts, words, reason and charm to face the danger. And his sapper shovel as well. Most of his advantages were quite useless against Hellbugs - you can't affect with the charm and words, but good old shovel helps against them for sure. "How's it going to be?" asked David from Goliath. "Are we fighting each other or we will be fighting together?" |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 15, 2015 11:58:33 GMT
I glanced at Volo, then looked around at what I was about to do and finally got to my feet. As I stepped towards the passenger side of the car, I said, "Fine I will go. FOR LADY! However if you think I can question Newlo without fully releasing my dark side, slowly ripping his conscious body apart and killing him with his own bones as my weapon, THEN YOU ARE MORE DAKKING NUTS THAN I AM! I know I will not be able to do otherwise at the moment! However I will go be by Lady's side and protect her no matter what! Humanity be dakking damned! Not like it wants me anyway!!!"
I then sheathed my bloody sword and got into the car and just sat there quietly, while Dinara mentally thanked Volo and Sophie for at least getting me to focus on Lady again and go with them. Even if it hasn't gotten me to lower my anger levels any.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 15, 2015 12:04:14 GMT
"Better than nothing," muttered Volodja. "And quit complaining about humanity and it's preferences. We are flexible, you know. We even accept...Broderick Smythe, for example, although his origins are doubtful. Of course I said it to cheer you up! I have nothing against Brody.
Keep in mind that if Micor succeeds with his intrigues, then we lose Lady for sure. If Lady is found to be guilty and sentenced, then I foresee the jailbreak arranged for her. Mistress will get her out from and that means the life of the fugitive for Lady. She is considered to be menace on the lose after that and only place she could go will be Mistress' hive, because our fortress is the first place when searching party starts look for her. And once Lady enters into that snake pit, she will be totally under Mistress' influence. We MUST not let that happen!"
Volodja drove like a maniac. At least he had good coordination and ability to calculate the optimal speed and amount of petrohol. And ability to use the landscape for their benefit. There wasn't a single short cut he didn't used and a jump he didn't performed when it shortened their path. Usually Atticus was the one, known for his reckless driving style, but now it was Volodja's turn to show what he can do when times became desperate.
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Post by Sandy Bell on Sept 15, 2015 12:11:42 GMT
Sandy Bell watched the entrance to the Iron Demons Ranch clutching her Pulser SMG from the safety of the main house's porch as the crowd surged behind the makeshift barricade the dozen heavily armed clannies from Team Evolution had erected. The clan mates looked nervously at each other and had yet to unsling their weapons, so Sandy doubted that if the crowd rushed the gate they would fire their guns into it, and she couldn't blame them. All of the clannies were veteran ark hunters who had made Paradise their home for the last three years, and the ranchers and miners in the crowd were probably the ones they had saved countless times in roadside incidents and drank beers with after the fact. Law Keeper Cooper came out and tried to talk sense into the crowd as did Somedude, the founder of the Team Evolution Clan, but were quickly shouted down by the crowd. After the two men conferred with each other for a few minutes, Cooper went back inside but Somedude came over and stood next to her. He was a tall man in nondescript armor, but his skull faced helmet and top hat gave him a roguish look and he exuded an air of confidence. "Hope you know how to use that thing Missy, for I don't think my guys will be up to the task when push comes to shove," Said Somedude in a matter-of-fact manner, "We all love Lady, but we also love our drinking buddies at The Crater, and if things go south I know my guys will hesitate, and that could spell doom for Lady." As if to prove his point, the crowd as one swarmed forward, quickly overwhelming the twelve Team Evolution guards who were either held helpless against the fence or knocked to the ground. The mass of Paradise citizens moved towards the house, inside of which were imprisoned both Lady Christianna and Micor Newlo, but Sandy had no doubt who they were there for. The crowd as one was shouting, "Get Lady! Get the Mistress of Sorrow! Time for a cleansing!" Suddenly there was a gunshot, and a ringleader of the crowd fell down holding the fleshy part of his right thigh where he had been shot. Somedude stood there with a smoking magnum in his hand, saying calmly but loud enough that even those in the back of the crowd could hear, "Sorry George, I've been drinking as usual. I meant to hit your head to shoot out what little brains you have!" George, a foreman at one of Varus' mines, yelled back as he was helped to his feet by two of his cohorts, "Bullshit Somedude! You won't hurt any of us! If you do, the Cronus Clan will take over your territory just like they have most of the Bay Area! Besides, everyone knows, if you wanted me