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Post by Vo Kshaa on Sept 16, 2015 20:41:53 GMT
As Vo hugged and kissed Belle back, he whispered in her ear, "I love you so much Belle. I've never doubted you love me. I always knew you are a survivor. Please don't be sorry. That's why I'm here with you as a friend and as a lover. That's why all your friends are ready to help you when you need it. Our enemies still fail to understand it and it will assure their demise in the end. But now it's Lady who needs our help after all what had happened to her, and I think we both owe Chris a big thanks for his part in finding the culprit of your sickness and for guarding our solitude for all this time."
After another passionate kiss he gave to Belle, he ushered her out of the room, thanking Chris for handling all the trouble they caused him by calling him to rush from their base and making him witness Belle in her fragile mental state.
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Post by Luuzuk Kshaa on Sept 16, 2015 20:42:25 GMT
 As the console signaled of the door opening, Lu quickly checked the personality of the visitor and went to the door to meet her. "Eseneziri (An Irathient greeting. Literally — Without weapons or concealed agenda ). Erika Widowmaker, right? I'm new here, not all faces are familiar, so had to check your access level and your file as you entered as I've been put her on a guard position." She blushed at the thought she didn't say her own name right away and blushed even more when she noticed she was had put her goggles on — an instinctive gesture she always performed seeing any other Iratient nearby. At this place it was unnecessary of course as it was her brother's home so all the residents were most likely used to the color of his eyes, a color which they shared and which was usually disturbing for other Irathients. She pulled her goggles off and looked at Erika again. "Sorry for that, just a habit. Oh, my name is Luuzuk Kshaa, friends call me Lu, I am Vo's sister. Well, technically, he's my clone, but we mutually decided to think of each other as siblings. Well, given I've probably been as impolite as I could be, may I go ahead further and ask you something? Your name sounds familiar to me and calls back to the times I was a kid in Guadalajara, but I don't remember what exactly was connected with it for me. Are you a war hero by chance?" |
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Post by Taffer on Sept 16, 2015 21:00:15 GMT
Taffer caught a channel of some reporter shooting live from Iron Demon ranch and watched all that was happening there as he was on his post at War Room. He exhaled with relief seeing how Atticus cut Lady free from the rack as he was ready to leave his post and steal Lady from that torture, no matter what consequences it could inflict both on her and him. Atticus did it much better, but now there were still many things to be concerned about. As Vo reported Belle's conditions became much better, he transferred to the team:
"Nice job team on saving Lady. Really nice. But that's not a victory yet. Lady is still suspected and people still didn't see the real culprit of their woes. Our enemy is still on the loose, they have the formula and we still don't know what they are going to do with it. So I'm going to call you all back to the base. We need to gather all evidences and clues together and decide what we do next. I'm going to ask Cooper if he's is going to release Lady under any guaranties we can provide him. Given his place is not safe for her or anyone else while she's there, I hope he's reasonable enough to agree. If not, then someone is going to stay with her. With all the plots Mistress is building around her we can't leave her alone. Everyone else, please come back to our base."
For once he wished he was an AI mastermind to collect all the pieces of the puzzle together. But he wasn't so he had to rely on the amount of a grey matter he had in his head.
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Post by Belle Starr on Sept 17, 2015 3:40:33 GMT
As Vo hugged and kissed Belle back, he whispered in her ear, "I love you so much Belle. I've never doubted you love me. I always knew you are a survivor. Please don't be sorry. That's why I'm here with you as a friend and as a lover. That's why all your friends are ready to help you when you need it. Our enemies still fail to understand it and it will assure their demise in the end. But now it's Lady who needs our help after all what had happened to her, and I think we both owe Chris a big thanks for his part in finding the culprit of your sickness and for guarding our solitude for all this time."
Just after she gave Vo another passionate kiss, she received a message from Somedude's EGO, saying "I'm still on the front porch and it looks like a motorcade from Shondu's consulate just entered the Iron Demon Ranch compound. My guess is the old girl has decided to see for herself how bad things are, which all things considered, are pretty damn bad! Better come up and do your diplomacy thing sweet cakes! Me, I'm going to find a bottle of whiskey, for medicinal purposes of course, cause all politicians make me sick."
Belle quickly told Vo the situation, saying, "I guess its show time again! Hope it goes better this time! Kiss me for luck!"
Belle stole a quick kiss, than thanked Chris as she blurred by on her way to the front door of the Law Keeper's house just in time to open the door, and address Ara Shondu who was on the other side of it, "How y'all doing Ara! I hope you are here to reconsider allowing me to take custody of Lady Christianna and to bring her back to Fortress Kshaa. We can definitely protect her better than y'all can, as recent events will attest to, and I give my personal guarantee that Lady will make any judicial hearings y'all want her to make!"
Ara's pink eyes looked intensely at Belle, as Ara sensed the sincerity in Belle's words, then glanced at the finally dispersing crowd at the front gate to the Iron Demon Ranch, and replied, "I trust your word Belle, and I am here to reconsider custody arrangements, but I would like to review the evidence first, if you don't mind!"
Belle smiled warmly, gesturing with a sweep of her long elegant arm for Ara to come in, then said, "Follow me!"
