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Post by Vo Kshaa on Oct 8, 2015 19:22:27 GMT
As Vo listened to Belle briefing the team with the latest news of Chase's escape, he gave his weapon a skeptical look. He didn't take any heavy weapons like the Milking Maid he was using on their expedition at Alcatraz. All weapons he had was his favorite shotgun and a VOT Blaster, both with radiation nanites so they could both benefit from the radiation-enhancing perks he used. Both of those weapons looked simple enough to be allowed for carrying in living places, but were powerful enough to take down a group of Volge. But at the same time, those were completely useless for capturing an injured human who didn't have an EGO to protect him. His charge blade could not do any better as well. "If he turns hostile, we'll have to resort to flash and bio grenades", he finally said, "Or we can borrow any non-lethal weapons the city can provide for our search. I also think we cannot consider him unarmed. With all the threats Defiance have met recently, the city must be filled with all kinds of weapons for him to find. As for my thoughts on where he might go, I think we should check the mines if we don't get any clues of his whereabouts. Chase is good with moving underground and he haven't lost his skills even when he lost his memory. The mines are sprawling and abandoned, which makes them a good hiding place for someone who knows the city and its neighborhood. If he still thinks he's in hostile environment, expect all kind of traps set for his pursuers — mechanical, explosives or gas. So we have to keep our gas masks handy all the time if we're going down into the mines. On top of that, I think all outgoing transport should be searched with extreme caution. But that is already covered by the Mayor I guess."  |
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 8, 2015 22:17:56 GMT
I listened from my corner then said, "I knew it. I do not like it, but I suppose we should take him alive. However we BETTER be prepared and consider him armed and dangerous. Perhaps Belle is right with small teams being the best idea. However I am not going to lie. If I encounter him first and feel that he is a danger to others, then he is dead. So Starr Eyes if you don't want that, then perhaps I should stay in the town as protection in case he comes back, or you or Vo better partner with me. Since Volodja and sandy are heading to Canada as soon as we depart the plane, and Nolan is gone, you know that the two of you are the only ones here that have a chance of getting me to stand down and perhaps the only ones able to keep up with me once I start hunting.
So there you have it. Since you still insist this be a rescue mission and currently we have no legitimate reason to use deadly force, in your opinion, then you pick the teams. Decide if I stay to protect the town or go with one of you. I will comply either way. But remember once I start tracking him, that if I find that he is a dangerous threat to others, then I can not guarantee that he will come back alive.
Miss Sewuel if you want to hate me for that, then it's your right. I am used to the hate. However we do have to think about the safety of innocents first, only beasts such as myself deserve being harmed. Our well-being is second and his third. As well as the fact that after seeing the one person he loved appear to die, and then wandering in the wilds for the last month, there is a good chance that there is nothing left of the man you loved and that he is now a savage beast that needs put down.
That is the main reason I was brought into this team, because I have no problem with the hard choices, IF I am certain that they are the right course of action. Besides Belle always looks on the brighter side and hopes for the best. However I always expect the worst and my only hope is always that I can keep My, savage and instinctual, inner-beast in check while protecting and saving others. Out of respect to all of you and YOUR love for the man that he was, I will give you a chance to get through to him. As well as my going with whatever team Belle picks, but if he severely harms an innocent then he becomes a dead target if I find him first. That is how I see it as the Commander and a professional tracker and hunter, despite the fact that none of you like it, and may hate me for it. Again that is your right, besides as I said I am used to being hated. It's all this positivity and love that I still am not used to."
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Post by Belle Starr on Oct 9, 2015 5:09:31 GMT
Belle Starr tilted her pretty blond head and narrowed her blue diamond eyes as she concentrated on the problem regretting the decision not to bring the big bio-man, Kaj, with them on the trip to Defiance. There was no way for them to know that the trip to come pick up an injured comrade would turn into a much more dangerous one to capture a possibly demented and hostile man, preferably alive. However, that was the situation they found themselves in, and Belle was determined that they would do the best they could to reunite Chase with Iri, intact!
"Our two best trackers that are with us right now are Atticus and Vo," Began Belle as she swiped a blond lock from in front of her big blue eyes. "I suggest I go with Atticus for the very reasons he mentions! I promise I will do everything humanly possible to bring Chase home Iri, and despite what Atticus said, I think he wants that too!" She then turned to Volodja, biting her lip again as she hated herself for asking him what she was about to, but doing so anyway, and sincerely said, "Volodja, I know that y'all want to go with Sandy to Red Deer, but we really, really need you here! You're one of our best fighters, plus you have the gift of gab that might be able to get through to Chase! Wolfram and Candace can take Sandy on to Red Deer for treatment, and y'all can meet her there after this mess is settled, as I'll have Candace come right back for you! If Iri is feeling up to it, and Eren as her attending doctor gives the okay, she can go with your group! Eren can go with your group as medic as well, and Dr. Orion can go with mine! Don't look at me that way Dr. Orion, I'll watch out for you, but we'll need you if Chase is hurt! If we ask kindly, maybe Berlin and Mayor Rosewater will team up with one on each team, to be our local guides, or at least recommend one for us who we can pay. If Taffer and Lu get here in time, they can form a third search party! Volodja, I really hope y'all will help us with Chase, but I certainly won't blame you if you don't, nor will anyone else!"