dead, drunk or sober, you would have killed me with that shot if you wanted to!" The crowd surged forwards again, but stopped dead in its tracks when Sandy raked the sky with her SMG, yelling, "He may have a dog in this race but I don't! I don't know any of you from Adam, and the first damn fool that takes another step forward will get a bullet between the eyes!" To emphasize her point, she pointed her SMG at the barn a football field away and fired a single shot with only a glance, making the weather vane mounted on the barn's roof spin dramatically. The crowd dropped its collective jaw, then with much muttering, backed slowly to the other side of the barricade. Sandy kept her SMG trained on the crowd until the last man of them was safely out of the ranch compound and on the other side of the fence. "Not bad little Lady," Said Somedude to Sandy, smiling behind his mask, "If you ever decide you want to join an Ark Hunter clan, I'd be proud to have you in mine." Sandy grinned, her blue eyes still trained on the crowd, but replying, "Mr. Somedude, I think I'd really like to do that and try my hand at ark hunting - after all this mess is over, anyway!"  |
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Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Sept 15, 2015 13:15:23 GMT
The Dark Matter aircraft carrier landed on a road at the bridge leading to Rosa's base called Top Notch. Its cargo door opened and a Hellblazer truck driven by Lu rolled out of it. Apart from Lu, Eren was sitting in its passenger seat and the life pod with Iri inside was still occupying its rear body. "How do you like it?" Eren asked pointing at the building the bridge was leading to. The carrier had already taken off and continued its mission on carrying other Indogenes to their homes. "Honestly?" Lu asked, turning her eyes briefly at Eren and returning them back on the bridge floor once she got a reassuring nod from her. "It looks insane. First razor storm will blow it off and make it roll down the bluff. You wanted a honest opinion, so here it is - you're lucky that you can build a house which looks like an insane pile of scrap metal and don't need to think about a razor which can break it. I'm almost envious." "Thanks", Eren replied neutrally, and Lu could not determine if she liked her answer. The truck finally reached the other end of the bridge and they were met by a brunette girl who jumped to embrace Eren as soon as she exited the vehicle. Lu exited too but didn't interfere in the intercourse between the couple and called Taffer instead.  "Hello commander", she said through her EGO, "Just calling to say our flight went good and we're about to transfer Iri to the lab for medical care. Eren says she has everything she needs for that and by the looks of this place I can say she really has it." "I'm glad to see you in Bay Area and I'd be happy to say feel at home and offer you a place to take some rest, but I'm afraid I have to ask you for a favor. And a big one", she heard Taffer's voice. "Let me guess, am I going to risk my life?" "Yes." "Will it help my newly-found brother by chance?" "Exactly. That's why I'm asking you, not anyone else." "Just tell me the place and time where I should be. But don't forget I'm new here. My EGO has already loaded maps for me but that may not prevent me from getting lost." |
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Post by Taffer on Sept 15, 2015 14:39:11 GMT
Right once Taffer finished his conversation with Lu, he saw Belle's white Challenger entering the gates on the base. He went to greet the guests personally, only to see Erika and Brody coming out of it.
"Nice to see you back on our side", he said and added, "Both of you."
Then he sighed, as he was going to bring bad news and also he was going to use his Commander's position in a way he didn't like to.
"Erika, I know you're tired from all this what happened to us both physically and morally, but I still have to ask you to do something for me. I'm going to bring another member to our team as I see things are getting more and more in southern direction and we're getting underhanded. I've already given her a proper test and seen her in the fight so I can say I can trust her as much as I can trust Vo Kshaa, and he's my best friend. So basically I need someone to man the base while I'll be on my way to catch her and bring her here. I'm taking the Gardoyle copter for that so it shouldn't take long, but I'll hate myself if anything happens during that time. So I ask you to help me with that and promise not to overuse your patience."
As Erika nodded, making him think he was using too many words to explain something se didn't even need to explain at all, He ran to the copter and raised it in the air, sending a message to Lu that she didn't need to go anywhere as he was going to pick her up.
The flight was indeed short and on their way back Lu managed to tell Taffer of her concerns about Indogene citizens of Red Deer which might or might not be connected with the drug formula they discovered. In his turn, Taffer briefly told her what's going on and what her task will be at the base. Lu giggled as the visible simplicity of the task, but then she remembered Taffer answered affirmative on the question if she'd be risking her life.