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Post by Kaj Oenfer on Sept 17, 2015 4:17:55 GMT
Erika went to Atticus' bunker to change her mood, relieving Kaj, impulsively whispering to him that Kara would really like to see him, before rocking her infant niece and nephew, Caprice and Cosmin, in their cradles.
Kaj nodded and said, "It is good to see you again Miss Widowmaker. I am sorry for all the trouble I caused earlier. I do hope that you saying I can go see Kara means that I am forgiven and that you are alright with me being in her life...however she wants of course. You do have a great daughter and nice grandkids. Commander Batman and Lady have nice babies too. Too bad he has no real family for them to get to know, as it seems to be important to everyone. However, I suppose it is no big deal as they are part of such a big "adopted" family."
Kaj saw a look he didn't quite understand, when he mentioned Atticus not having an actual family, and said, "I am sorry, Miss Widowmaker. Did I say something wrong again?"
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Post by Lady Christianna on Sept 17, 2015 4:32:18 GMT
The first thing Lady Christianna sensed when she regained consciousness was the feel of Atticus' large hand holding her's. The second thing she sensed was that she was lying down flat on her back on a bed that was much more comfortable than her jail cell cot. The third thing was that she heard various voices, and they all sounded like they were talking about her.
She heard Law Keeper Cooper's voice confirm everything Volodja had said about the deputy law keeper's murder, and that the deputy's family was found murdered far from the ranch, which made Cooper agree that Lady was being framed for his murder. She heard Bocar's EGO and MOM both testify to what actually happened during Lady's and Micor's "escape", although there was some discussion of about whether an EGO hologram can testify in a court of law, whereupon she heard Belle's voice say that an EGO was as reliable if not more so than a camera or any other surveillance device, and that evidence was admissible, which made the room go quiet for a bit while everyone thought and finally concluded Belle was right. Cooper's voice said that Lady might be innocent of murder, but that there was more than enough evidence to hold her for the kidnappings of the Indogenes, including Lady's own confession. Belle's voice countered that here was also plenty of evidence for Lady's defense of diminished capacity and maybe even temporary insanity. Then Ara Shondu's voice, whom Lady didn't even know was at the Ranch, said that would be for a court of law to determine, but that she would like to hear from Lady before she made any determinations on the case.
Lady figured that was her cue to wake up, which she did by quickly opening her big pink eyes while squeezing Atticus' hand for reassurance, saying as her Mona Lisa smile took it's place on her pretty chalk white young face, "Awake. Ask whatever."
Ara looked down at her and smiled kindly, asking, "Did you order the kidnapping of those Indogenes Lady?"
Lady thought how easy it would be to lie, to become invisible again and not take responsibility for her actions, but only for a second, saying with a pout and with regret, "Yes. Thought it was a good idea. For my brain trust. Was wrong. Very wrong. Sorry." Then her tome brightened and she smiled again, "But okay now, right? Got cleansed, got punished, so... all right, right?"
Ara looked sad, not sure that she could make the teenager understand, but trying anyway, "I wish it was that simple, child. What you did was a very serious crime, but those people who punished you were not representing our society, and they will be punished for the harm they did to you. Please know that the vast majority of the citizens in Paradise did not engage in that mob justice inflicted on you, but they are scared and they do expect real justice, and as their government representative, I have to get it for them. Lady, what you did was wrong, no mater if you had good intentions or not. You stole people from their homes, forcing them to do things they didn't want to do, and even if you thought it was for the best, as your EGO testified, it wasn't your choice to make as to whether they would do it, but theirs. Now many citizens of Paradise are terrified that the same thing can happen to them. It's my job as their government representative, to make sure it doesn't happen again, that neither you nor anyone else will try such a thing again, and they demand I make an example of you to deter others, unless we can find the true culprits to this crime. Do you understand?"
"No," Answered Lady, adding emphatically, "GOT cleansed!"
Ara sighed, gently brushing a whisp of white hair from Lady's alabaster forehead before smiling down on her, then looked at Atticus, an stating, "You may take her home, but she will be on electronic monitor until her trial, not to go beyond 100 yards of your home or Law Keeper Cooper will have to bring her back to jail. Belle has promised to be essentially her bail bondsman, and therefore be responsible for her through trial. Since I and therefore the community I represent trust Belle implicitly, no other bail need be posted than Belle's word. Atticus, please understand, those people outside the gate do NOT represent Paradise, and Law Keeper Cooper will bring those who did this to your Lady to justice. However, please do not take the law into your own hands to seek vigilante justice yourself. If you want to help Lady, find those who manipulated Lady into these crimes and bring them unharmed back to Paradise to face civilized justice."
Lady's pout became a frown, her pink eyes narrowed at to what she felt was the injustice of it all, as she muttered, "But got cleansed."
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 17, 2015 4:40:47 GMT
Everyone got something that night. Restless masses got a chance to have a party outside - POW-s were spinning on improvised spits and beer kegs were opened. Toasts were risen and music was played.
Volodja Uljanov got a chance to have some rest. He tossed his coins into the pile, gathered some evidence and did everything else to clean Lady Christianna from any kind of charges against her. Rest was not up to him, so he switched off from the world for awhile. After all - he got Sandy leaning on his shoulder. He got his boot flask back. His Dodge Challenger was fixed by Chris Robet. He managed to tame irate crowd and convince the stubborn Law Keeper Cooper about Lady's innocence in deputy's murder case. That was a lot, but he knew that everything will last only for a short time period before lightning strikes in again. He regained and maintained what he already had, but what new he gained from this affair? Some intellectual pleasure on solving some puzzles and handling the situations. Nothing else changed for him.
