Spring RTS Engine

You won't belive how good it makes me feel, that someone is paying that much attention and is sharp enough to figure that all out. It's mostly correct, though none are really 'spoilers' other than a single point. There is only one that is incorrect (Small responces to a small typing)

Healing has always had something to do with HEPEs, so they are going to need to get the suppresor collers off, which requires the authorization of the ships computers. A bit of a problem there

Nuts. Didn't think of that.

AS for what Amadeus is doing, I saw that one easily, mainly because I brainstormed ideas on how to avoid detection for a sequence in Insurgency Division (which I can't wait to get up to, as it promises to be fun to write!)

I think most people saw it easily, because...well...it's obvious. My favoret part, however, was when he's looking around at his cumbling empire and thinks: "You know...Communisem just dosn't work, does it?"

The fact that it always seems to get corrupted up it's own arse doesn't exactly help.

The main probeblem in Homecoming was inept leadership, poor planning, and the fact that their leader was a despotic madman...

where did Patient Gamma go?

i never finished reading it
it seems like it just vanished...

He finished it. I managed to miss the last episode of that by accident too. Use the search thingy

I've taken Gamma down because I sent it into a magazine for review and possible acceptence. Sorry, but I don't think it was a good idea to have it up here AND sent off to a pulp ficticion mag.

oh

Ha! I have surpassed my longest book by a good 30 pages!

Darkside: 230 pages, exact.

Homecomming: 251 pages and rising.


Awsome. Awsome to the max!



Dok sprayed a bandage over a wound that one of the CCHS grunts had sustained during the battle. Her goggles whirred loudly, reflecting her mood.

├óÔé¼┼ôI still can't believe you spaced the two most interesting hybrids we've seen in centuries! Think of what we could learn from them├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDok,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, looking out the window of the ship, ├óÔé¼┼ôThere's every chance they will survive the spacing. It will at least get them out of our hair.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut by the time we get them back they will have mutated into something different!├óÔé¼┬Ø Dok stood, looking at her boss. ├óÔé¼┼ôWould it have been that hazardous to keep around two subdued daemons.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it, doctor!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy snapped, ├óÔé¼┼ôOur situation is dangerous-├óÔé¼┬Ø she stopped as the ship shuddered again, ├óÔé¼┼ôenough without keeping them around. Now stop arguing and get back to work!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Dok muttered something uncomplimentary, ducking back down to find another wounded person who needed a band aid stuck on them.

Lucy sighed. Dok had a bad habit of getting too attached to her research subjects, or she had the habit. Lucy had put off dealing with it because Dok was very good at her job. But that would only carry her so far...

├óÔé¼┼ôMam,├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi said. Lucy looked at her second, turning away from the window. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe computers say we can last another day in this place.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAnd how long till we can move?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôA week, at beast.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lucy closed her eyes, turning away from Cyi. She looked out the window again. The Deamonhunter ship was floating, rotating slowly, in the middle of the debris field that had been created by the destruction of the CCHS fleet. For all intents and purposes, the ship looked like a hulk. And to keep up that image, they couldn't move out of the way of the bits of rock that were floating around and occasionally smashing into the side of their ship.

├óÔé¼┼ôCan we contact the head ship of the USHS invasion force?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI...I think...we need to surrender before we're destroyed,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy sighed.

├óÔé¼┼ôSurrender? But-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't remember starting a debate,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, gritting her teeth.

├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi said, snapping off a salute. Lucy watched her leave. Now Cyi and Dok were angry...well too fracking bad. The ship shuddered again and Lucy wondered exactly how accurate the computers advice on the damage they could sustain was.

Cyi ran back into the room, jumping over a wounded soldier that was laying against the wall.

├óÔé¼┼ôLucy! Mam!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThe prisoners have escaped. Stevenson's dead, they ripped his heart out!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy and Dok asked simultaneity.

├óÔé¼┼ôPut everyone on high alert.├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy pulled out her Z-gun.

