Spring RTS Engine

Magic?

and i expected an excuse of some sort

That is his excuse.

don't worry, I'll fix the whole captain issue as of now.

We've gone over one hundred pages!

In fact we are at 107!

Now just...503 more to go


├óÔé¼┼ôAll right, all right├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy felt her wrists. The cuffs had worn sores in her wrists. She looked around the room she had been shepherded into. It was a largish room, and very dark. She couldn't even see the walls. There was a desk in the middle, light by the light pouring through the door. Then that door was shut and the entire room was slammed into darkness. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. There was a flicker and one of the computer screens set into the wall turned on. Static poured across it. Then it flickered to a red background.

Then blue lettering started to roll past the screen, at a pace that Lizzy couldn't read at. Then it stopped and the lettering ├óÔé¼┼ô401├óÔé¼┬Ø flickered across the screen. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the fuck?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered, feeling around for the keyboard under the screen. She tried pressing some buttons. The screen cleared a bit and lettering zipped across the screen. Then the numbers ├óÔé¼┼ô401├óÔé¼┬Ø went across the screen again. Lizzy walked away from the screen and backed into someone behind her. Lizzy turned around and looked up. The dark form was tall, that much she could tell.

├óÔé¼┼ôLong time no see├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Lizzy felt behind her and found the light switch. The rooms lights came on and a pair of glasses reflected back at her. A light goatee surrounded his lips. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, backing up into the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats completely impossible├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a big universe├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I've been waiting for this chance for a very....very....very long time├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy's mouth trembled ├óÔé¼┼ôB-but your dead├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats right├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut death really isn't the handicap it used to be├óÔé¼┬Ø. He started to laugh. Lizzy started to edge her way to the door.

Mike looked at the door to the cell. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose we are safe in here├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSafe and not free├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôOr free and unsafe, witch to choose├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mankowski was sleeping. Mike realized that he was also bone tired. Sleep was a luxury that none of them had afforded. Sarge had put a new cigar between his lips. The door was a normal one that you find in low tech prisons across the planet. It was about three inch's of plate steel, opened by crank and hadn't been touched sense Lizzy left. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm getting some sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said. Mike looked at Sarge, who just sucked on his unlit cigar.

Mike sat down, and without meaning too, fell asleep as soon as he blinked. Outside of the room Tipp walked down the hallway, adjusting her beret to sit more comfortably on her head. She stopped at the cell door. Lizzy would probably be having a heart attack right about now. Tipp smiled and started to walk down the hall way again. She got to the end of the hall and saw, through the window that night was falling over the refugee camp. The perimeter of the camp was lit by several electrical lights, strung together over the wall. Sentry's stood, their weapons at the ready.

A dull explosion in the distance light up the sky for an instant and the window's shook as the shock wave from the explosion hit parliament. ├óÔé¼┼ôLong night├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp muttered. Then she walked out of the hallway. In the refugee camp there was a makeshift hospital. In the hospital there were wounded. Some had their legs broken, their arms shattered, their ribs cracked. Each one had befallen some form of misfortune as the D.G slowly filtered through the city and found people who were hiding in their houses, places of work and any old hole in the ground.

Eve moaned ├óÔé¼┼ôIt hurts├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø the nurse sponged down her forehead, whipping away sweat. Eve's leg had been bound up in a cast, a regenerative chemical sprayed on the wound. It throbbed constantly, the flesh regenerating slowly. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're getting special treatment├óÔé¼┬Ø the nurse said, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôHell we only have so much chems├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve closed her eyes, trying to fall asleep. She was so tired. Then the Other was hammering at her mind, trying to get back into control. The nurse reached across the bed, to grab something on the other side. Eve's hand shot out and grabbed her arm. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet....my...mother├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve gasped. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't worry├óÔé¼┬Ø the nurse said, prying her fingers off her arm with an almost insulting ease. Eve laid back int the bed and sighed, her eyes closing.