For a moment things were relatively stable. Except that masterminds were still in freedom and probably planning another move on them already. There was definitely another crisis ahead. But there were also a lot of people, capable of handling it more effectively, than an old and tired knight-errant could do. He was good at leading in true heroes who can affect things and that task was successfully fulfilled.
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Sept 17, 2015 4:53:18 GMT
"Sorry for that, just a habit. Oh, my name is Luuzuk Kshaa, friends call me Lu, I am Vo's sister. Well, technically, he's my clone, but we mutually decided to think of each other as siblings. Well, given I've probably been as impolite as I could be, may I go ahead further and ask you something? Your name sounds familiar to me and calls back to the times I was a kid in Guadalajara, but I don't remember what exactly was connected with it for me. Are you a war hero by chance?"
Erika Widowmaker nodded with a slight smile in greeting to the young Irathient girl with the cyan eyes. Erika had never understood the eye color prejudice of many of the Irathiant race, but then she never felt the uneasiness other Irathiants felt around those with cyan eyes. Erika had always felt that she did not feel that way because she had honed her senses to look for real dangers, not manufactured ones, and she had never felt endangered by any Irathiant with cyan eyes. To Erika, there were too many real dangers in their brave new world then to engage in such frivolousness as to engage in prejudices that should have been left back in the old one.
"Please call me Erika. There were no war heroes in the Pale Wars, only war survivors, and I was one of those." Answered Erika, "I once held a modest post in the Votan Collective government for a while, so perhaps you heard my name in connection to that. Past is past. I am pleased to meet you in the present. Vo is a fine man, and does his tribe proud. Welcome to our new world tribe here at Fortress Kshaa."
A wisp of a smile flew across Erika's lips that disappeared as fast as it had appeared as she wondered how the yound girl took to having the Fortress named Kshaa, like herself, but she didn't ask, merely excusing herself so that she could visit her infant niece and nephew. She saw Kaj watching over the babies, talking briefly with him, mentioning that Kara, her daughter would be happy if she could visit with him, but then he said something about her brother Atticus that made her wonder.
Kaj saw a look he didn't quite understand, when he mentioned Atticus not having an actual family, and said, "I am sorry, Miss Widowmaker. Did I say something wrong again?"
Erika leaned over Caprice's cradle, smiling ever so slightly as she tickling the baby under her soft chin as the baby gurgled in delight, before replying to the big bio-man, "I don't know why I thought it would be common knowledge by now, but I did, knowing how gossip travels so fast in a community the size of Fortress Kshaa. I hope Atticus did not want it to remain secret for some reason, but we recently found that he and I are brother and sister, separated when we were very young. It has made me both happy to be reunited with him, but also sad for all the years we missed when we were apart, if that makes any sense. That is one of the reasons I will no longer stand in the way of you seeing Kara, if that is what both of you wish. I have realized life is too short for such regrets, and you are a good man Kaj, just as my daughter is a good woman. It would be sheer madness to keep you two apart if you wish to be together, and I do not wish either of you to have the same regrets I have as to my brother. Now go Kaj, I will gladly take your place guarding my little niece and nephew, and will be sure to tell Atticus it was my idea to do so when her returns. However, please don't tell Kara about her newfound uncle until I have a chance to do so, as I don't think she knows yet."
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Post by Atticus Batman on Sept 17, 2015 5:45:27 GMT
I was gently squeezing Lady's hand the whole time Ara Shondu was talking to her, for reassurance. As Ara moved closer to Lady I tensed up for a second, the relaxed as she was not acting as if she was going to have Lady thrown back into a jail cell or on another rack.
Ara sighed, gently brushing a wisp of white hair from Lady's alabaster forehead before smiling down on her, then looked at me, and stating, "You may take her home, but she will be on electronic monitor until her trial, not to go beyond 100 yards of your home or Law Keeper Cooper will have to bring her back to jail. Belle has promised to be essentially her bail bondsman, and therefore be responsible for her through trial. Since I and therefore the community I represent trust Belle implicitly, no other bail need be posted than Belle's word. Atticus, please understand, those people outside the gate do NOT represent Paradise, and Law Keeper Cooper will bring those who did this to your Lady to justice. However, please do not take the law into your own hands to seek vigilante justice yourself. If you want to help Lady, find those who manipulated Lady into these crimes and bring them unharmed back to Paradise to face civilized justice."
Lady's pout became a frown, her pink eyes narrowed at to what she felt was the injustice of it all, as she muttered, "But got cleansed."
I looked at Ara and said, "Consul Shondu, if I wanted them dead, they already would have been. However I am sure you saw the news feed, as it made sure to capture my every move once I entered that Cleansing Circle. I was a little rough with the guy who knocked out poor little Jonnyboy, but I did not hurt him. Besides if anybody gets to hit Cooper it should be me, but even I think that blow was a bit of overkill for that situation. Nor did I hurt anybody else. I merely did a citizen's arrest and told him of his crimes and turned him over to a deputy. I even made sure all were clear, BEFORE I DESTROYED that ILLEGAL CONSTRUCT, that YOUR PEOPLE tend to CALL JUSTICE."