├óÔé¼┼ôCould we try and captur-├óÔé¼┬Ø Dok started to say, but Cyi cut her off, saying, ├óÔé¼┼ôThey left some blood on the wall. Stevenson got off a single shot...├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWait!├óÔé¼┬Ø Dok stood, looking at them, ├óÔé¼┼ôHow did they kill him without their Psi powers?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôHow am I supposed to know that!├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi snapped, looking at Dok, ├óÔé¼┼ôThe wound was jagged, like a knife had been stuck through him.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShape shifting...neither of them had enough control to-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôShut up, Dok,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, turning to Cyi, ├óÔé¼┼ôOrganize our men. Shoot on sight, but only with Z-guns. Try not to breach the hull...but if you have to.├óÔé¼┬Ø

She didn't have to finish the sentence. Cyi nodded, turning around.

├óÔé¼┼ôOh...and put the ship on lockdown,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Cyi nodded as she ran out of the room.

├óÔé¼┼ôDok,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, turning to the goggled woman. She chocked her angry words, knowing now was not the time.

├óÔé¼┼ôHow are our wounded?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked, looking at the bodies.

├óÔé¼┼ôThey're mostly fine. Only one death. Stupid frack hit the wall wrong on one of our jolts,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dok said, ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...I have some ideas about Theresa- The hybrids we've picked up. Can I please go back to my lab?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes you may,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd...just remember that they're are always more daemons. Thats why we're here.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes mam,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dok said, walking out of the room.

The ship shuddered again and Lucy turned to the window. The invasion was in full swing, drop ships burning into the atmosphere of Golgotha. They're must be a lot of them, to be visible from here.

----------

├óÔé¼┼ôLocked.├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa scrabbled at the door, looking up and down the hallway. ├óÔé¼┼ôLocked! Locked! They are all locked!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Chess nodded, her face drawn with worry. She had Miles in her arms, helping the wounded man down the corridor. Miles looked horrible, his face pasty and white, his teeth gritted against the pain. He almost collapsed, but Chess kept him on his feet.

├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa muttered, looking up and down the corridor again. Each door was locked, doubtlessly to corral them like rats in a trap.

Teresa bit her lip, knowing they had to go on. It was a crap choice. Stay and get found. Move and get found. She clenched her fist, feeling her 'blades' tense up, ready to burst out of her skin. What good they'd do.

Then, to Teresa's shock and amazement she saw something. One of the doors near the end of the hallway was green. Green! Teresa ran to the door, heart hammering in her chest. She got to the door, noticing the medical symbol on the door. She pressed the open button on the door. It opened. Teresa ran into the room, blades snapping out of her arms.

Dok spun her chair around, goggles whirring as Teresa ran to her. She raised her hands and Teresa placed her right blade under Dok's chin.

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't you dare reach for the comlink,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa said. Chess came through the door, helping Miles along.

Dok had a strange look on her face, something like fear...but not quite. Teresa let her left forearm blade snap back into her arm, keeping her right blade on Dok's neck.

├óÔé¼┼ôFix him,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, ├óÔé¼┼ôOr get these collars off.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI can't get your collars off,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dok said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut if you put away your fracking...things, then I can fix your buddy up.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teresa glanced at Miles. The blade slid back into her arm. She backed away from Dok, feeling her wrist as she did so, still not quite sure what to make of these...things. Dok pulled out a bandage dispenser and a multi-tool. She folded out the grabber on the multi-tool and stuck it into Miles stomach. Before Miles could even whimper in pain, Dok jerked the bullet out and tossed it over her shoulder. She took the bandage dispenser and sprayed it over the wound. With a quick press of her hand, she patted the bandage close.

├óÔé¼┼ôNow,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa said, snapping her blade out and wrapping her arm around Dok's neck, her blade right blow Dok's goggles. Dok tensed, goggles whirring slightly as she blinked.

├óÔé¼┼ôNow...get us to the shuttle bay,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa hissed in Dok's ears, ├óÔé¼┼ôOr I'll gut you from neck...├óÔé¼┬Ø she ran the tip of her blade down Dok's neck running down to her legs, ├óÔé¼┼ôTo crotch. Understand!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Dok nodded, goggles whirring.

├óÔé¼┼ôChess, get a stretcher,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa said. Chess looked around the room, and, at a loss, she turned to Dok.

├óÔé¼┼ôThe stretchers are built into the beds, over there,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dok said, jerking her head to the beds. Chess moved to the bed and felt around the edge until she found the buttons that controlled the stretcher. It floated off the bed and she dragged it to where Miles was leaning against the wall, some color already flowing back into his cheeks.

├óÔé¼┼ôCome on, lie down,├óÔé¼┬Ø Chess said softly, helping Miles into the stretcher.