Lizzy got to the door, her hand finding the knob. She turned it as the Commander walked towards her. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been waiting to find a way off this planet├óÔé¼┬Ø the Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôtoo find you. Then you fall right into the Prime Minister's lap├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy jerked the knob, but the door was locked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø the Commander placed his left hand to the left of Lizzy's head, stepping close to her ├óÔé¼┼ôIts been what, eighty years?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRound about├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, sliding to the right. The Commanders right hand was placed next to her head, on the right. She was hemmed in.

Mike jerked awake, the door opening to the cell. He blinked as a beret wearing woman ducked under the door before it was finished opening. It was Tipp. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy are you here?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. Tipp looked around at the other people in the cell. Mankowski could sleep through just about anything, but Helena was stirring. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome with me├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said, gesturing to the door. Mike, still not fully awake, crawled under the half open door. Tipp followed him and closed the door behind him.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you want with me?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôFive hours ago, before the sun went down├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said, walking down the hallway. They got to a door and Tipp opened the door, ushering Mike through it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe picked up a girl├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe...she had a rather large chunk taken out of her calf and the Commander told us to give her the best treatment possible├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, feeling a slight feeling of disquiet, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat does that have to do with me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp walked into the refugee camp hospital, pushing past some people who were trying to get inside. Mike pushed past them as well, and walked into the hospital. It was a miasma of blood, guts and seat. Doctors, all of the two of them, were rushing from job to job. Nurses were trying to make people missing legs and arms more comfortable.

There was a single bed that was surrounded by curtains, with a single nurse sitting beside it. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is the girl├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd she's only said two things. She wants her mother and she wants Mike. And because your the only Mike I know, why don't you try to see if you can I.D her├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôDoes she have a name?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, his mouth dry. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was the one bit of information we could get out of her. Her name is Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike stepped back, dragging Tipp with him. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet her out of here now├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBefore she wakes up├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is she?├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's possibly the most deadly person on this planet├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou must have never met the Commander├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou destroyed me ship, killed my crew and burnt off my face├óÔé¼┬Ø the Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôForced me to stay in an escape pod for three months before I was picked up├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy smiled weakly ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose all is fair in love and war├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been waiting so long to do this├óÔé¼┬Ø the Commander smiled, his glasses shining at Lizzy like two mirrors. Lizzy tried to go back into the wall a few more inch's, flattening her back against the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôA very, very long time├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander's face was very very close. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt has been a long time Pe├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy started to say, but she was cut off by the Commander kissing her.

├óÔé¼┼ôYour marines will have to comb the Refugee Camp as quickly as possible├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said. Keller, who was standing on the other side of the map room. The map room was in the Hannibal, a large room set aside for planning the ground attack. The Hannibal and the Agamemnon had deployed spy sats, and had combed the area around the city, as well as the city itself. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe should put down outside of the camp├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, pointing out two clearing around the camp. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph asked ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we touch down in the middle, we can look through the place faster├óÔé¼┬Ø.

Keller looked at Joseph as if he had sprouted horns ├óÔé¼┼ôThese people have been herded into a refugee camp and now you want to drop several drop pods into them? Do you know how many people would die?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said, but Keller cut him off, saying ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd what if we kill our 'target'? What would we do then? You'd be facing the death penalty, as specified under your contract├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôWitch point should we hit?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWe should hit here├óÔé¼┬Ø he pointed next to a large section of buildings that had been leveled ├óÔé¼┼ôYour ship detected an MN2 mine going off here, so it should be perfectly clear. If not, the drop pods will clear out anything there├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôFine├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôYour marines hit the camps, secure the target├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat if the target resists?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can tranq her├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWill that work?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIt should├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôI mean she's supposed to be part human├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats where it gets complicated├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôI still think there are too many unknowns. What are her powers, how good are they, what is their range? Is it true she can deflect bullets and cut people in half with her fucking MIND? What are we fighting, anyway!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller slammed his fist down on the map, causing ripples to go through the map display. It staticed slightly then cleared.