"As for Lady going beyond 100 yards of Fotress K'shaa, I do hope you mean that it's 100 yards beyond the outer perimeter fence, as it is a huge Fortress with several secondary buildings on the compound, one of which is our private quarters. If you do not believe me, then you can contact Fortress Ka'shaa about that. Afterall I made sure I followed procedure when I decided to lease that building from the team. I may not approve of how you authorities allow the law to tie your hands, however I am trying to follow the spirit, if not the letter, of the law. Do not worry. I do have a family now, so I will do my best to not make the pardon contract, I signed, null-in-void. Although I do still wish everyone one would have allowed ME to take the blame for Lady's manipulation. After all most in Paradise would have definitely believed it and then she wouldn't have been tortured while in Jonny boy's custody!
I also see you grimacing at all the blood on my outfit. I do assure you that it was all either from individuals that are wanted dead, individuals who attacked first, or violent creatures such as Hellbugs and Scrappers."
"If you do not believe me, then you can contact the Fortress Ka'shaa about that as well. I saved some E-rep soldiers earlier and sent them to the Fortress to resupply and get a bite to eat before the reported back to Captain Grant. You can also ask Volodja Uljanov as I am certain he witnessed some of my carnage. I will do all that I can to bring back those that are responsible, however I can not promise they will be unharmed, just that I will do my best to keep them alive. However if Cooper wasn't so bad at keeping people in his custody, then one of the main perpetrators would still be here right now!"
Ara Shondu assured me that it was indeed 100 yards beyond Fotress K'shaa's outer perimeter fence. She also informed me that she was going to double-check that news footage to make sure I merely bent, but didn't break, the law and contact Fortress ka'shaa and Captain Grant about the soldiers I claim to have saved from certain death, to be sure that I was still indeed staying within the bounds of my agreement with her.
Then I looked back at Lady and gently squeezing her hand again as I said, "I do wish it were over as well Tianna, as you were punished by your people and I hated seeing you suffer so. However that was not law and justice, nor was it done by those that you are accused of wronging. If it was then I would be the first to point out that you already paid restitution in some way. So the only way that it will end, with just the cleansing ritual that you suffered, is if all the Indogenes that you are accused of kidnapping either insisted on dropping the charges or they all agreed that you have already paid for your crimes with that torture that was done to you. As I don't see that happening, I am afraid that means hunting down Newlo and his Mistress of Judgment, and dragging their asses back here. Even though Cooper will probably just fail to keep them in custody again."
Then I looked back at Ara and Cooper, "Now if you are done here, I would like some privacy with my wife. We would also appreciate it if her clothes were returned to her so she can change and leave here with some of her dignity returned! Is that a clear enough request for you Jonny boy?!"
Just then I got Taffer's message. "Nice job team on saving Lady. Really nice. But that's not a victory yet. Lady is still suspected and people still didn't see the real culprit of their woes. Our enemy is still on the loose, they have the formula and we still don't know what they are going to do with it. So I'm going to call you all back to the base. We need to gather all evidences and clues together and decide what we do next. I'm going to ask Cooper if he's is going to release Lady under any guaranties we can provide him. Given his place is not safe for her or anyone else while she's there, I hope he's reasonable enough to agree. If not, then someone is going to stay with her. With all the plots Mistress is building around her we can't leave her alone. Everyone else, please come back to our base."
I responded via EGO with, "Taffer, if Lady were to have to stay here, then I would guard her personally from now on. However Shondu and the blowhard have agreed to release her into our custody. However she will be monitored electronically and confined to Fortress Ka'shaa's compound. Good thing it is big enough for her to find stuff to do there. We will be home as soon as possible. Although I do not know if we have enough vehicles here for everyone. After all I saw Doctor Orion and my EGO shows that Vo, Belle, Sandy, Volo, and Chris are also here. So counting myself and Lady, that is 8 Fortress Ka'shaa residents present. So if we do not have enough transports, I would appreciate it if you sent some for us, as I do not trust Blowhard Cooper's people or transports at the moment." |
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Post by Chase Lonehart on Sept 17, 2015 5:55:40 GMT
Eren had assisted in directing the sleep pod to the same room where Iri had spent most of her time working to solve Chase’s memory problem. It wasn’t out of some misplaced sense of sentimentality, but the fact that it was it was in close proximity to the entrance. Rosa had entered the room, elated to seeing Eren there that she charged at full speed and almost pounced on her, hugging her. “I thought I wasn’t going to see you again,” Rosa told her, choking back tears. Eren took a moment to finally hug her back. “The likelihood of that happening was possible, but not likely,” Eren replied. "Especially thanks to Lu Kshaa and Chase Lonehart." Rosa broke from the hug, finally realizing the pod was there and that Iri was inside of it. “What happened?” "A lot of circumstances that would never have normally occurred. I believe it was one of those rare moments of cause and effect. One decision leading to a series of events that has left Iri Sewuel alive and comatose, and Chase Lonehart alone, in the Canadian desert, possibly dead or waiting to die. At least he and Iri disabled the terraspire enough to put a dent in Lady's plan." “The whole thing was for nothing,” Rosa told her. “Apparently, Lady’s mother set the whole thing up as a test. That means everyone that died in this died for nothing. Needlessly.” Eren felt a small tingle of sadness within her, her putting her hand on the glass and looking at the slumbering Indogene within. “I feel sorry for her, Rosa. She’s lost the most important thing in her life. If he is still alive, he thinks she’s dead, and there is no way to truly know if he is or not. She will not be happy when she wakes up. I know I wouldn’t