Belle really would have rather partnered with Vo, for any time together, even in dire situations like this, was better than no time together, so she was being sincere in what she said to Volodja. She knew he would rather stay by Sandy's side, but under the circumstances, he could do so much more here than in Red Deer. For herself, she knew Atticus probably had the best chance of finding Chase, but also was the most likely to kill him, for Chase had threatened Lady's life when she was the Mistress of Sorrow, and it had to have crossed Atticus' mind that Chase may still harbor ill will towards Atticus'wife. The thought sure had haunted Belle's mind since she heard Chase had escaped, and especially the violent way he had escaped. Belle had to keep telling herself that Chase wasn't the heroic and kind man she remembered when she first started the team, but that now there might be nothing left but a savage monster. Still, Belle felt she had to try her most to save his life, not for what he had become, but for the man who was once her friend.
The VBI VTOL suddenly leveled off and began to descend downward where Mayor Rosewater, Law Keeper Berlin Rainer, and a small group stood waiting.
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Oct 9, 2015 5:09:17 GMT
Volodja knew that there was a huge difference between what he wanted to do and what he had to do. And once again he chose the latter. Maybe he succeeds in helping others better than his beloved Sandy...and himself. He looked lovingly into Sandy's beautiful but unemotional face and sighed. He was still holding her hand not wanting to let her go.
"Before our ways part, my love, my life" said Volodja Uljanov to Sandy and continued after the pause he had to take because of his overwhelming emotions. "I want you to say that I love you. Even if you can't care less about it in your present condition. All is said and done, my love, my life. Rest of it depends on Esthete and your will to return to us...and to me. I can't even kiss you goodbye, because you don't feel anything. Maybe one day when we are back together..." He swallowed and turned away so nobody could see his treacherous tears.
He continued: "Wolfram, mein freund. Take good care of Sandy, I beg you. Last time we went to an operation, I was unable of saving her, so I am glad that you are staying away from the line of fire. You are crazy enough to fight and with your height, you'd make a perfect target. And since you don't have an EGO psyche, I don't want to risk with losing a friend, because I have experienced too many losses recently. I am not worrying about our distinguished Dr. Orion because I have seen him in action." Volodja made an attempt to smile. He looked at Sandy again and then he looked at Wolfram, saying:
"With many a thousand kiss not yet content,
At length with One kiss I was forced to go;
After that bitter parting's depth of woe,
I deem'd the shore from which my steps I bent,
Its hills, streams, dwellings, mountains, as I went,
A pledge of joy, till daylight ceased to glow;
Then on my sight did blissful visions grow
In the dim-lighted, distant firmament,
And when at length the sea confined my gaze,
My ardent longing fill'd my heart once more;
What I had lost, unwillingly I sought.
Then Heaven appear'd to shed its kindly rays:
Methought that all I had possess'd of yore
Remain'd still mine--that I was reft of nought."
"Don't you dare to talk like you are about going to the death row!" exclaimed Wolfram. "You can't bribe me with reciting Goethe's "Departure" although I admit, that it was an almost successful attempt. You better stay alive and return to your girl, Mensch!" He hugged Volodja for goodbye, revealing that he really cared about him. For Wolfram who was raised in Germanic cultural space, hugging was a very personal gesture, reserved only for people close to him or for highly emotional situations.
"I will be waiting for your return. And now you can get out of my sight!" he finally said, releasing Volodja and nudging him towards the exit.
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 9, 2015 9:14:58 GMT
As we started our descent, I said, "Fine we will go with those teams, provided Volodja is certain he wants to stay. Volodja my friend and favorite Fool, are you sure you want to stay and help? Nobody will think less of you if you go. I have come to realize that your thebonggur is in your ugbe and if it says to go with your Shwei, then you should do so."
As I saw a few looks of slight confusion, I continued with, "...Forgive me, sometimes I slip into l'irathi dialect, even when I am talking to those that do not understand it. I know several of you can relate as you are also considered foreigners to this country. So I will say it again and try to keep it in English this time. Here goes: Volodja, I have come to realize that your strength is in your heart and if it says to go with your Love, then you should do so. However I know Belle and Iri would appreciate it, if you do stay and help.
Now Belle, as I said, I am fine with those teams. However I do dislike the idea of working so closely with most lawkeepers, and you know very well why. Not to mention I highly doubt a lawkeeper, or even the Mayor, would want to work so closely to me. So if our choices are Lawkeeper Rainer or Mayor Rosewater, I guess I'd prefer it be the Mayor. I can't believe these words are about to come out of my mouth but...at the moment I do wish Nolan were still around, as I am certain we could tolerate each other long enough to find and preferably rescue Chase alive, even though I still have my doubts about Chase. So perhaps Nolan's adopted Irathient daughter, Irisa, would be willing to be our team's guide. After all if she can live with that rogue, then she may at least be able to deal with working with me more than most lawkeepers or the Mayor would. However if the choices are only between Lawkeeper Rainer or Mayor Rosewater, then I would prefer it be the Mayor. At least she is less likely to immediately pull a weapon on me and try to arrest me, than a young lawkeeper would.