Joseph sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôYour team went after her first. Can we contact them, see if they have any information?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôFor all I know they are dead, and we have next to no good infiltration specialists left. Hell three of the men we sent down weren't even infiltration specialists. And if you don't happen to have├óÔé¼┬Ø. Joseph cut his tirade off with a wave of his hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôWait├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, pressing an intercom button on the map. ├óÔé¼┼ôPatch me through to my Agamemnon├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said. The computer bleeped. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes Capitan?├óÔé¼┬Ø a voice came through. ├óÔé¼┼ôSend the Ghosts over here├óÔé¼┬Ø Joseph said ├óÔé¼┼ôTell them to come loaded for bear├óÔé¼┬Ø.

A twig snapped in the night. ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you hear something?├óÔé¼┬Ø Dimitri slapped his snoopers down. He looked over the city, seeing it in blues and reds. No unusual heat sigs. Dimitri snapped up his snoopers and sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't see anything├óÔé¼┬Ø Kleers said ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you?├óÔé¼┬Ø . ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Dimitri sighed, feeling the comforting weight of his ZX-49 on his back. Kleers slid her snoopers back up and looked into the near impenetrable darkness outside of the electronic lights. The two D.G were bone tired, after spending about three days on near constant duty. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Kleers said ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat are you going to do later this afternoon?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFuck you├óÔé¼┬Ø Dimitri grinned at her. Kleers snorted.

Dimitri turned away form the woman and looked out of the dark. ├óÔé¼┼ôI still think something is out there├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't you, Kleers?├óÔé¼┬Ø. He looked at his partner. Then he saw the knife sticking through her throat. Kleers gagged, blood dribbling down the sides of her lips. Dimitri gaped, already sliding his ZX-49 off his shoulder. Then two forms were climbing over the wall, their black uniforms almost blending in over the light. Dimitri brought his gun around, then one of the figures darted his hand out. The a knife flashed and buried itself into Dimitri's eye. He fell back, twitching.

One of the ghosts looked at his partner. They communicated, laser light flickering between their headsets. It looked like two lights blinking at each other in old mores code. Then the one on the right turned away, hearing something. He slithered over the wall and landed catlike in a pool of darkness. His partner vaulted over the wall, landing on a roof with a slight whuff. Two refugees looked at each other, hearing the slight sound. The two Ghosts stalked through the perimeter of the camp, their forms just melting into the shadows of the night. The one on the roof top leaped from one roof top to the other, jumping in a wide arc so as to not be spotted by the people on the ground. They were as ghosts.

Eve woke up, sitting up. Her leg was fine. She looked at her hands and blinked. She forced her finger nails to grow outwards. She could control her body again. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey you're looking better├óÔé¼┬Ø the nurse said. Eve stood up slowly, climbing out of her bed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have to see my mother├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's in danger├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour not going anywhere├óÔé¼┬Ø The nurse said, standing up and grabbing her. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet your hands off me├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said coldly, looking at the nurse. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour going to├óÔé¼┬Ø the nurse said. Then she flew across the room and slammed into the far side of the tent that made up the hospital. The nurse slid down the wall and landed with a groan. She felt her nose, witch felt like it was broken. Eve started to walk towards the exit, then she felt the tug of her I/V tube in her arm. The needle pulled itself out and dropped to the floor.

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd she puts me back in the cell├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike muttered, looking at the closed door. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet some sleep├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôIts only a few more hours till dawn├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike nodded, but he was too tense to do anything. He sat down and sighed slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôGod├óÔé¼┬Ø he muttered ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's here├óÔé¼┬Ø. He would tell the others in the morning. They had to get away from this place, as soon as possible. Then Mike surprised himself by closed his eyes and fell asleep. His asleep body fell off the chair he had sat down in and thumped on the ground.