be if the situation were with you out there and I in here. It would be like an ark that has lost its navigational system, flying blind in circles.” Eren felt Rosa's arm around her, hugging her as she place her chin on her shoulder. "I guess it's a good thing she won't be alone," Rosa assured her. "She has us. And she has Chase's friends, too. Iri doesn't have to go through this alone. That's the important thing." Rosa left Eren to continue on with securing the sleep pod. The plan was simple for Eren. She would take care of Iri as she slumbered, making sure that the sleep pod’s setting allowed for Iri to wake up whenever she was healed. Eren would make sure she would inject necessary vitamins and necessary nutritional liquids into the pod’s IV units, so that Iri would not starve. Most importantly, she would take an hour out of each day to sit next to Iri’s bedside, so to be able to comfort her should she wake up. Eren would still have to do her daily routines and work at Top-Notch, but she was going to make sure that Iri Sewuel remained alive. Maybe its best she never wakes up, she thought. Because she would be awaking into a nightmare.Eren pulled the chair from the desk, a chair that she had seen Iri sitting at no more than a few days ago. She had retrieved her copy of a book of old Earth song lyrics that she had lent to Iri. As she thumbed through the pages, she stumbled across a page bookmarked by a piece of pulp paper. She read the lyrics, she couldn't place where she had heard of them before or who performed them. But she read them slowly, in hopes of trying to figure out why Iri would bookmark it. But, for some odd reason, she thought of Chase Lonehart and had considered that the lyrics may have applied to him in some way. Saw the world turning in my sheets
And once again I cannot sleep
Walk out the door and up the street
Look at the stars beneath my feet
Remember rights that I did wrong
So here I go
Hello, hello
There is no place I cannot go
My mind is muddy but
My heart is heavy does it show
I lose the track that loses me
So here I go
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
And so I sent some men to fight
And one came back at dead of night
Said he'd seen my enemy
Said he looked just like me
So I set out to cut myself
And here I go
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
I'm not calling for a second chance
I'm screaming at the top of my voice
Give me reason, but don't give me choice
Cause I'll just make the same mistake again
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
And maybe someday we will meet
And maybe talk but not just speak
Don't buy the promises cause
There are no promises I keep
And my reflection troubles me
So here I go
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
I'm not calling for a second chance
I'm screaming at the top of my voice
Give me reason, but don't give me choice
Cause I'll just make the same mistake
I'm not calling for a second chance
I'm screaming at the top of my voice
Give me reason, but don't give me choice
Cause I'll just make the same mistake again
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
Saw the world turning in my sheets
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
And once again I cannot sleep
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
Walk out the door and up the street
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
Look at the stars
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
Look at the stars falling down
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
And I wonder where
Uhuh uhuh uhuh
Did I go wrong?
——————————— A few months previously. ——————————— She awoke in the darkness of the hotel room, the cool air tickling her skin despite wearing the robed nightgown. Iri could feel her lover pressed against her from behind, him lightly snoring away. If anyone had asked her centuries ago if she would ever fall in love, she would have told them not likely. But yet, in this new world, she found someone. It may have been the worst day of his life when they met, but she felt that she rescued him from a life of loneliness he kept himself in for eight years, just as much as he had rescued her eight years ago. She was careful to turn to look at her love. Eight years meant nothing without him in her life. And all she could do at that moment is see the future of both of them. After he got back from Tampa, which she was sure he would, they would stay in Freedom for a while until she could make the decision to go with him to San Francisco or until he made the decision to stay in Freedom. They could share her storage container home, spend every night talking, jekking and living if they stayed. Every Friday night, they would go to the Library for Movie Night. Maybe Chase would go back to Historical Salvage. They could adopt a child since Iri was unable to reproduce to an injury she sustained during the last days of the Pale Wars. Or she could go to San Francisco with him. He could teach her how to be an Arkhunter, how to handle a weapon and maybe get to see where he lived. Maybe he has a trailer somewhere, or maybe he slept on his car out in a wide open plain, watching the moon as he drifted to sleep. It was a lot that they had to discuss, and a decision would have to be made eventually. But she didn’t care if it was Freedom or Marin, as long as she had him, that was all she really needed. That and his naked body against mine every once in a while, she told herself. He’s so virile for his age.Iri carefully ran her gloved finger along the bridge of Chase’s nose, which caused him to slightly stir in his sleep and scratch at it. She couldn’t help but chuckle quietly. The last time she had seen him so vulnerable was that last night at the hotel on the way up north years ago. Iri never considered herself to be the type of person who would marry, or be “someone’s wife.” But for him, it seemed like it was worth it. She wondered what the future held for their relationship, what ups and downs were to come. As long as she had him, she was sure things would be okay. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath and sighed, feeling so content about the two fhem. The possibilities are endless, was the final thought she had as she drifted back to sleep. |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 17, 2015 6:23:14 GMT