├óÔé¼┼ôNow...where is the shuttle bay!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa snapped, pressing her blade into Dok's neck.

├óÔé¼┼ôTake a left, then a right, then-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôJust show us!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa snapped, letting Dok go. Before the other woman ran Teresa pressed her blade into his back.

├óÔé¼┼ôNow walk,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa said. She followed Dok out of the room and Chess shoved the hovering bed frame out after.

-------------

The escape pod tried. It really did. It tried to find a soft target to land in, but Golgotha was bereft of any oceans on that side of the planet. It tried to move away from cities, to hit a plane so it could skid instead of slam directly into the ground. But the computer only vaguely understood the geography of Golgotha. It didn't know that the plains next to the capital city was the most uneven 'plain' on the planet. Calling it a collection of rolling hills would be more accurate.

The escape pod hit the ground, engines trying to slow its decent. There was a horrible jolt and Harry strained against his straps.

├óÔé¼┼ôThat wasn't so bad,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lou said, somewhat dazedly. He must not have noticed, or was ignoring, the strange feeling of 'falling'. Harry tensed and there was another jolt, even worse than the last. Someone screamed and the pod hit the ground again, starting to roll. Harry was pressed into the wall as the pod rolled, bounced, slammed into the ground and finally came to a shuddering halt.

├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry asked, loosening his straps. He fell to the ground with a thump.

├óÔé¼┼ôI think so,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lou said, landing next to him.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm okay,├óÔé¼┬Ø Shuzhuni said, not loosing her straps. She seemed content to just stay there, her eyes closed. The fourth guy, the one Harry didn't know, threw up on his boot. Harry sighed as the acrid sent of vomit filled the small pod. Then he smelt something burning.

├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone out, out, out, out!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lou yanked the door open and they piled out, falling into the thin Golgothan atmosphere. Harry took deep gasps of fresh air, looking at the escape pod. The left engine was on fire.

├óÔé¼┼ôGet away!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lou shouted, yanking Harry to his feet. Shuzhuni and the stranger ran as well, Shuzhuni staggering slightly as she was still dizzy from the crash. Now that Harry was trying to run, he realized he was dizzy as well. The pod thumped and flames shot into the air. The shock wave blew Harry down, Lou collapsing next to him. Bits of metal thudded around them, each one too close for Harry's comfort.

Once the rain of metal ended, Harry slowly raised his head. He was alive! Lou moved slightly, alive as well.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou two okay?├óÔé¼┬Ø Shuzhuni asked, standing.

Harry laughed, getting to his feet.

├óÔé¼┼ôI am alive!├óÔé¼┬Ø He said. Two drop ships screamed overhead, guns blaring. Harry and Lou dropped back to the ground, more metallic objects thudding around them. One struck the ground in front of Harry and he saw it was a shell casing.

├óÔé¼┼ôUSHS...they're ours,├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry said, looking at the receding drop ships. They were firing at something in the city that was in the distance, creating fires and secondary explosions that smeared the sky, lending some color to the watered down red.

One of the drop ships light up, falling from the sky and smashing into the ground. A fiery explosion floated upwards, making Harry wince as he looked at that.

├óÔé¼┼ôSo...I suppose this is how the world ends,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lou said, looking up at the sky. Smeary black lines were drawn across the sky, where the chunks of spaceship and battle station fell through the atmosphere. More drop ships slammed over the sky, roaring fast to avoid the flack that was starting to fill the sky. But the defense seemed lackluster. There were no missiles fired, and only some flack shots. Most drop ships made it.

Harry sat down and Lou joined him. After a moment Shuzhuni and the guy he didn't know sat down as well, looking at the city.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou know the emergency rations were in the pod,├óÔé¼┬Ø Shuzhuni said softly.

├óÔé¼┼ôI think you're right,├óÔé¼┬Ø Harry said, sighing, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think you're right...├óÔé¼┬Ø

When will you post more?...

When I write it. I'm doing something super mega top secret that only I, Candleman and Guessmyname know about. And don't ask any of them, because if they tell you, then I'll have to CUT OUT THEIR EYES!

zoombie, could you wrap up darkside as a .txt and put it on UF?

I read a big chunk of it a while back, would be nice to finish it in a more user-friendy (and printable- moniter eyes hurt) format.