Remember my pardon only covered the Bay areas. So I may still be wanted for crimes in other parts of the world. Last I knew, I was tolerated in this area, and not wanted for any crimes here, but that was long ago, back in early 2037, shortly before it was Officially christened as Defiance. Of course I was only in town for a few hours. Not to mention my reputation is even more widespread and reviled now, than it was back then. I do not even know if the current Defiance Officials and Lawkeepers will tolerate my presence here or for how long. However we all heard you warn them that I was with you. So I suppose we will find out how they feel about my presence in their town, just as soon as that door opens, any second now."
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Post by Belle Starr on Oct 9, 2015 11:26:15 GMT
"Ummm... about that Atticus," Belle began with hesitation, a scarlet blush creeping up her swan like neck into her freckled cheeks. "The Paparazzi were getting to be a problem in Boston, so I let it kind of... slip... that y'all were my personal bodyguard Atticus, and that you liked to stay in the shadows, so that they better leave me alone or... you, know, you would pop out and beat the crap out of them! Because we had been seen around together so much in the Bay Area, and almost everybody knows your rep, the threat had credibility, so they left Vo and me alone! Problem is... or maybe a solution if you think about it - was that Trevor Tyler and the VBI Board of Directors believed it too, so they made an arrangement and got the amnesty extended to pretty much all of North America! I guess they figure I'm a valuable commodity they got to protect! Anyway, I was going to tell you, but you know, one thing after another just keeps happening! Sorry for not clearing it with y'all first, but those photo jerks just wouldn't give Vo and me any free time in public, and it was pure impulse to say it! I didn't know Trevor and VBI would act on what I said! Sorry!"
Belle stared at Atticus with concern in her big blue diamond eyes, not sure how Atticus would take the information. She knew he didn't like anyone using his reputation but him because of his reaction when "Fakebule" first made the scene acting as one of Atticus' past personas. Atticus had been so angry, and when Atticus got angry, he got deadly. Belle had really not meant for the situation to escalate like it did I Boston, but then, she never did, and when she acted impulsively, it usually did escalate and got her into trouble. This time, it had a good side effect in extending the boundaries of his amnesty, but Belle wasn't sure Atticus would see it that way, so she just hoped he would accept her apology.
Plus, in Belle's eyes, they also had a more immediate problem with Irisa. Atticus wanted Iris to be there guide, but Irisa had never liked Belle. Even when Irisa and Belle were two of the only teenagers on the strato-carrier New Freedom taking them to the Bay Area as part of Von Bach's Ark Hunters, Irisa would have nothing to do with Belle even though Nolan encouraged them to become friends. Later, when Belle and Nolan were working together on obtaining a precious gem for Varus, Irisa threw a knife at Belle's head that missed it by mere inches, then told Belle that Nolan was with Cooper. Belle didn't miss the veiled threat, and Belle always suspected that it was Irisa and not Nolan that stole the gem after Nolan had given it to Belle. Furthermore, Belle was also pretty sure that Irisa didn't approve of Belle and Nolan's brief love affair at the time, and would prefer not to have that skeleton dragged out of her closet, especially in front of Vo.
"Darn! I was hoping on getting reacquainted with Berlin, but if Irisa is your choice Atticus, so be it!" Replied Belle, forcing a smile on her pretty freckled face, "I wasn't even aware that Irisa was still in Defiance! She's an awfully good tracker herself though, so maybe she should have her own search team! Just saying! And of course, if we took the mayor, she would be safer with the two of us!"
Belle hoped that all her time in the VBI board room learning the art of the poker face was keeping it from showing how much she REALLY didn't want to spend any length of time with Irisa, not realizing that Irisa had gone through as many growing pains as Belle had over the last few years, and that neither one of them were the teenage girls they were when they first met.
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Post by Lady Christianna on Oct 9, 2015 11:51:09 GMT
Lady Christianna sat uncomfortably on her command chair in the War Room, watching with large pink eyes the command personnel watching her until they saw her watching them, where they then quickly busied themselves with tasks. Lady knew they probably all SAID it was a great idea to have her in command in front of Atticus, and maybe some even believed it, but given her still recent history as the Mistress of Sorrow, she knew they must be having doubts about how this crazy little teenager was going to handle the next invasion or reactor meltdown or serial murderer or whatever new dilemma inevitably would strike at Fortress Kshaa. She wondered herself how she would handle it, but since Atticus wanted her to do it, she would do it - at least until Atticus got back. She would do the best job she could, then Atticus would bring back Chase, then Chase would execute Lady for her crimes, and Justice would be done. For Lady, the only problem was that she hadn't yet figured a way to keep Atticus from killing Chase after Chase killed her.