"When to think about it," thought Volodja. "I don't have a place among the superheroes. I am an ordinary guy who is unable to affect things that really matter. I am not a role model. I am not someone who actually matters. If I was somebody, then people would have been listened me without a need of proving my point. All I ever managed to do was bringing a heroes to the stage or keep them going during the hard times. Their powers come with flaws, but I have only flaws and no power. Lady was mistaken when she said that I change things. That I change the world. Others change things. I just prepare the ground for that. Warm up the audience for them, I guess...If I only gave a better performance back there, then Lady would have been out of the hook already. I guess I should think about the past. MY past, where I was someone who's thoughts counted, because they were MY thoughts. I always wanted to be somebody, but here I keep feeling being nobody else but a sidekick. No wonder that I understood what Lady must been living through. There is no place for ageing men after all. And I always was mentally older of my age. Unfortunately my ageing body starts to capture my mind. That must be the reason of feeling tired. I must think...a lot what I am going to do next with my life." He rose to his feet, kissed Sandy gently to her forehead, wishing that he could be her Prince, whom she can be really proud of instead of being just a noble but humble Knight, and left the building, making his way through celebrating crowd. As he guessed - nobody among the people didn't paid any attention to him. He found his grey Dodge. Grey is a dull colour indeed. Suits him perfectly. Fifty shades of dullness. If he only was a better man... Volodja opened the door, placed himself to the driver's seat, turned the key to start the engine and...Nobody bothered to set a car bomb for him. Advantages of being insignificant. His grey Dodge moved slowly forward until it was almost swallowed by the grey shadows just like ocean swallows a water drop. But when to think about it...he can have his contemplation session right here. That's why he stopped the car, and after finding himself a nice hard rock next to the ranch gate, sat down, leaned his chin to hand and started to stare into the darkness. He can't leave Sandy and others behind, but he can't ruin her good mood, because he feels like a lower life form as Micor called him. But at least he managed to avoid a breakdown while rest of people needed him. But as soon as his sense of duty could take a vacation after he accomplished his tasks, his depression hit him again and he felt that nobody needed him any more. Goya was right. The sleep of reason produces monsters.  |
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Post by Kaj Oenfer on Sept 17, 2015 6:54:01 GMT
Erika leaned over Caprice's cradle, smiling ever so slightly as she tickling the baby under her soft chin as the baby gurgled in delight, before replying to the big bio-man, "I don't know why I thought it would be common knowledge by now, but I did, knowing how gossip travels so fast in a community the size of Fortress Kshaa. I hope Atticus did not want it to remain secret for some reason, but we recently found that he and I are brother and sister, separated when we were very young. It has made me both happy to be reunited with him, but also sad for all the years we missed when we were apart, if that makes any sense. That is one of the reasons I will no longer stand in the way of you seeing Kara, if that is what both of you wish. I have realized life is too short for such regrets, and you are a good man Kaj, just as my daughter is a good woman. It would be sheer madness to keep you two apart if you wish to be together, and I do not wish either of you to have the same regrets I have as to my brother. Now go Kaj, I will gladly take your place guarding my little niece and nephew, and will be sure to tell Atticus it was my idea to do so when her returns. However, please don't tell Kara about her newfound uncle until I have a chance to do so, as I don't think she knows yet."
Kaj smiled and said, "Thank you for that respect. I am glad that you and Atticus found each other after so long thinking neither had a family. Do not worry. I will not tell Kara your secret. I am reluctant to leave here and go see her. I really want to, but Atticus wanted the twins to be watched by people resistant or impervious to mind control for good reason. However you are also a Commander here and the twins' family so I will happily listen and go see Kara. Goodnight Miss Widowmaker."
Kaj peeked into the Control Room and said, "Goodnight Miss Lu. It appears my shift has ended for now."
Kaj then left the bunker and walked across the compound. He quickly entered Fortress Ka'shaa Proper and went to see Kara, arriving in time to have dinner with her. Although they talked about a lot, he made sure to avoid anything that would cause him to spill Erika's happy secret to about Atticus to Kara. He especially told her about how he was finally making new friends.
"Kara they are great. I am sure you will like them. Some you have met, others you have not yet.
I think you may have met Mr. Volodja Uljanov, Volo, already. Volo is very knowledgeable about everything, so I do not know why Commander Batman always refers to him as Fool. Perhaps it is just an inside joke between the Commander and Volo that I do not get? Volo is also a good fighter though he prefers pacifism, something that I relate to very well. And as Volo seems to love literature perhaps he could recommend some good poets or some great detective novels, when I have time to talk to him about it later. Or perhaps I could ask about art. I have recently wondered if I would be capable of sculpting or if I would enjoy it. Besides I have been told I need to find a hobby or something to keep me busy. So why not try art of some sort. He is also quite silver-tongued. One of the Soldiers I used to know, would probably refer to Volo as a flim-flam man. Such a confident fellow that he could sell ice to an Eskimo, whatever that means. All in all he is a great guy and I could see why Commander Batman considers him the best man. I always thought that title only applied to weddings. Yet even after the Commander's wedding, I still hear him refer to Volo as the best man on occasion. Although Commander Batman is not the type to openly compliment others most of the time. So I am not sure if Volo knows how much the Commander truly respects him.
There is Sandy Bell who is a great soldier and apparently a very accomplished surfer. I do not know how one could do that but I saw her do so in the holo-room once. I doubt my big body could stand on a surfboard without making it sink. She is very friendly and fun to be around. She is also extremely loyal and loving. I have not known her long, yet I already see her as a best friend. Perhaps it is because we both seems to be naïve of this world in our own way. She is with Volo and they are such a cute couple.