Right, tigth.
gimmi an E-mail adress and I can send you a PDF version.

And then I wrote an episode. Thats a pretty good summery of my day...




Lucy once thought that once a day got bad, it could never get worse. A week in the service of the Deamonhunters taught her otherwise. Even after learning it so many times, it was a hard lesson to swallow.

├óÔé¼┼ôSir,├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi's voice crackled over Lucy's comlink, ├óÔé¼┼ôThe medical bay is unlocked, missing a stretcher and a certain Doctor...├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôFrack!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy muttered. She was hunched over the bridge's security console, trying to get the god damned security cameras working. It was almost as if someone had sabotaged them. Now it was almost as if someone sabotaged the security net, forcing the Deamonhunters into a lengthy search of the entire ship. Seemed that way.

├óÔé¼┼ôWait...├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi's voice sounded excited, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've found them!├óÔé¼┬Ø

-------------

Cyi spun up her Z-gun, Stevenson and John flanking her. The other Deamonhunters had their Z-guns out as well, the low whine of the gun spinning up making them sound like an out of tune choir. At the end of the hallway the daemon stood, two forearm blades wrapped around Dok. The goggled woman looked terrified, one of the blades cupped under her chin, the other pressing into her stomach slightly.

├óÔé¼┼ôDon't take one step towards us!├óÔé¼┬Ø The daemon shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôOr your doctor bleeds.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Cyi gritted her teeth behind her helmet, and forced her thumb to switch off her Z-gun. The whine cut out and the gun powered down. After a moment John and Stevenson followed suit and the hallway was almost scilent again.

├óÔé¼┼ôListen,├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have no where to run...├óÔé¼┬Ø

To back up her words, the other Deamonhunters that were in the area ran up behind the daemon, each of their Z-gun's spun up and ready to go. The daemon looked over her shoulder and then back at Cyi. Something she had said made Cyi...uneasy. She couldn't...place it.

It occurred to her at the last moment. Cyi turned, thumbing her Z-gun back to warm up mode. John turned to see what she was looking at.

The other daemon stood at the end of the hallway, her head hunched over her shoulders, her feet bare on the cold floor. She looked up, her hair falling to cover her face.

Her coller was gone.

├óÔé¼┼ôOh frack!├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi rolled backwards, trying to buy time for her Z-gun to spin up. A invisible hand latched onto Cyi's ankle and dragged her down the hall. Her armor skidded, screeching as it slid along the metal floor. John grabbed her hand, but she was jerked out of his grip by the unstoppable force of the daemon's psi powers. Cyi felt the hand grab her by her chest and lift her into the air. John stumbled and Cyi knew the daemon had him too. In a flash all three of them were in the air, floating around the daemon in a small circle.

The Deamonhunter's at the end of the hall brought their Z-guns up, calibrating the firing angle. If they misgauged the distance, the guns would vaporize a sphere of air, harmlessly. But there wasn't enough time. Cyi flew down the hall, smashing onto the ground. Her head hit the floor jarringly and she heard a ringing in her ears. John landed on top of her, his weight crushing on her chest. Stevenson was the least lucky. He slammed into the wall and groaned as he slid down to the floor.

Teresa let Dok go, spinning around as the Deamonhunters who were trying desperately to recalibrate their Z-guns realized that they had overlooked the nearest target for a more threatening one. One of the Deamonhunters parried Teresa's blade with his Z-gun, smashing the fragile thing in the proses. Teresa brought her other blade about and was rewarded by a warm splash of blood onto her face. The Deamonhunter fell, clutching his neck as blood spurted from a severed artery.

The two remaining Deamonhunter's brought their Z-guns to bear. Both discharged as Teresa dived forward. Two loud cracks sounded and air buffeted Teresa, wind whipping past her like a hurricane. It was over before she could be blown to far off course. Which was the Deamonhunters. She slammed into them and they both topped to the ground. One of them brought out a combat knife, slashing at Teresa. She felt it snag on her left blade, bouncing. She grabbed the offending Deamonhunter by the head and slammed her blade through the crack between helmet and chest armor.

Teresa jumped to her feet, feeling stronger and faster than she had in her whole life. It was exhilarating!