Lizzy pushed the Commander away. She felt as weak as she had when she had woke up in the Hospital. They both stood. Lizzy wished she could turn of the lights and throw everything into darkness. She didn't want the Commander to see her blushing. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts odd├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôOver the years I've wanted to kill you, beat you, destroy you...but I still love you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSeems like those are the two options when you know me├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôIs that my alarm clock going off?├óÔé¼┬Ø she pointed to the right and ducked down and under the Commanders arms.

Lizzy came up, hands ready. ├óÔé¼┼ôElizabeth├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't fight me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou were a nice guy├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I think you've gone a little crazy over the years├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a crazy world├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said. ├óÔé¼┼ôUniverse more like├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy backed into another wall and jerked away from it, ending up behind the desk. She opened the upper right drawer, expecting to find a gun or a knife or something. Instead she found a pen, some paper and a data slate. She opened the left drawer and found three data slates and a single pencil. ├óÔé¼┼ôSon of a bitch├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered, looking up at the Commander.

├óÔé¼┼ôAfter I was brought out of the escape pod├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe first thing was I singed up with a company that was hiring├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm glad you found a job├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy slowly walked around the desk, keeping it between her and the Commander. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I wanted to build up enough money to buy a ship and find you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I showed up instead. It seems like all of my friends, enemy's and old lovers have showed up on this planet├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts fate├óÔé¼┬Ø The Commander said, reaching out with his hand. Lizzy looked at it. Then she stabbed it with a letter opener ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't believe in fate├óÔé¼┬Ø he voice dropped to a hiss ├óÔé¼┼ôPeter├óÔé¼┬Ø.

Holy crap! That may or may not be who I think it is!

I thought it was pretty obvious.

But oh well.

Oh, it's obvious, but I'm just trying to preserve my dignity if it isn't who I think it is.

It's not?

Son of a bitch...

Liar!

But Peters back! Hope he's not TOTALY insane as Lizzy think... >.>

He's not?

Zoombie wrote:He's not?

Ahh YES! it's so clear now!

"Peter? Who are you calling Peter? the showdy figure said...
Ain't it ovbius that im your evil cloned step mother from another dimension?!?"



OH SNAP!3

*coughs politely*

To quote the first Darkside:

├óÔé¼┼ôOrders!├óÔé¼┬Ø Peter's Xo asked ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need some orders!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAbandon├óÔé¼┬Ø Peter said. Then the first barrage of nuke's slammed into his ship, peeling the armor off the sides in a sires of fierce detonations. The radiation killed everyone, even if they weren't dead yet. The second barrage of nukes slammed into the ship's innards, ripping it to sunders. Peter had time to turn around and see the fireball ripping through his bridge before he was vaporised.

The third barrage of nukes hit what was left of the Alexander and completely vaporised it. The clouds of atmo and fire cleared out slowly, drifting away under their own inertia. Liz sat back in her chair, sagging down in relief. ├óÔé¼┼ôIdiot!├óÔé¼┬Ø Donahue groaned ├óÔé¼┼ôPut all guns to PD├óÔé¼┬Ø she said to Amber ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd back us off├óÔé¼┬Ø.

How the balls did Peter escape that? Especially the "Peter had time to turn around and see the fireball ripping through his bridge before he was vaporised." bit

Um, lets see. That one ship sent to Darkside after all that to try to capture prime iirc (and Lizzy had Prime "shot" at their ship in an attempt to get rid of them), when they died their minds got picked up by a something that copied them into a new body. Whatever.

It sure is a mystery/subplot that will give me plenty of milage. Don't worry any and all questions will be answered by the end of the story. but then I will start up a NEW question that will conundromize you till I write the NEXT story!

Muhahahahahaha!

PS: debate! I demand Debate and disscusion! The first one to guess the truth...wins!

Remember, death isn't the handicap it used to be. He said so himself.

Exitement! Mystery! Tanks! Berets! Really big guns!

and Eve is getting creepyier every day!


Peter looked at his hand. Blood streamed over his hand, turning his white glove red. He looked up at Lizzy's face. Then she pulled back her hand and slammed her fist into his face. Peter fell backwards, the letter opened tearing his hand even more. It was jammed straight through to the table beneath, and was stuck in that as well. Then he fell into his chair, sending it crashing to the side. Then he heard the sound of running footsteps. Then Lizzy kicked the door open, shattering the knob.