"Look, if I'm going to be locked off in the building for some time, may I send a message to Esthete first?"
"Sure, just talk away, I'll transfer it as soon as I'll be in the command room."
"Okay Esthete, there's a pal who's name is Arnim Mueler-Stahl. Don't you tell me you don't know who he is because you know everyone who legally resides in your city. Just tell him I'm far away from the city but in case of any danger he can always ask to be transported to the Mainframe building for safety. And if things go very bad, then you'll bring him to my bunker in Calgary. He does not have an EGO, unlike me, and I've promised to help him or at least keep him safe, so I have to rely on your resources. Take care you byte-muncher, see you soon."
"Just a friend I promised to help and whom I hate to abandon the way I had to see you all", she explained to Taffer.
Once the copter landed right at Atticus's building and Vo let Lu pass, Taffer returned to the War Room, taking the controls of the base back. Before Erika went to have her rest, he showed her the files on the newcomer he had and sent her message to Esthete.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Sept 15, 2015 14:51:54 GMT
Law Keeper Cooper hurried out of his office as soon as he could hear all the commotion coming from outside, leaving a single human deputy law keeper inside to guard the prisoners. Lady was laying with her small head on her father's lap, who had fallen asleep sitting up and was now gently snoring despite all the shouting from outside. Lady wore a simple white smock, the Law Keepers having stripped her of her black polymer armor, her dignity, and her confidence. Lady was too dismayed to fall asleep, and although she couldn't see what was going outside, she could hear the crowd outside shouting in unison, "Get Lady! Get the Mistress of Sorrow! Time for a cleansing!" Then she heard the shot and was amazed that her father, Bocar, still hadn't awakened.
"Malcolm Feeley, a human criminal justician, once wrote a book entitled 'The Process is the Punishment' - and he was so correct about the human justice system," Began Micor Newlo, self-styled Master of Stealth for the Inquisition laying on his bunk imprisoned in the jail cell next to Lady's. "The humans will draw out your suffering with a lengthy trial to humiliate you, although the verdict will most certainly be guilty and the sentence death, then imprison you for years while your supposed advocates will appeal your case, whereupon guilty will still be the verdict and death will inevitably still be the sentence. Then they will summarily kill you, with no chance at absolution. Ipso facto. At least with Castithan justice, the cleansing ritual is swift with a chance at redemption!"
Lady's pink eyes grew wide as she pondered Micor's words, then noticed the red lights on the jail cells' cameras go out. The deputy law keeper calmly got something out of the desk drawer, then got up, retrieving the cell keys from the desk top. He walked over, and unlocked Micor Newlo's cell then handed him the item he had secreted in his hand.
"The surveillance system is down?" Asked Micor of the deputy, then gestured towards Bocar, "And how long will he be asleep?"
"With all the sleeping powder I put in his water, he should be asleep for hours," Answered the deputy, a grim look on his face, "I don't know why you wanted Lady's pocket knife and I don't care. Just hail your Inquisitors and release my wife and son."
With one hand, Micor quickly opened Lady's pocket knife and with a mighty slashing move sliced opened the Deputy's throat, both ending his life and keeping him from making a noise at the same time, whispering to the corpse as it fell to the floor, "I have released you wife and son - from their dismal animal lives!"
Lady was struck speechless, not sure what to do as she stared at Newlo with frightened pink eyes, other then to place herself between him and her sleeping father.
"Don't worry sister," Said Micor with a wicked grin as he wiped off his fingerprints from the knife, then tossed it to Lady who reflexively caught it, then dropped it like it was searing hot, "I couldn't care less if you or that old fool lived or died, but our mother, the Mistress of Judgment, doesn't want either of you harmed, so be it"
Micor then walked over and unlocked Lady's jail cell with the keys he took from the dead deputy's hand, being careful not to leave any of his fingerprints on them while whispering, "I'd run if I were you - very fast and very far away! Toodles!"
With that, Micor Newlo cloaked and left out the front door of the house, quickly escaping through the crowd as Sandy Bell held their attention with her shooting expertise. Lady was left, pondering his words, knowing she should have yelled for help but now knowing it was too late for that. Lady knew that what Micor had said was true about the human justice system, and it could be years before she was finally punished for her crimes. She decided that the Castithan way was indeed the more just way.