She spun to confront the last Deamonhunter and felt something cold slide into her stomach. Teresa looked down and saw the knife sticking out of her gut, the hilt vibrating slightly. Teresa looked up, looking at the Deamonhunter who had stabbed her. Teresa calmly decapitated her.

Teresa looked down the hall. Chess had walked to the Deamonhunters that she had disposed of. One of them stirred. Chess placed her foot on her back and forced her back to the ground. There was a glint in Chess' eye, something that made Teresa...uneasy. Did she have that look in her face, the feeling of superiority, the feeling that the humans around her were nothing more than...bugs?

Dok was gone. Teresa frowned, her forearm blades snapping back into her arms.

Chess continued pressing the downed Deamonhunter into the ground, her teeth bared in a grimace.

├óÔé¼┼ôChess!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa snapped. Chess blinked, looking at her as she did so. The change in expression was astounding. Chess suddenly looked like the innocent mute that Teresa had met five years ago. Chess gulped, removing her foot from the Deamonhunter's back.

├óÔé¼┼ôLets go,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa said softly. Chess nodded, feeling her neck. A look of intece glee flashed over her face and she followed Teresa with a spring in her step.



Miles spun the laser scalpel in his fingers, looking at the door once every few seconds. Every other few seconds he felt his stomach. There wasn't even a scar from where Chess had waved her hand over his wound. He felt amazing, as if he could take on the entire ship by himself. But he knew what had to be done. Chess and Teresa could do far more than he where they were, and he could do far more here than they could.

It still smacked of hiding behind women's skirts.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're being a chauvinist,├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles muttered to himself. He triple checked the shuttle. It was all set, the door open and the engines warming up. Dok's fingerprint had done wonders for the security systems and her stammering voice had read the password well enough that the shuttle had let her on. Everything was ready. All he had to do was wait.

Miles looked back at the door, switching the laser scalpel to another hand. His heart almost stopped when the door opened, starting again when Teresa and Chess entered the room.

├óÔé¼┼ôReady to go?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa asked, running to the shuttle.

├óÔé¼┼ôYeah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles said, ushering Chess onto the ship. She had the strangest look on her face as she passed, a mixture between elation and terror. Teresa paused as she passed Miles. She had a bit of blood splashed on her face and shirt. The blood and her sweat made the shirt cling to her suggestively. Teresa smiled at him. Miles paused for a second. He smiled back, forcing his eyes away from the blood. Teresa climbed onto the shuttle and Miles followed. Just in the nick of time, as three Deamonhunters dashed into the shuttle bay. Teresa grabbed the shuttle controls and spun the shuttle around, aiming her at the space doors.

She triggered the lasers and blew a hole in the side of the ships. The Deamonhunters dashed back into the door seconds before it closed. The Shuttle shot out of the Deamonhunter ship, Teresa putting on as much burn as possible to get as far away from the ship as possible. Her thruster flames scorched the walls of the shuttle bay, leaving them bubbling slag that cooled quickly when exposed to open space.

The Deamonhunter ship reacted far quicker than Teresa expected. It activated its engines, several turrets training on the shuttle. Teresa tried to find the shield toggle but was thwarted by the fact that the shuttle had not shields.

├óÔé¼┼ôShit!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa snapped. The Deamonhunter guns opened up and pellets began to zip past the shuttle. Teresa set the computer to evasive maneuvers, strapping herself in securely. Miles did the same as the ship started to dance about, jerking them from side to side. Chess...did not.

-----------------

├óÔé¼┼ôI want them taken down!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy shouted, ├óÔé¼┼ôFire missiles.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWe used our missiles up in the firefight,├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi said, rubbing her head gently. John was behind her, walking up to Lucy.

├óÔé¼┼ôLet them go,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're exposing ourselves to the enemy!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWe've lost,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, her voice dark, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe lost to the same bastards who stuck us in cryogenic tubes after all we did for them and the rest of the human race. But I will not let this shuttle get away. Come hell or high water, I will take this last daemon down!├óÔé¼┬Ø

John coward slightly as her voice rose in volume. Lucy was known for many things. Shouting at her longtime partner and friend was not one of them.

├óÔé¼┼ôThe little bastard is jumping around like...something fast,├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi said, giving up halfway through the sentence.

├óÔé¼┼ôDo we have any com drones?├óÔé¼┬Ø John asked, his voice soft.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi looked over her shoulder at him.

├óÔé¼┼ôDo we have any com drones?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôFive...why?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi asked.