There is Chase Loneheart who is on another mission in Canada, from what I have heard. Although I thought he was working with Lu, and she is now here but he did not return. I have not had much opportunity to talk with him other than what little I did on my previous mission. However he was really nice and treated me like a human instead of a tool, as most people treat me at first. He is with an Indogene woman name Iri Seweul who I have not yet had the privilege of meeting. So I can not say anything about her yet.
Vo K'shaa was one of the first three on base to treat me like a person. The other two being Commander Batman and Volo. Vo has a way of making everyone feel better just knowing he is around. He smiles a lot and is always there when needed. He also seems to love vehicles. I personally do not care for them, but that is because I am to huge to comfortably fit in most. He did disappear for awhile and we thought him dead. However as you know we discovered otherwise and that rescue mission I went on to Canada was to locate and save him.
Luzuuk Ka'shaa is Vo's twin sister and it is quite obvious when you see them next to each other. Same smile, same eyes, maybe even the same posture. Definitely a reliable and pleasant person to have around, like her brother. I think Lu is the older of the two, but not sure. I have not asked for it is not my business. She is quite the tough young woman. She is fierce in battle. Yet always looks out for the little guy. Quite confident with who she is. I do envy her for that. She also seems to like vehicles and loves explosives. I enjoyed using her Rocket Launcher in battle. It had some fun modifications.
Belle Starr seems to have great aspirations and dreams of a better world. She always tries to see the good in everyone and everything. When I ended up feeling very low, she is the one that boosted my self-esteem by asking me to go on the mission to Canada with them, to save Vo. She has a very charismatic personality that motivates others. My former human squad from the Pale Wars would have referred to her as a Cheerleader.
Doctor Wolfram as you know is the shrink. However he is also a very nice old man. I do not understand half of what he says when he starts talking in German. However I do like him. He always has some kind of sage advice, if you can find it hidden under that accent.
Commander Taffer is nice though can be a bit of an isolationist. He is very computer savvy. I have also learned that he is the man with the plan. Well actually when it comes to him he is always a step or two ahead of most so he is more like the man with several plans.
There is Chris who loves machines and Hellbugs. He is a good guy. Although I do think he talks about his hellbugs way too much.
There is your mother, Miss WidowMaker. She comes off as very strong but caring. I had some issues with her originally. Partly because she saw me as a war tool, but mostly because of my misunderstanding everything and not knowing the proper way to act in any environment but a strict military one. However she is now being nice to me, and even relieved me of my babysitting duty, so I could come and spend time with you for awhile. I think she may even be starting to look past my previous mistake and respect me. At least she called me a good man, so that is a start.
There is also Lady Christianna. She is a wonderful young woman. She always brings energy into the room, even though she does not talk much. She, like Vo, always seems to be smiling. Everyone's kid sister, well except Commander Batman's that is. After all she is married to Commander Batman and they have two cute babies together; Cosmin and Caprice. Do not worry, your kids are quite adorable as well, and seem to like me. Although Frond seems to love biting Commander Batman. I am sure you will get to meet them soon. They are a very odd couple. She is small, cute and happy. Atticus is big, gruff and intimidating most of the time. However she seems to have him wrapped around her little finger and I do not think either of them realize it.
Then there is Atticus Batman. A man who prefers to project fear into the hearts of others and tends to come across as cold and hateful. I think it comes with the territory of a professional Bounty Hunter and Loner. However once you get to know him, you will learn he is just lukewarm and cranky most of the time. Actually if you can look past his fierce and dominating exterior, he can be a decent guy. I doubt he will ever learn to truly lighten up, although Lady and Volo sure are trying. If anybody can do it, it would be those two. He is the guy who immediately made me is second in Command of Security. Unfortunately that did not work out, as you know. However he did make sure I was allowed to stay here. He is even letting me take my time on finding where I best fit in for my job, when not on a mission. He also seems to be doing a great job as Fortress Ka'shaa's commander. Although I think Lady and Belle were the only ones who originally thought he could do so, as effectively as he is."
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Post by Sandy Bell on Sept 17, 2015 12:22:15 GMT
Sandy Bell frowned when she saw Volodja stand up and walk into the crowd, quickly disappearing into the crowd, thinking, "Where the hell are you going? Oh, you'll be right back - probably went to get us some of those cooked marshmallows or POW wieners I smell!"
When he didn't return immediately, Sandy started to worry. She was beginning to suspect that not only did Volodja have itchy feet, with a perchance to wander, but also suffered huge mood swings. Here he had just proved Lady innocent of murder and was ecstatic about it, and now he wandered off, in what Sandy was beginning to suspect was a fit of depression, because that was what she was beginning to see as a pattern. Sandy sighed as she stood up, picking up her SMG and slinging it, then asking Sarge, her EGO psyche, to locate him.
"I have him," Said Sarge calmly through their telepathic link, then added quickly, "Nope, he's headed off in a car - wait he stopped, seems to be by the edge of the ranch north of here!"
Sandy grinned, thinking back to Sarge, "Just show me the way!" As she blurred to where Volodja sat on a rock.