Lady cloaked before she left the Law Keeper's office, then went around to the back, to the right of the main entrance to the ranch, climbed on to a tractor parked next to the fence, then hopped over it. She then started walking up the highway to the waiting crowd, uncloaking as she did, her white tunic flowing in the gentle night breeze as she smiled enigmatically, shouting to the crowd to get their attention, "Not invisible anymore!"
As many hands grabbed her and hoisted her into the air, carrying her and attaching her to the cleansing rack, her enigmatic smile remained unchanged on her pretty teenage alabaster face - her pink eyes unblinking even when the pain began as rocks began to fill the buckets attached to the infernal machine.
Lady looked like a modern Joan of Arc tied to the cleansing rack, and shouted before passing out from the pain, "Responsible AND visible!"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 15, 2015 15:19:27 GMT
"Unbelievable!" muttered Volodja when he spotted the ongoing cleansing ritual. "The mess is even bigger when I left. You better make an impression to the crowd, Atticus!" "And what are YOU going to do, Fool?" "Same as usual. Stay in shadows and let the heroes shine in limelights as they are used to. And make few improvised moves here and there." Volodja grinned and dived out from the car door and made his way to the hesitant deputies outside. "I need few intelligent guys with acting skills for a delicate task. You! You! And you! You seem to be suitable enough, because you have learned to cover your anxiety. Do you want to get rid of the crowd with peaceful methods? I bet you do, and I have an idea, but you are going to help me with that. And since you didn't manage to protect Lady from the crowd...By the way. How it happened? Did they break in or she broke out? Either way, I see that you have a lot to learn about locking people up. But enough of that... Have you ever heard about the clacquers? Don't confuse the term with the word "clackers", which is a banned toy. Clacquers is the French term for a group of spectators, hired by an actor to respond with enthusiasm when the performer needs a lift from the house. They used wide range of gestures - manual, vocal and bodily - to rouse the rest of audience to their level of feigned admiration and delight. And that's what I need you to do. You are going to influence the behaviour of restless masses. You know how it works if you played "Simon says..."And you are going to be my Simons who are going to show the crowd how to act. Simian see, simian do."  After instructing his reluctant assistants Volodja slid through the crowd, making his way to another ringleader, who was busy with climbing to a crate, ready to start a furious philippic against Lady Christianna after he reaches to his improvised podium. and pulled him gently down. "Let me do that for you," he said. "Today is tough audience." |
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Post by Sandy Bell on Sept 15, 2015 17:38:03 GMT
Sandy Bell was standing on the front porch of the Law Keeper's house with Law Keeper Cooper and Somedude, the founder of the Team Evolution Ark Hunter Clan when the crowd noise got discernibly louder from across the highway. None of them could see what was going on from across the street from their present vantage point, and Sandy volunteered to see what the commotion was all about. Cooper sighed, and said that was his job. He asked Somedude and Sandy to guard the door to his office, not realizing he was asking them to essentially guard the barn door when the horse had already escaped.
As Cooper crossed the street, he quickly saw Lady on the rack and unholstered his pistol, then fired once into the air, saying loudly in his deep voice, "What the hell do you people think you are doing? We are NOT the wild west anymore! We have a justice system, and you should know damn well that as long as I'm the Law Keeper of Paradise, Lady will have her day in court! Now back away from her you jekking Casti priests, or I'm going - "
No one would know what Cooper was going to say next, for a large burly miner broke a two-by-four across the back of his head knocking him out cold. Another rock was put into the bucket even before Cooper's cowboy hat fluttered it's way to the ground, stretching Lady's tiny thin body even more, making her moan in pain even though she was unconscious.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 15, 2015 17:45:51 GMT
BANG! Single shot from Volodja's pistol caught him at least some attention. Especially his assistants, placed into the strategic places amongst the crowd.
"Good people of the Paradise," he declared. "We are gathered here to witness and execution of a teenager. I do wonder who sentenced her to go through the cleansing? Who had the right to do that? What are her crimes? For example what she did personally to you MISTER?" And Volodja pointed his finger towards one of the claquers.
"Nothing, Sir."
"Absolutely nothing?" asked Volodja in awe.
"That's true, Sir. She ain't done nothing to me."
"So why the hell you are here, Mister?"