Lucy gasped as if struck.

├óÔé¼┼ôJohn, you're a genius. Ready up a com drone and program it to hit the shuttle,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said.

├óÔé¼┼ôLucy,├óÔé¼┬Ø Cyi said, already programming the drone, ├óÔé¼┼ôThat won't even destroy them-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't need to destroy. We need to cripple,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. Cyi nodded, pressing a button.

The com drone shot out of the Deamonhunter ship, fired from one of the turrets. After a split second of flight, it's rocket started and it blasted through space, closing in on the shuttle. Dok stood behind the others, chewing her lip.

-----------

├óÔé¼┼ôMissie incoming!├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa shouted, a bleeping from the computer lending credence to her words, ├óÔé¼┼ôImpact in one minute!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI thought Dok said-├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles started, feeling cheated. They were supposed to get away when they got away, not get shot down while running. That wasn't how the universe worked, his mind screamed at him.

├óÔé¼┼ôShut up!├óÔé¼┬Ø Chess snapped. She was holding onto her chair, her face pinched as she clung onto the armrests. Miles could tell why, seeing as how she didn't have any restraints on, ├óÔé¼┼ôStop the ship!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa asked, the bleeping getting louder.

├óÔé¼┼ôStop the ship!├óÔé¼┬Ø Chess snapped. Teresa had a struggle of faith, condenced down into a half a second. Trust her messiah and her god, or trust the beeping on the computer console and the cannon rounds that zipped invisibly past them.

Teresa smashed her hand on the decelerator and the acceleration cut out, 'stopping' the ship for all intents and purposes.

Chess stood and stepped into the middle of the cramped shuttle. She closed her eyes. The beeping from the Missie impact sensor started to get louder and faster.

├óÔé¼┼ôConcentrate,├óÔé¼┬Ø Chess murmured.

The beeping became a steady tone.

├óÔé¼┼ôConcentrate!├óÔé¼┬Ø Chess hissed, her hands reaching to the sides of the ship.

For a second Miles thought it worked.

The world spun. Miles felt his body straining against his straps, digging welts in his body where they pulled at him. Something slammed into the wall next to him and wetness splashed his face. Teresa reached for a button on her console, straining against the gravity that the spinning put in the ship. She pressed the button and was rewarded by a slowing of the spin. Miles blinked, feeling sick. The spinning stopped.

Teresa looked out the window. The guns on the Deamonhunter ship flashed and she knew the cannon rounds would impact any second.

The Deamonhunter ship dissapeared behind a massive, hulking shape that blacked off the entire cockpit. Teresa sagged in her chair, staring at the ship. She saw, outlined by an array of flood lights, a name.

├óÔé¼┼ôIt's the Holy Wrath,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa giggled, slapping the armrests on her chair, ├óÔé¼┼ôDobson! It's Dobson!├óÔé¼┬Ø

Miles blinked, elation filling him. A soft moan attracted his attention, turning him to the shape that had slammed into the wall next to him.

├óÔé¼┼ôChess,├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles gasped, jerking out of his restraints, ignoring the searing pain that came from the welts slashed across his body. Chess was crumpled against the wall, her neck twisted at an impossible angle. Miles was afraid to touch her, hand hovering over her head. The horrific tableaux held for a moment. Miles' mind was stuck on the sight. Chess couldn't be dead. She couldn't! The tableaux was broken when Chess sat up and snapped her own head back into place.

├óÔé¼┼ôThat stings,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, looking at Chess.

Miles burst into tears, hugging Chess close to him.

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The air locks locking together sounded ominous, sending a reverberation through the ship. Lucy and the surviving Deamonhunters stood in the airlock, some bandaged, three dead. The Deamonhunters stood in their formation, despite the holes, and Lucy held herself proudly. Even surrendering, they weren't going to simper.

The doors opened and Lucy got her first look at the enemy Admiral. He was tightening a glove as the door reveled him. It was a stooped old man, his face wrinkled and his hair sheet white. He looked too old to walk, let alone command a starship. The man nonchalantly looked at Lucy, a slight smirk on his face. Behind him were two guards and a very tired looking woman.

├óÔé¼┼ôI never thought I'd see the day,├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, his voice wheezy and ancient sounding, ├óÔé¼┼ôThat Lucy C would ask me for a surrender.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lucy stared at the man, her mind locked in a loop of denial and incomprehension.