At first Sandy wanted to slap him silly for abandoning her at the bonfire like she saw General Patton once do to a soldier that wouldn't fight in a movie long ago, but one look at his woebegone face made her dismiss that idea completely. Sandy realized that with Volodja, she had to approach him as a woman, his woman, not as a soldier, to get through to him, but that was hard for her for she had been a soldier most of her adult life, with her fighting her woman status so that she would be taken seriously among her squad and her military superiors. Now it seemed, the reverse was true, at least when it came to Volodja.
Sandy slowed down as she got to him, making sure he saw her as a friend and not an enemy, then leaned her gun against the fence, standing behind him as she slowly but firmly massaged his shoulders, trying to rub out the kinks in them, then leaned over, turning his face with one tan hand, kissing him passionately before saying, "I love you Volodja. That's a fact. Another fact is you are not alone anymore. If you need to talk, I'm here for you. You are a brilliant man, but even brilliant people need to talk it out sometimes, even with less brilliant people, like me. Please, if you need to talk, talk to me; but if you need to be alone, just tell me and I'll walk away. Your choice. But just know this: Taffer want's us all back at the fortress for a confab, and this team needs you smarts more than ever, because none of us are safe until these Inquisition bastards are dealt with, especially Lady. Me, I'll abide by what ever you decide. If you want me to stay, I'll stay. If you want me to go, I'll go. Whatever you decide, I sure as hell hope you decide we do it together because, well, like I said first, I love you Volodja Uljanov."
Sandy then kissed Volodja again, longer, harder, and if possible, more passionately then before.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Sept 17, 2015 12:41:17 GMT
"I love you too, my love, my life," replied Volodja after awhile."And I bit lost. I didn't wanted to traumatize you, when I started to feel down. That's the price I have to pay for being calm during crises. Pressure takes the toll on me afterwards when I have fulfilled my duties. It's always easier when you have particular target ahead to set your compass on. I was afraid that I lost myself as well when I achieved what I wanted. Could not stop thinking that if I performed better, if I was someone who's word has a weight, people like Ara Shondu would listened what I had to say, and Lady's name would been clean already. I am the one who makes easy things hard to himself I am the one who makes hard things easy to others I am the one who takes care of unpleasant tasks But pleasant ones, if anyone bothers to ask Are sometimes much rarer than spotting an elf" Volodja took Sandy's hands into his. looked into her blue eyes and smiled: "Sorry about my improvised verses, my love. You can cover your eyes and ears whenever I make them. I just can't resist an urge to create poetry, but you know, that I can't resist you too, Sandy. That's why I didn't drove away as I intended to. Thinking about you made me stop my car and settle myself here, so I would be able to return to you. And others...But you were the main reason. I love you, Sandy. No matter how low I may feel, I still love you. And I don't want to lose you, although you deserve a much better man than I am. But yet you came after me, although I am just Volodja, not the Prince. We return to our base together, but only after having our moment, if you are not mind." Volodja moved closer to Sandy, wrapped his hands around her as he was afraid that she will run away and stood silently. Feeling her warm and firm body against his, was the best cure. The best proof that he existed. That he was able to feel. That she was able to feel.  |
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Post by Erika Widowmaker on Sept 17, 2015 14:55:59 GMT
"Guadalajara! I haven't heard that town name in a while!" Thought Erika to herself as her mind went back in time.
It was at the beginning of the Pale wars, and the Votan Collective was trying to cut out a territory in the America's for themselves, unfortunately by eradicating the indigenous population. Erika was no more than a teenager herself, but her adoptive tribe was a military unit, assigned a job to do and to protect the fledgling Votan settlement at Guadalajara. The humans fought back, but they were civilians with no weapons or training, but a force to be reckoned with because of their sheer numbers. She and the other young members of the tribe were assigned the south wall of the settlement, her superiors thought being that since it was the strongest point in the settlement, it was unlikely that humans would attack there, but the humans got hold of some dynamite and blew a breach in the south wall, as well as killing the officer and sergeant in charge, and half their number defending that wall. Erika was merely a corporal, taking command and forming a firing line as the humans attacked in the hundreds with spears, machetes, and other makeshift weapons. No matter how many they killed, the humans insanely kept coming, until there were no more humans to come. Her Castithan commander gave her credit for saving the colony by holding the breach, but publically she gave credit to her unit, although privately she felt that it was an uneven battle where no credit was due as superior technology really won the day. Erika killed so many that day her unit nicknamed her "Widowmaker" from then on, although all she remembered was the smell of death and the huge piles of human bodies around her. She also remembered many of the Votan settlers watching Erika intently from afar after the battle, especially a little Irathiant girl wearing goggles as Erika bloodied but calm, with a ragged gash across her cheek from where a machete slashed her, stood like the grim reaper, her Votan blast rifle smoking from overuse. Some of the Votans looked at her with admiration, others in horror, but Erika felt she deserved neither praise or condemnation for her day's work. She was a soldier, and had merely done her duty, nothing more.
"Could Lu have been that little girl, wearing goggles even then, or maybe she just heard the story? Surely the inhabitants of Guadalajara would have forgotten that battle by now!" Wondered Erika to herself, hoping Lu was not that girl, for Erika felt anything but proud for the massacre she did that day, so like that once done by the British to the Zulu at Roark's Drift over a hundred years previously, showing once again that history does indeed repeat itself.
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