Peter got to his feet, dabbing at his bloody nose with his bloody hand. ├óÔé¼┼ôCaptain Tipp!├óÔé¼┬Ø he shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's off duty├óÔé¼┬Ø A D.G said, running into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôGo after that woman!├óÔé¼┬Ø Peter shouted ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd get Tipp out of her bed and get her after that bitch!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø The D.G snapped a salute and turned around, running out of the room. Peter dabbed at his nose, and grabbed some tissues. He shoved one up his bloody nostril. Then he pulled of his blood soaked glove and tossed it on the floor. He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and walked out of the room.

Lizzy came to a stop, panting. Her heat was pounding, thundering in her ears. Peter alive, here. At the ass end of the galaxy. But for the moment she was too busy trying to avoid getting slammed into prison again. She focused on that short term worry, rather then the long term questions and hurts. She got to a door that lead into the refugee camp. She opened it and snuck into the camp. It had started to rain. She looked at the sky as the rain started to slam down harder. Lizzy sighed. It was one or so in the morning and she was wet.

Lizzy walked a single step forward. Then two boots landed on her head and jammed her neck down into her spine. She dropped like a light, her face slammed down in the mud. The Ghost that had landed on her stood on her back for a bit then slipped of the body and snuck into the shadows. She hadn't meant to land on the woman. She had just been in the wrong place at the wrong time. The ghost slid into the building, her suit lightening its shade to stay in phase with the back round of the interior building. The Ghost slipped hand and foot pads on and clambered up the wall to the celling. Then she started to climb along the celling, avoiding the lamps. She heard someone walking below her and stopped moving.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo whats this new gun you two are working on?├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've been hacking apart one of our MnM's to see if we can figure out how to create our own matter neutralization field├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think that breaks more then one copyright law├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've managed to get about a one inch by one inch sphere about three feet away from the barrel├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...impressive├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're hoping to enlarge the field by a few feet├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôThen it might be more useful as a weapon├óÔé¼┬Ø. This sounded interesting. The ghost dropped behind the two women. She landed as silently as a cat.

Gloria must have heard something. She turned half way around before the Ghost slammed her hand into her neck. Gloria fell, out light a light. Tipp brought her hands up to defend herself. Then the Ghost kicked her in the face, sending Tipp reeling backwards, blood streaming down her nose. The Ghost then rolled Gloria over and started to search the unconscious body for information. She found a pass key, some I.D and a map of the camp. Part of the map was circled three times with an arrow pointing to it. The Ghost assumed that this would be a good place to start.

Lizzy groaned. She felt like a ton of bricks had been dropped on her. She slowly got up, her face slicked with mud. Blood trickled down her hair, from two nasty welts that bleed sluggishly. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the fuck just happened?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked, looking around. ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you all right?├óÔé¼┬Ø A man walking past asked. Lizzy smiled at him ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man shrugged and walked past and Lizzy looked around. No one was looking for her, and no one was searching the camp. No one had even found her while she was laying face down in the mud.

Lizzy groaned. This camp had horrible interior security. She looked around, trying to remember what she was supposed to be doing. Then she remembered she was looking for Mike. At least she thought she was. She turned around and walked into the hall way she had just left. There was a croud surrounding two people, blocking the hall way off. Tipp straightened her beret and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWhoever it was, they were fast├óÔé¼┬Ø. The crowd around her started looking around, trying to find the person who had attacked the two people.

Lizzy snuck into the crowd and started edging around the place. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said, feeling her bruised neck ├óÔé¼┼ôWhoever it was must have heard...├óÔé¼┬Ø she suddenly straightened ├óÔé¼┼ôThe project!├óÔé¼┬Ø she started to run down the hallway, pushing through the crowd surrounding them. Tipp shoved past her, and Lizzy shoved against the wall, trying her best not to be seen. The crowd dispersed and Lizzy was left standing against the wall, looking obviously like someone hiding. She detached from the wall, looking sheepish. Her mind kept wandering, her eyes sliding off what she wanted to look at. Then she started walking down the hall, looking for Eve's cell. No...Mike's cell.