├óÔé¼┼ôDobson?├óÔé¼┬Ø She blurted, taking a step backwards. The other Deamonhunters shared her shock, each of them reacting in their own way. Cyi took a step forward, hand going to her pistol.

Most of Dobson's group, with the exception of the tired looking woman, raised their guns. The woman looked familer as she shook her head, a look of patient resignation on her face. Lucy placed her hand on Cyi's shoulder and the other woman backed down.

├óÔé¼┼ôI take it you two know one another,├óÔé¼┬Ø The tired woman sighed, looking at Dobson, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't you ever just come out and fucking tell me everything about yourself!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôBut, madam President.├óÔé¼┬Ø Dobson grinned crookedly as he bowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat would ruin the suprise of life.├óÔé¼┬Ø

The President turned from Dobson, looking at Lucy. Lucy had another nasty moment of recognition.

├óÔé¼┼ôAre you related to Teresa Vhoorman, by any chance?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy do you ask?├óÔé¼┬Ø the President asked. Realization flashed on her face and she turned to Dobson, ├óÔé¼┼ôDobson!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôSorry Madam President. Vindict and I thought you'd object-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôDamn right I'd object!├óÔé¼┬Ø The President shouted. She paused, composing herself. She turned back to Lucy, looking very tired once more, ├óÔé¼┼ôI take it my sister has been causing untold amounts of trouble for you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Most people would have missed the slight tightening of the President's jaw. Most people would have missed the slight flicker of panic that passed between the Deamonhunters.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou could say that,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, forcing a smile to curl her lips.

├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø The President said, ├óÔé¼┼ôNow lets discus the terms of your surrender.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lucy nodded, saying, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut before we begin...why are you here?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôAmadeus is dead,├óÔé¼┬Ø The President said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThe rest of the CCHS was told to look to you for leadership. It seems...fitting that two leaders should speak of these matters face to face.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. The thought of surrendering to...this thing was sickening. But her mother had drilled this into her head, again and again before 'saint' Elizabeth had killed her. Run away, if only to live and fight another day. Lucy had always hated that philosophy. Lucy then said the hardest words of her life.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe...unconditionally surrender.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôGood,├óÔé¼┬Ø Janet said, ├óÔé¼┼ôDobson and I will...discus what will be done with you. Till then, I believe there are holding cells ready on the Holy Wrath,├óÔé¼┬Ø she looked at Dobson, her eyebrows waggling.

├óÔé¼┼ôQuite ready,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dobson said. The guards stepped forward, unnecessarily. Lucy and her Deamonhunters walked into the airlock, Lucy's shoulders slumping slightly.



Janet rubbed her temples, trying to not scream at Dobson. They both sat in Dobson's office, a small place that was pocketed behind the bridge of his ship. It was a spare room, but Janet couldn't care if it was painted pink and black..

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy...the fuck...did you not tell me that Teresa was in your medical bay!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, her voice rising in volume despite herself.

Dobson looked abashed, sitting behind his desk as he wrung his hands.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell...├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, stammering slightly, ├óÔé¼┼ôTeresa was...indisposed. At the time.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôIs she injured?├óÔé¼┬Ø Janet asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought you said she's fine.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMadam President,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dobson said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYour sister is...indisposed. She has been indisposed sense she came on board. I believe she will be ready to see you in a half hour.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Janet shook her head, rubbing her temples again.

├óÔé¼┼ôAt least Amadeus is dead,├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered, ├óÔé¼┼ôOne less snake in the garden to worry about.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Dobson shifted in his chair, waiting for Janet to start talking about the surrender proposition. Janet was mulling it over, resting her chin on her knuckle. Dobson grinned, sitting up suddenly.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Janet asked.

├óÔé¼┼ôI just had an idea. Vindict is big on correcting past wrongs. Some wrongs can't be fixed...but I think I know one that can.├óÔé¼┬Ø



Lucy sat in her holding cell, looking at the door. The daemon, Teresa, had a sister. That sister was the President of the USHS. The President of the USHS was a daemon. Lucy put her head in her hands, fingers clenching painfully on her skull, tears of rage and frustration welling between her eye lids.

The door opened and Lucy looked up, praying her tears went unnoticed. A guard stood in the doorway.