"No idea, Sir."
"See. This otherwise reasonable guy doesn't know why he is here tonight. Don't laugh at him, please. He just came here with the crowd. Who else can say that she committed a criminal act against him personally? I guess that nobody who demands justice here, can't say that for sure. So where is justice then? You condemned her before she had a chance to say anything for her own protection. She gave herself in, counting on your sense of justice. She believed in you. She has not found to be guilty and yet she is put on the rack.
So I ask you - are you just? Are you fair? I believe you are. I believe that you are reasonable and want to know the truth. Do you? Or do you want to kill that teenage girl without any accusations proven? What if she is not guilty? Then you may as well become criminals. Participants in murder on an innocent. Do you want that? I believe that you are way too decent to let that to happen."
"You are walking on a thin ice, Volodja," warned Sophie.
"Sorry, Soph. Can't step down any more. My blabbering mouth got us into the trouble again, but I CAN'T let them go wild and kill Lady. Even if it costs me my life."
"You know those words of throwing the first rock, so...Better put the rock down, Sir. Deciding from your red nose, I can assume what kind of innocent sin you like to commit." There were few bursts of laugh among the crowd, making particular gentlemen drop the rock while his ears turned as red as his nose was.
"And you, priests. What Lady has done to the men of gods? What has Castithan community to say against her. Are you willing to go through the same ritual to prove that you are right about finding her guilty without any proof? Maybe you should do that. It makes you more convincing, more believable. Anyone wants to get the crown of the Martyr? Any volunteers to show the power of their faith? If there is one then let him assume the place of Lady Christianna on that rack right now. Why I can't see any religious enthusiasm now?"
Volodja's glance travelled on the crowd and then he just shook his head, declaring: "I don't see any Indogenes here, although they have reason to be here. I believe that we should ask from the rescued ones how they were treated? Well, good people! Does their opinion matters or not?"
Volodja didn't intend to be an orator this time, but seeing how Cooper's speech ended and how Lady suffered, he just could not hold himself back any more. He was going to be just the Simon for the clacquers while others are trying to reason with the crowd, but found himself on the podium, giving an improvised speech. Damn! Well, he has to continue to the bitter end now.
"So if we want to be just, we could take the teenager down from that rack until she is found guilty after meticulous and rightful investigation. Since you all gathered here for some major event, then we could arrange an improvised celebration instead of an execution. It would be much merrier event anyway."
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Sept 15, 2015 19:10:36 GMT
Vo was not fond of the idea of leaving the post he was assigned to as he wasn't sure kids would be safe enough without him around. He was not fond of dragging his sister into the entire mess they were in now. But at the same time he was not sure he could be a good guard for the kids with all his agitation over Belle's fate no matter how he tried to calm himself down. So he made a quick decision to let Lu in as Taffer called at the entrance and ushered her to the room with kids.
"Okay Lu. As Taffer already told you, you're going to protect these two young Irathients. I see you have your weapons and shield with you, that's good. Now let me show you what we have here…"
"First, glad to see you alive and well brother. And you Kaj", Lu interrupted him. "Second, Taffer said I'm here to free you so that you could go on some mission that is very important to you. I'm pretty sure Kaj is able to instruct me on everything. So if you need to go, then you can go right now."
"Thanks Lu. I owe you. I'm giving you my level of access at the command console so you can control all the systems here", Vo said before Lu gave him a sisterly hug. On his way out he noticed Lu taking Cosmin from his crib and saying to Kaj, "If we're going to protect them and you're going to show me ins and outs of this home, then we'd better take them with us."
Once he was out of the kids' home, Vo rushed in Blur to the garage and took his trusty Black-and-Gold Hannibal 800R. He jumped on it and raced away from the base, leaving a short message to Taffer and Erica that he's going to Iron Demon.
He took the shortest path which only a powerful ATV could handle, mostly away from crowded roads thus avoiding any blockades which many antagonizing factions of Bay Area might put on those roads to stop a lone traveler. When he got to the Iron Demon, he saw the crowd of people occupying the courtyard and even spilling out to the road. Seeing it would be big waste of time trying to force through the main gate, Vo boosted the engine of his ATV and made it climb a steep hill the fence was attached to. Once ATV was out of its momentum and was about to slip backwards, Vo turned it to the side and boosted again, making it slide to the ground, but on the other side of the fence. As the crowd was mostly occupied by what was happening at the courtyard where the rack was installed, no one paid attention on a single ATV which stopped at the Law keeper's home and its Irathient driver entered through the door, following faint Belle's EGO signal.