As Lady signed some work order for Chris, pausing to pet Tim, the golden skitterling that followed him everywhere and that had became the Fortress mascot, she had an idea, and got on the intercom, saying, "Kaj, please come to the War Room."
When the big bio-man got to the War Room, Lady gestured him to sit in Atticus' command chair next to her. She made Kaj promise beforehand not to tell anyone what she was about to reveal, which he did reluctantly. So in low tones so no one else would hear her plan for justice to be done, she told it to him in a matter-of-fact way, then asking him at the end to keep Atticus from killing Chase afterwards. Lady told Kaj that she believed that he was the only one who had the strength to hold Atticus back until Belle and the others could stop him after Chase had executed Lady for her crimes. She said it so frankly and so plainly, as if she were discussing the weather, that it took the big man aback. As she stared at him with her big pink eyes and with her enigmatic smile in place, waiting expectantly for his answer, Kaj wondered what to do next.
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Post by Vo Kshaa on Oct 9, 2015 20:05:47 GMT
Vo visibly winced when Belle mentioned Paparazzi and described their activity in Boston. That was probably the worst problem they met at their new place. Wherever they went, those people jumped on them as a swarm of hellbugs but Vo couldn't deal them the way he usually dealt with hellbugs. Because no matter how annoying they were, they were still people, and Vo could not fend them off with a brute force or any other means which included violence or property damage (although he indeed thought of carrying a BMG to disable all their recording devices they were pointing at the couple). Vo never felt himself so helpless in protecting his significant other and was glad Belle found a way to convince all those people to leave them alone at least for some time.
But then thinking about how publicity can become a tiresome burden got him an idea which made him slap himself on the forehead in excitement.
"Look people", he said when everyone turned at him, "Chase still doesn't know Iri's alive, right? If someone tries to tell him she's here, he might not believe it and act erratically, right? Then we must make him know about it the way he would believe it and do it before he could do something stupid to himself and anyone else. We need to make Iri's arrival a public announcement. We need to make people talk about her so that even if he wouldn't hear the announcement, he would definitely hear about it from anyone he meets. The city definitely has its radio station, so we can use it. If Chase hears her voice on the radio, it would be easier for him to believe he's not being tricked with. Then we need to make talk about it. How about a well-known Indogene scientist comes to Defiance to research the traces of the Omec presence in the city and surrounding area? If we're going to check the mines anyway and there were rumors that Omec did set their hideout there, then we can announce it as the place where Chase could meet her when he hears about her arrival. But then there's still a risk that he might think someone tries to play a trick on him, so he might try to come to the radio station to find the one who sent out the transmission instead of going to the mines. It means someone should stay at the station to protect people there and convince Chase that Iri is indeed here and wants to see him. I think the Mayor would agree on that if it will help to catch him faster and with less harm done to people than if they would try to capture him by force. What do you think?"
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Post by Atticus Batman on Oct 9, 2015 22:07:40 GMT
I glared at Belle when she explained how she got me amnesty in most, if not all, of North America by using my reputation to keep her protected, and if my eyes weren't concealed by my helm then everyone would see the anger further intensifying in them.
My posture also noticeably stiffened at my dislike of what she had done, but then I stood, hugged her briefly, and then readied my weapons as I said, "Fine what is done with my criminal status is done. It doesn't matter much at the moment anyway. Besides it was for your safety so it is forgiven. Right now, my concern is finding Chase and maybe helping him. Then getting back to base and once again trying in vain to help my depressed and suicidal wife! As well as hopefully keeping Chase from killing her, IF we take him back with us!
Now about our team, fine we will take whoever you choose, and let Irisa do her own tracking. I don't really care. I would just prefer to keep our issues at a minimum so Volodja and I can get back to the women we love and that need us, right away."
Just then Vo interrupted with his idea. I listened then responded with, "If it helps protect others, and get this trip over with sooner, then do it. But we must be prepared to use deadly force on him if needed!" |
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Post by Kaj Oenfer on Oct 9, 2015 22:43:38 GMT
As Lady signed some work order for Chris, pausing to pet Tim, the golden skitterling that followed him everywhere and that had became the Fortress mascot, she had an idea, and got on the intercom, saying, "Kaj, please come to the War Room."
When the big bio-man got to the War Room, Lady gestured him to sit in Atticus' command chair next to her. She made Kaj promise beforehand not to tell anyone what she was about to reveal, which he did reluctantly. So in low tones so no one else would hear her plan for justice to be done, she told it to him in a matter-of-fact way, then asking him at the end to keep Atticus from killing Chase afterwards. Lady told Kaj that she believed that he was the only one who had the strength to hold Atticus back until Belle and the others could stop him after Chase had executed Lady for her crimes. She said it so frankly and so plainly, as if she were discussing the weather, that it took the big man aback. As she stared at him with her big pink eyes and with her enigmatic smile in place, waiting expectantly for his answer, Kaj wondered what to do next.