Mike snored. Then the door behind him opened suddenly and he fell backwards. Mike blinked, looking up. Lizzy was looking down at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey Lizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said softly ├óÔé¼┼ôHow's it going?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet up!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd get the others├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey! Sarge! Helena! Mankowski!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike shouted into the cell. The others stirred suddenly. Sarge got to his feet, placing a new cigar between his lips. Helena sighed and adjusted her shirt. Mankowski just blinked and smacked his lips. Lizzy gestured wildly ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The others snapped to it, running out of the cell. Lizzy let the door drop and looked at the others.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo whats the situation?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôA dead guy I knew seems to be walking and talking as usual, a bit crazier then normal. Also I think there are some infiltration units are in the camp. Did I mention that the guy I killed has managed to work his way up to the commander position of this self same camp. And I just stabbed his hand with a letter opener├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy gushed. ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you say he was dead?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôLong story short I took out his ship with a lot of nukes├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow much is a lot?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôRoughly two, maybe three hundred├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...a bit excessive├óÔé¼┬Ø Mankowski said.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't like taking chances...witch I didn't know I took. The fucking ship was vaporized in an instant. Nothing was left. No escape pods, no super structure. Not even any bits off coffee cups. Its a mystery├óÔé¼┬Ø she sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll solve it when we're not getting shot at├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge hissed, looking around at the hall way. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not getting shot at├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said. ├óÔé¼┼ôYet├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge shot back. ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone shut up├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to go to the hospital├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked at Lizzy ├óÔé¼┼ôEve's there├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy closed her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is this the night of the resurrections?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôApparently├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôEve's been only saying two things. She wants her mother and she wants me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell thats an improvement over trying to rip my arms of and beating me to death with them├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered.

├óÔé¼┼ôToo true├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve croaked. Lizzy almost jumped out of her skin, turning around. She had been standing away from a door out of the hallway and into the camp. Eve stood there, clutching a blanket to her shoulders even as rain slammed into her. Lizzy backed away from her. Then Eve hugged her, squeezing her tight. Lizzy wheezed ├óÔé¼┼ôToo strong├óÔé¼┬Ø she hissed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI am so sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve was saying over and over again, burying her head into Lizzy. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's back to normal. As far as that apply to Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy patted her stepdaughter on her back.

Sarge looked around as Lizzy and Eve kept hugging. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think we should be going├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, twirling his cigar in his fingers. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. Eve kept hugging her. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve, please├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI know your glad to see me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm so sorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve kept saying ├óÔé¼┼ôI couldn't control her!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy wheezed ├óÔé¼┼ôI forgive you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve kept hugging her, but she stopped saying she was sorry. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge said, looking out a nearby window ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is very touching, but we really really need to get out of here├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy groaned and pried Eve off her. The girl, for Eve did look more like a wet, tired and scared teenager then ever before, still clung to her mother. ├óÔé¼┼ôLets get out of this camp├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, and he opened the door. Then the tank fired, its guns almost deafening at this range. There was a whistle, then the cell that Mike and company had been standing in a few seconds ago exploded, fire ripping the cell door free of its moorings. Then the tank fired again and a large bit of parliament folded in on itself, secondary explosions ripping through it.

Tipp walked down the hall, feeling her sore neck. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf they found our prototype├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôThen we could get screwed royally by the weapon cooperations├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou do know├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said, turning on the woman ├óÔé¼┼ôIf those cooperations get their hands on your fucking prototype then we are all going to die├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said, backing away from her ever so slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said, backing off and straightening her beret a bit more ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just getting the crap beaten out of you tends to make you a bit crotchety. Also we should worry less about profit and more about surviving the night├óÔé¼┬Ø.