Vo found belle on a bench with Dr. Orion and Chris beside her. From what he could see, she was having nightmares and could not wake up.
"What's with her?" He asked. Dr Orion showed him the bullet and Chris told him about nanites he could find in it.
"Shirra, can you deal with nanites?" He asked his EGO unit mentally.
"Theoretically yes", she replied in his head, "I've had some experience in controlling them while I was out of your body. Actually, Esthete Jr. taught me how to gain control of them to physically move myself between devices that are not electrically connected. The problem is, there are lots of different types of nanites and to adapt to the particular type, I have to see them in action. We need to extract the live nanites from her blood, bring them to the lab, feed them with…"
"We don't have time for this Shirra", Vo thought back, "Lady is about to be killed. We need Belle to wake up right now. Not for me, but for Lady's life."
He pulled another bench next to Belle's and said, "I'm immune to illusions and nightmares. I can see them, but I remain conscious and my EGO does as well. I'm going to let nanites from Belle's blood travel to me. This way we'll reduce their concentration in her brain, making the illusion less believable. At the same time my EGO will be able to analyze and destroy them until their concentration reduces to the point they won't be able to control her mind."
He took his knife and cut his palm, making his blood drip from the wound and then he laid himself on the bench next to Belle and put his bleeding palm at the back of her neck, where Belle's EGO implant was located.
"Chris, please keep my hand pressed to her neck. I can lose my consciousness, but that's normal. Doc — just do your job. See that Belle stays alive."
He said that while putting on his sunglasses because the lamp at the ceiling was still too blinding for his new old eye, before he sunk into his own disturbing dream…
Vo was sitting at the campfire and humming a tune, seemingly mesmerized by the view of flames dancing in the night. He turned his head slowly and looked at people who gathered at the fire to get warm and have a snack before going to bed. He knew each of them since he remembered himself. They escaped from the Tranquility camp several years ago and since then they didn't have a chance to settle down because the war was chasing them wherever they go. Now the war was going to take its toll. Those people around him will survive. Those who were already asleep in their tents will die a horrible death, being burnt alive with flame grenades EMC soldiers were going to shoot at them. He knew it was just a dream, and usually he just switched to another one when his dreams became this disturbing, but now he knew he could not interfere and had to watch it to the end.
"I think I found their resonant frequency", he heard Shirra's voice, "Trying a pulse now, hold on…"
Vo found himself driving a Titan truck along the dirt road. He looked at his hands on the steering wheel and saw he was wearing an EMC uniform.
"Hmm, I thought there shouldn't be another dream as I've destroyed the nanites", said the female soldier with Shirra's voice who was sitting on a passenger seat next to him.
"Well, maybe there are different types of nanites and they have different frequencies", Vo suggested, "At least I can see they are definitely confused as they rendered me as the wrong person and you are here as well." He pointed at the back window; a prisoner's cage was seen through it.
"See that Irathient boy? It's me", he said and added, "Strange, I don't remember our truck being the first one in the convoy."
Suddenly they heard a loud clap and the truck skewed to the right.
"Right front tyre punctured", Vo reported through the radio, "stopping for repairs."
As he stopped his truck, another one rolled forward and stopped at about twenty yards in front of them. Vo sighed, knowing no one would survive in that one.
"Care to help?" He asked Shirra who wore the EMC uniform too, "Not that we'll have a chance to do anything substantial anyway"
They came out of the truck's cabin and Vo started to pull the spare wheel out.
"Ten seconds to the apocalypse", Vo said, remembering the loud thud the wheel made when it hit the ground which was heard even in the prisoner's cage.
"I've got the second frequency. And the third one. Going to make a multi-frequency pulse, hold on…"
"Wait! I need to concentrate on Belle's memories so we could enter her nightmare. Maybe we'll be able to trick more nanites to travel into my blood this way and thus get her out of it sooner."
"But how do we know what exactly she sees now?" Shirra asked as the ground started to shake.
"I know for sure. She shared it with me along with all her memories, remember? Brace yourself, that's not what I ever wanted you to see."