Finally Kaj said as quietly as he could with his booming voice, "Lady Christianna, I will try to keep your secret like you want, however it goes against both my genetic and moral codes to lie to a superior, if directly asked something that I know the answer to. So if somebody asks directly I will have a hard time, not telling him. So let us hope that they do not. As I would hate to let you down, or further hurt you.
However there are a couple problems with it. Chase Lonehart threatened your life BEFORE he was sent to Canada and Commander Batman has a great memory. So he will already be expecting Chase to try something with you, IF the Commander does NOT kill him before they come back. Also even though I would like to believe that I can stand toe to toe with Commander Batman, I am afraid However that if something were to happen to you, nobody would be able to stand in the way of Atticus Batman's vengeance.
Also I do not like this eye for an eye stuff for such a reason. It means that, if you did something to another, they have a right to do it back. So that would also mean that if Chase killed you because of what you may have done to him or his girlfriend, then the Commander is obligated to kill Chase or Miss Sewuel in retribution. Since it would be his right in the 'Eye for an Eye' method. Such a thing could go back and forth indefinitely. So as you see it is a very flawed method of law and punishment.
Besides Miss Sewuel is alive and awake, with the Commander's team from what I understand, so she is better, and you have already been punished according to the law. So there is no reason to further punish you. Besides we would hate to see anything happen to you or the Commander, but I will try my best to keep him from stopping Chase from getting vengeance, if that is truly what you wish. Even though I do hate seeing good people killed, and if you were not a good person, then your past actions would not upset you so. However, I know I am a little naïve with some things so I am not sure I understand. So please tell me why you would want to die?
You have a husband that loves and will do anything for you, and I do think you feel the same about him but I could be wrong given my naivety. You also have cute kids together, and they do deserve to have both parents in their life. As well as your father and Belle Starr, not to mention the rest of us, who care completely about you. So you have plenty of reason to live. Besides how do you think they will feel if you were to die? I am not sure about your father, but Miss Starr cares deeply for the law, so she would be obligated to turn Chase over to the Law Keepers. He would of course be sentenced as a murderer and either stay in prison forever, or be given the death sentence himself. Provided Belle, the team, and I could stop Atticus from executing Chase's death sentence, before the law had a chance to give Chase the sentence."
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Post by Lady Christianna on Oct 10, 2015 4:42:05 GMT
Lady Chrisitianna's enigmatic smile vanished as her pink eyes grew big, her pretty lips pursed and her chalk white brow furrowed in concentration. The Castithan teenager had not thought about her execution plan's ramifications other than possibly, or probably, Atticus' killing of Chase when Chase in her eyes justifiably killed her for her crimes. What Kaj said made perfect logic to her, and threw her plans completely awry.
Lady focused her pink eyes intently on his, and placed a small alabaster hand on his huge purple one, remarking in a confidential whisper, "Hela! Naïve? Not Naïve, wise. How old are you? Doesn't matter, awfully wise, " Then Lady stared at the ground in front of her command chair in despair, then turned to him gesturing wildly to him with her two delicate hands in more emotion than anyone had seen her show in a month as she exclaimed in a quiet tone, "Seventeen years old, two great kids and a great husband, and keep making the same mistakes. Don't think these things out. Didn't as Mistress of Sorrow, not doing it now either. Just when the answer is clear, it isn't. Chase and Iri deserve justice, but don't deserve to be hurt more. Got to rethink this..."
As Lady thought, she got hungry, and turned to Corporal Le Beau at this security station, "Would you please send someone to Ralph the cook for a food platter for me and Kaj? Cheese and fruit would be nice. Maybe some crackers... And some of those great sugar colkies he makes... and a glass of POW milk - no, make it a pitcher please! Thanks."
Lady's enigmatic smile was back and there was a glint of happiness back in her pink eyes. She still felt that she hadn't been punished enough and that Chase and Iri should have more of a say in her punishment, but maybe, if everyone seemed to agree, that a death sentence would cause more harm than good, she didn't have to die. In all truth, Lady didn't WANT to die, she wasn't suicidal as much as despondent over the harm that she caused, so she really was very glad that Kaj had shown her the inherent flaws in her plans, although it also created a new concern for her.
"Final awesome question Kaj - for now anyway," Said Lady still looking intently into his eyes, "How do I keep from making the same jekking mistakes?"