├óÔé¼┼ôCaptain! Captain!├óÔé¼┬Ø A voice shouted down the hall way, a pair of running feet following it. A D.G ran down the hall way ├óÔé¼┼ôThree drop pods touched down at least five blocks from here!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFuck├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp shouted, running off with the D.G. Gloria stood alone in the hall. Then she heard some intermittent gunfire. Then she ran to her prototype room. Robson was already there, looking over their prototype, holding a gun. ├óÔé¼┼ôRob├óÔé¼┬Ø Gloria said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to get it safe├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Robson stood up, holstering his gun.

├óÔé¼┼ôQuick!├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp shouted at one of her tank crew ├óÔé¼┼ôGet everyone to the Widower!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Her gunner saluted quickly. Then a bullet slammed into the ground right next to his foot, sending up a puff of smoke. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp started to run to the tank shed. A tank slid out of the shed, rolling into the refugee camp. People were screaming, running for cover. Tipp made a mental note to merit the tank crew for their quick action. The tank fired, taking out the cell block. And a demerit for their horrible aim. Another shell slammed into parliament. Another demerit.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat!├óÔé¼┬Ø Peter balled his bandaged fist and slammed it down on the table ├óÔé¼┼ôScramble all our units, and get the lab boys safe├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAlready done, sir├óÔé¼┬Ø A D.G said, snapping off a salute. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd someone get me my gun├óÔé¼┬Ø Peter walked out of his office ├óÔé¼┼ôThese fucks aren't going to kill my civilians and get away with it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Another scream rent the air as bullets started to fly. Peter closed the door behind him as a wave of bullets slammed into his window, sending shattered glass flying. Peter pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.

Lizzy grabbed a gun off the ground, whipped the mud off it, and slid it into her belt. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhere did that come from?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe ground├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. Another shell went off and a part of the wall crumbled inwards, flames licking it. Then marines started to pour through. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôMarines! We're saved!├óÔé¼┬Ø. One of them saw him stand up, waving his arms about and shot him in the stomach. Mike fell backwards into the mud and the rain started to pour down harder. ├óÔé¼┼ôFuck├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy ducked down and started to fire her gun at the marines. They dispersed, but more because of Tipp's tank firing a shell into their midst.

├óÔé¼┼ôGet down!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarge said, tackling Lizzy. Eve and Helena hunkered down. Eve reached her hand over the bleeding hole in Mike's stomach and flexed her fingers. The bullet levitated out of the wound and Eve flicked it away. Then she concentrated on the wound and it closed itself. Then she got back down and buried her face in the mud, bullets flying over head. Mike sat up, feeling his wound. Then a bullet clipped his ear, sending blood trickling down his face. He sat back down.

├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said, flicking on some switch's. Her gunner started calibrating their laser targeting system. Her pilot started to turn on his computer system, and her radio operator tuned into the battle chatter. It wasn't good. Lots of panicked voice's and odd rumors. ├óÔé¼┼ôQuickly├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp said ├óÔé¼┼ôRoll us into the courtyard and target the enemy battalion!├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Widower rolled into the courtyard. The D.G were starting to file out of parliament, laying down some covering fire.

The Widower opened up with its machine gun, laying down some suppressive fire. The marines fire back, tracer rounds flashing in the night and bouncing off the hull of the Widower. ├óÔé¼┼ôMain gun, fire!├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp shouted and the main cannon opened up. The shell went a little over the enemy, impacting with a bang on the wall of the refugee camp. Tip winced ├óÔé¼┼ôWe might need to fix that up a bit later├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôCorrected├óÔé¼┬Ø Her gunner said. ├óÔé¼┼ôFIRE!├óÔé¼┬Ø Tipp shouted.

There were even a bunch of copies of the Marshall. Its only logical Peter would have had some copies too. They all had copies, just waiting for them to die to be activated. Still doesn't explain the drop pod part though... Whatever. If I'm not right I'll shoot myself in the foot.

Good point that