He concentrated on the part of Belle's memories which he saw once and thought he would never touch after. But now he had to relive them to rescue her. His vision went white right before the truck was raised into the air by the terraform blast…
He entered the Arkfall already knowing what he would see as he saw three ark hunters running away from it. Seeing their faces made him clench his shotgun but only for a moment as he remembered all of them were already dealt with. He got deeper inside through the familiar passage and stopped at the entrance of the room where he saw Belle in a tattered and blood-covered Engineer suit with a revolver in her mouth desperately pulling the trigger hoping there's at least one live round which would release her from her suffering
"Shirra, find Alfred. He should be here somewhere. Share these frequencies with him so he could fight those nanites in Belle's brain too", he whispered to Shirra as he approached Belle, who promptly aimed her revolver at him despite they both knew it was empty.
Vo sat on his knees in front of her knowing it would be very hard for her to trust a man again in the state she was now. But he still have to try as it was the only way he could rescue her from his nightmare.
"Belle, you probably don't remember me", he started, looking straight into her eyes and ignoring the revolver aimed at him, "But I'm here to lead you out of this nightmare. That's right Belle, all this is not real. It really happened to you some time ago, but what you see and feel now is only illusion of the past. You have already got over it when I met you. You found yourself in protecting innocent people so that they never felt the way you feel now. You've grown into a strong warrior woman, fearsome for your enemies but still with a heart of gold for your friends. You've found those bastards and dealt with them the way you wanted. But at the same time you rescued a lot of people from suffering. These nanites in your head are trying to make you believe you're alone and no one cares for you. But that's just wrong, and that's why I'm here. You have a lot of friends who care for you and want to see you back. Both our EGOs are fighting those nanites right now to get you back to reality. All you have to do is to believe all this is not real. No one can harm you here. I know it's a lot to ask to believe me right now. But I see in your eyes that you recognize something familiar in me. That's a good start. Please take my hand and let me help you out of this nightmare. I won't touch you if you don't allow me to. so take my hand if you believe me."
He extended his hand close enough for her to take it but not too close to touch her and waited for her reply.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Sept 15, 2015 20:39:01 GMT
"The young woman confessed that she was responsible," The head Castithan priest answered Volodja, "She sought us out seeking redemption. Would you deny her soul access to the realm of the gods? Would you deny her absolution, when that is clearly what she desires?"
There was a low murmur of agreement among the Castithans in the crowd.
"Besides," Said the burly miner who had coldcocked Cooper with the two-by-four, "She's the wife of that damned Harbinger of Death, Atticus Batman! He killed my pappy! So she deserves everything that's coming to him! Ain't you never heard of guilt by association?"
There was a louder murmur of agreement among the whole crowd, interspersed with, "Bastard shot my brother dead," and "Fucking asshole beat my cousin to death" among other claims of various relatives killed by various methods by Atticus Batman.
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Post by Belle Starr on Sept 15, 2015 21:35:31 GMT
As Belle Starr's diamond blue eyes fluttered open, they grew wide with fear, flinching at Vo's touch on the back of her neck. She fell off the bench she was lying on trying to get away from his touch, crawling to a corner of the room and cowering there. Her breath came in gasps, and her heart beat so hard she was sure it would burst out of her chest as all she could think of was what happened in her first ark fall. Even worse, all the emotions she felt as a lanky teenaged girl who just been brutally raped consumed her.
Although back in reality, all Belle could see was the cold eyes of the three men who had raped her. All Belle could hear was the lurid things they said to her as they had their way with her. All Belle could feel was their grasping hurting hands on her breasts and the weight of their sweaty bodies on top her as they tore away her virginity. All Belle could taste was her own blood that she coughed up when they nearly kicked her to death. All Belle could smell was the foul breath of their leader and the blood and excrement that seeped from her own body after they left.
In fact, at this moment in time, Belle WAS that teenage girl and the violent rape HAD just happened!
Shirra found Alfred sitting in a white winged back chair in a white room in a white cottage in the Vast White of Belle's EGO - dead drunk! His white lab coat looked wrinkled and stained, and his salt and pepper hair looked more salty then she remembered from when she last saw him. His head was bowed, and he was surrounded by empty bourbon bottles.
"I failed her then. I failed her now. I'm a big failure," Said Alfred, his voice slurred and self pitying.
Shirra couldn't tell if it was because of the nanites, Belle's mental state, or something else entirely. |
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