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Oct 10, 2015 4:48:45 GMT
"Guess I have to become a fighter again, not a lover," said Volodja Uljanov with a sad smile. "But that's the way life is. I believe that Sandy would want me to help you if she could be with us. And since I failed twice in following my heart lately, I have to follow my mind - which I can be proud of - and killer instincts - which are nothing to brag about but at least those instincts would made my teachers proud. At least some of them. I wanted to say farewell to arms prematurely, so it's time to correct that mistake of mine. But no way I am going to shoot first. I prefer to be the one who pulls the last shot." Volodja adjusted his equipment - every piece of technology meant for taking lives he carried, was well maintained, thoroughly tested, battle proven and ready for action whatever action it might be. Best way to use his weapons was actually to avoid using them at all, but if he had to do it, then he will. And if he falls, then world gets another unknown soldier among others. Seems fair enough if flowers they bring to his grave are his favourite ones.  |
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Post by Belle Starr on Oct 10, 2015 5:05:22 GMT
As Belle Starr hugged Atticus back reluctant to let go, she whispered in his ear, knowing from his body language that despite the hug he was displeased with her, "I REALLY am sorry! I just didn't know what to do, and I acted on impulse, stupid me!" As Belle stood in her pink and white Castithan Business suit with her arms held tightly across her chest listening to Vo's idea, she tilted her pretty blond head and narrowed her beautiful blue diamond eyes as she listened, thinking, "This is a good idea! In fact, a darn great idea!" And though she was loathe to admit it, she was probably the best one to execute it, even though it meant she would not be there to safeguard Chase if Atticus decided Chase needed to be put down for good, however she did have an alternative to herself, probably one even better suited to shepherd Atticus, so she voiced her opinion with a wry smile, "I'm not exactly dressed for sneaking around, and people seem to know me around these parts as a media darling, thanks to FCN, and since I do know my way around a radio station, again thanks to FCN, maybe Vo and I should go to the arch with Iri and the mayor to do the radio transmission. Volodja, Atticus, and Irisa as local guide can try to track Chase on their own, with Taffer, Lu, and Berlin as a second team. After the radio announcement, Vo and I can take Iri into the mines and the Omec camp below. I was wandering down there last time I was in Defiance, so I'm kind of familiar with the set up there! Dr. Orion and Eren, y'all can set up a triage medical station in Defiance, although I sure as shooting hope we don't have to use it! What y'all think?" Belle than contacted Volodja via his EGO, saying, I'm sorry to intrude like this, for I know I'm the last person y'all want in your mind right now, but please watch Atticus and don't let him kill Chase! It wouldn't be good for either of them! Thank y'all kindly Volo, and again... sorry!"  |
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Post by Volodja Uljanov on Oct 10, 2015 8:30:56 GMT
"Don't worry, Belle. I will prevent those two from getting after each other throats. And by the way - if we face problems with communications, we still have that old TV studio we used to warn people of Defiance from that warlord coming. As long as I remember, they had separate communication system which was still functional and since we covered our tracks carefully, that place should be still intact," said Volodja through the EGO channel.
At moment their every action seemed to belong into the distant future. Or distant past, because in that TV station...nevermind that! It was over for good, although the memory was still there and made him hurt, but he had Sandy to take care of now. Lovely Sandy, who wasn't able for mutual feelings any more...but they had to concentrate to the present or very near future. Longer perspectives were...just perspectives now. Empty dreams and false hopes.
Volodja grinned grimly, imagining how the half blind guy leads a blind man, like he was about to do with Atticus, who was sunken into the darkness because of the emotional condition of Lady Christianna. his wife and mother of his children, while Volodja was on his way into the darkness after Sandy Bell, his love interest, had lost her interest about their love because of her trauma. Only thing Volodja was sure about, that he was descending into the dark, but hadn't arrived yet. At least he maintained some his vision and sense of perspective. And as Erasmus from Rotterdam once said in his "Adagia":
"In regione caecorum rex est luscus." Put in English, it is known as common saying: "In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king." Roots of that saying were probably in "Geneses Rabbah" - a religious text from Judaism's classical period. A collection of ancient rabbinical interpretations of the "Book of Genesis" and most likely inspired Erasmus write those words into his work. Volodja liked the original even better, because it wasn't about having and edge, as one can interpret Erasmus' saying, but about an opportunity to guide others through the darkness. "בשוק סמייא צווחין לעווירא סגי נהור" meant: "In the street of the blind, the one eyed man is called the Guiding Light" And that's Volodja probably had to be now - a dim and flickering flame in the darkness.
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Post by Chase Lonehart on Oct 10, 2015 8:35:07 GMT
When he had awaken, the first split-second thought was the fact that he was still alive. The second split-second thought that passed through his brain was that he needed to leave. Still, his animal brain was present and felt it was threatened. His body betrayed him once again, assaulting a woman he didn’t know, getting his ribs cracked and sending her head first into a wall. He spotted his mechanical arm as it rested on the counter, it being the first time he’s seen it separated from himself and didn’t know how he could reattach it himself. The animal brain told him he needed to leave. However, it was the civil part of his brain, which had been asleep for nearly a month and slowly inching its way to even being slightly functional, that told him he needed to cover up. After checking the drawers, he found a small box of safety pins, and he picked up the sheet that had been covering him only moments before, using the table to lay the fabric flat. It allowed him to be able to fold the length of the sheet in half. He pulled around his waistline with his only arm, using a safety pin to fasten the material to hold in place. He threw the remaining material over his right shoulder, pulling it until it was at his left side again. He used another safety pin to fasten the fabric to his left side as well, making a bedsheet toga to provide enough coverage.
Chase stumbled out of the back door, confused by the environment around him. He didn’t know where he was, and his body was moving on its own accord in its escape. Crossing the open street to the alleyway across the way from the office was the initial action the meat and bone chose to take. It tried to hurry, causing him to stumble a bit until he went flying against the wall of a cargo container that was part of a building this this strange place. The animal brain compelled the body to go up a set of nearby stairs, leading up to a balcony. It knew that it was best to jump from the balcony onto the adjacent rooftop, as places like this had to have experienced hunters and trackers. He made the first leap without an issue, quickly moving over the roof at top speed to make the clearing to the next roof after that. After making a few more jumps, he found himself on another balcony, which he carefully took down. This area seemed slightly more dangerous to him in comparison to where he was a moment ago, noticing this bizarre object that his civilized brain mistook for art. It recognized what had been car parts, a frame aimed towards the sky, bunch of pulleys, a metal cage on the back. He ignored it and continued on, stumbling and zig-zagging as he walked.
His animal brain just told him to go, though without any particular direction. After accidentally bumping into a Sensoth and aggravating it in the process, he felt the shove and stumbling into a nearby tent. Landing on the housing for his missing arm sent pain up his neck and back, enough that he stayed still for a moment to catch his breath. It took him a moment to realize he wasn’t alone in this tent, looking up to notice a couple of alabaster skinned individuals, a man and woman. His animal brain told his body to get up, but the body’s ability to receive the message was deterred due to the pain. The man and woman both appeared to be dressed rather fancy, the man wearing a light gray longboat with blue ridges, his left hand gloved while his right was not. Chase could hear the whirring of the mechanisms in the false arm the Castithan had on him as he approached the human cautiously. Chase could see a look of familiarity in the eyes of a man with an insincere face. But a warm smile from the woman decked in a elegant, casual white dress, who also sported the look of familiarity in her eyes, sent a shiver down Chase’s spine for a reason he couldn’t place.
“Lonehart?” the man asked. “Is that you, Lonehart?”
The man knelt down in front of him and brushed Chase’s hair away from his face. The Castithan male looked at him for a moment.
“It is him,” the woman assured the man. “It is quite a pleasant surprise to see you again, bulêno.”
“Lonehart, you look like you’ve gone through the Three Hells and back,” the man told him. He leaned forward and took a small shift. “And you smell like you have as well. Why are you wearing a dress?”
The woman came around him, placing an hand on Chase’s shoulder. He flinched at the touch, fearing that she was trying to hurt him.
“I believe he is wearing what the humans refer to as a ‘toga’, Datak,” she told the man.
“Come now, old friend,” Datak began to speak softly. “What’s wrong?”
Chase couldn’t figure out what to do. His animal brain wanted to leave, but fear had now hindered the body’s responses. The civil brain attempted to roll over, desperately trying to find a response. But the only thing that came out of his mouth was a nothing more than garbled mumbling. He felt the hand of the woman touch his back again, causing Chase to jerk away form her out of involuntary reflex.
“Something is not right with him,” the woman spoke. “Do you notice the confusion in his eyes as well?”
“Stahma, maybe you should take Lonehart back home. I’ll finish business here at the fight tent and proceed to meet you there.”
Datak got his left arm under Chase and proceeded to help with lifting him up, showing barely any sign of strain from the weight and the whirring of the mechanisms filling the air. Chase felt Stahma’s arm wrap around his waist, causing him to attempt turn away and try to wring from her grip. But she took ahold of his left hand as well, keeping from being able to wrangle himself away from her.
“It is okay, friend,” she spoke calmly and soothingly to him. “You have nothing to fear from us.”
It was at that moment, that Chase had made eye contact with this woman named Stahma, her amethyst colored eyes reflecting a friendly warmth that counteracted the chills that her smile gave him. He looked back at the man named Datak, who nodded at him as if saying ‘go on’ to him. The animal brain told him not to, but the civil brain, though fractionally running, somehow overruled it. Chase couldn’t process why these two people were helping him, but apparently they considered him a friend. Sundown was approaching when Stahma finally got him to wherever their destination was, a building that sparked a fragmented memory of a place similar to it he had seen dozens of time in the Bay.
“Welcome to our home,” Stahma told him. “It is, as you humans say, ‘a step up’ from how we were living years ago.”
She opened the door and ushered him in, Chase confused as to why she, along with this Datak man, was being so kind to him at that moment. The animal brain was confused. The civil brain told it to go with it. It told the animal brain to go with it as Stahma directed one of her handmaidens to take him to their bathing room. It was confused, as it hadn’t seen the amount of water that he sat in for almost a month, the handmaiden scrubbing the dirt and grime off of him. The civil brain told it to be calm as the handmaiden helped him dress in some clothes that were a little a big baggy on him and she left him to put on a pair of boots on his own.
I want to leave, the animal brain told him.
Even with it struggling to get back to full functionality, the civil brain still struggled to communicate as it gained control.
Can’t leave, the civil brain told him. These people. Kind to you. Rude to leave.
He noticed the entryway was clear after putting the boots on, slowly peeking around the corner. He spotted the couple at the end of the hallway, staying quite as he watched them talk.
“I’ve noticed something odd about him,” Stahma spoke. “From what I’ve observed, he hasn’t said a word to either of us. Confusion clouds his eyes, as if he hasn’t seen everything before. I’ve noticed this since the fight tent, even more so as I escorted him here.”
“Are you certain?”
“Yes.”
“It has been some time since we’ve last seen him,” Datak replied. “A lot can happen within that timespan. No matter what, he is a friend. And we still owe him a debt, despite his previous insistence of no repayment. I’ll reach out to my contacts, see if we can find out what it is that happened to him.”
The animal told him to move back, sensing that Stahma was about catch him looking at them. The civil brain told him to sit and wait.
Safe, it told the animal brain. Relax. Stay unless trouble.
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Iri had been listening to the whole conversation between the group as they approached Defiance, about what they could do. Everything everyone shared idea wise was valid and true.
“All of you are right in your own way. If we can get Chase without harming him or him harming us, that would be great. But if he hurts someone or us, we may not have any other option than to use brutality, or even death if needed. We don’t know how much of Chase could be left. Vo’s idea does have some validity, assuming if he still has the ability to understand. We don’t know how much psychological damage there is. We don’t even know if there’s anything left of him we are dealing with. I guess the only thing we can do is essentially what you humans call ‘play by ear’, and then adjust our tactics according to what happens.”
Iri didn’t want to say to the others to kill Chase if no other option was available. She didn’t want to see the look of disbelief that she would be willing to condone the death of the man she loved flat out. She knew that Belle would be the one who wouldn’t believe it the most, so Iri kept it back.
“Hope for the best, plan for the worse,” Iri concluded. “As Chase himself said.”
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Amanda and Irisa had gone back to where Irisa lost track of Chase, trying to figure out how many jumps it would have taken him to get away and where he could have gotten back down from. Amanda blamed herself for the situation, her doubt causing a delay in returning to the office, which she and Irisa could have been there to help Berlin much sooner. More importantly, it was her nostalgia of who Chase Lonehart used to be that made her misjudge who Chase Lonehart may have been now. As night approached, it made it more difficult to find clues if there were any left to find. It was then her hailer began to squawk at her, the ID unidentifiable to her. She motioned to Irisa to hold up a moment as she pressed the answer button and placed it to her ear.
“Amanda Rosewater,” she spoke into the phone.
“Mayor Rosewater, Belle Starr here,” she heard a woman’s voice.
Jek, they’re here already, she thought.
“I can’t thank y’all enough for taking-“
“I’m sorry, Ms. Starr, I’ve got some unfortunately news,” Amanda cut off her response. “We’ve lost Chase Lonehart.”
“What?”
“We lost him,” she repeated.
“Y’all are kidding.”
“I’m afraid not. Irisa Nolan and I went to the NeedWant to prep a room to hold him in. He attacked Berlin and then escaped.”
“How is Berlin?”
“She’s okay, except maybe a bruised ego. Irisa tried to track him, but he’s somehow gave her the slip. You’d think it would be easy to find a man wearing only a bed sheet, but we haven’t been that lucky.”
“Okay,” she could hear the warm response, but knew that Ms. Starr may have been trying to hide her disappointment. “My team will help with the search as soon as we land, and we have experts in that regard among us with Atticus Batman as our lead. But y’all know the territory best, so y’all tell us where to look and all.”
“Of course,” Amanda responded. “We’ll find him again, I assure you. I’m sorry we didn’t keep him secure as we had hoped to.”
“I do appreciate all your efforts, Mayor! Thank y’all kindly and we’ll be with you real soon! Bye!”
Amanda pressed the end call button, looking at Irisa.
“Not exactly the best way to make a first impression,” she told the Irath. “I completely forgot that air travel was possible again, which would account for how they were able to get here so fast.”
“Maybe we should have Berlin with us when we meet them, so we can have more than one recognizable face there.”
“Good idea. I’m guessing they’ll probably set down outside of Main Street next to the road heading to Bissell Pass. I’ll call her and let her know to send Samir back to his office. Hopefully, I can get on her good side. Let’s go.”
As they walked, Amanda dialed in Berlin’s frequency and they began to wait for the arrival of Belle Starr and her team. Unbeknownst to her, as well as the comrades of Chase Lonehart, someone else had been listening when Rosewater had placed the call to the VBI substation, keeping an ear open for a particular set of words. They had no idea who Chase Lonehart really was when they encountered him months ago. They never saw his face, nor heard his real voice. But it wasn’t until they encountered the missing person’s report for himthat they finally found out his true identity. They had been looking for a man named Tom Cody, and now they not only knew who he really was, but knew where he was and made it to Defiance hours before to scope the place out. Their boss stood on the top of the canyon wall, looking at the incoming aircraft through a pair of binoculars.
Won’t matter how many of you have EGO units, Ms. Starr, he thought to himself. I want whats mine, and Lonehart has it.
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