├óÔé¼┼ôCome,├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThe President wants a word with you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lucy stood, straightened her back, and followed the guard out of her cell. Maybe the President was going to have her executed for being a 'borg and for fighting on the enemies side. That thought was somewhat reassuring to Lucy as she walked down the hallways of the enemy ship.

The bridge she was ushered through was a bit shocking. If anything it was less advanced than her ship, with wood inlays on the control panels and at least fifteen crew members manning various stations. A hum of conversation surrounded her as she was lead to a office that was set near the back of the bridge. The conversation was cut off as the door closed behind her. Lucy looked around the office and saw that the President sat behind a desk, hands clasped in front of her, a slight smile on her lips.

├óÔé¼┼ôSit down,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'd rather stand,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy muttered, but she sat anyway.

├óÔé¼┼ôMrs. C...what does the C stand for?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lucy chewed her lip, looking at the President nervously.

├óÔé¼┼ôCyanide,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. The President didn't seemed perturbed by that. If anything she seemed slightly amused.

├óÔé¼┼ôThats...an interesting last name,├óÔé¼┬Ø The President said.

Lucy stared at her, mouth agape.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut thats not important,├óÔé¼┬Ø the President said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm here to offer you a alternative to surrender.├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lucy closer her mouth with a clack, hope blooming despite her attempts to force it down. No sense building her hopes up pointlessly. What if the 'alternative' was summery execution.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou and your company fought 'Daemons' for fifty years, over three hundred years ago,├óÔé¼┬Ø The President said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd in that time you killed ten Damon's and countless amounts of 'Sanders'...correct?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Lucy nodded.

├óÔé¼┼ôBut you also took down multiple daemon cults, people who worshiped these aliens. Your team is a collection of expert fighters, each one augmented by cybernetic implants to make them stronger, faster and tougher-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhere are you going with this!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy snapped, ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you offering me a job, or something!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes,├óÔé¼┬Ø The President said. Lucy blinked, all feeling leaving her.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm too tired and sick of this political bull that I'm not going to sugar coat this,├óÔé¼┬Ø The President said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou and your people have been lied to from the moment you were thawed. I've been reading some of your 'history' texts and found them sadly amusing.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI...see,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, keeping her face guarded. Someone was lying, and she didn't trust Amadeus father than she could throw him. But, she thought, she'd have to be a month dead before she trusted a daemon.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're legend has survived your freezing. I, personally, didn't know it. But,├óÔé¼┬Ø She smiled faintly, ├óÔé¼┼ôI was shocked when my aide Carter didn't know the story of King Arthur.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWho?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNever mind,├óÔé¼┬Ø The President said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThis war has allowed piracy to flourish. Daemons and Sanders are no longer a problem, but Pirates will be around forever. I am willing to offer your people amnesty and the opportunity to fight for the right side. If you refuse...it's back into the freezers for you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI...I thought you said something about righting past wrongs,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said, her heart freezing in her chest.

├óÔé¼┼ôI'm a politician not a priest. If you don't want to work for us, I don't want you around to muck us up...remember I also said that I'm too tired for tact. Take it...or freeze.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNot much of a choice,├óÔé¼┬Ø Lucy said. The Presidetn smiled, reaching out a hand.

Lucy paused, hands staying in her lap.

├óÔé¼┼ôOh frack it,├óÔé¼┬Ø She muttered, taking The President's hand and shaking it.

├óÔé¼┼ôThank you. I'd have hated to see you guys go back into the freezers,├óÔé¼┬Ø The President said. Then, her eyes becoming softer, ├óÔé¼┼ôWho the hell says 'frack' anymore?├óÔé¼┬Ø

-------

Dobson opened the door into Teresa's room, slowly and cautiously. She lay in her bed, sheets thick with sweat, draped over her and Miles. They were both snoring, Teresa's head laying on Miles shoulder as they slept.

Indisposed. Dobson closed the door softly and turned away, smiling as he did so. Janet would have to wait to talk with her sister. Dobson knew that moments of tenderness should be saved and treasured. He thought he had treasured his wife, but only her absence had taught him that he had taken her for granted. Dobson felt his chest constrict, something inside him clicking softly. He remembered when he had first met Lucy. He had never asked her exactly how her mother had smuggled her onboard his ship, onto his colony.

Sometimes these things just happened. Dobson walked out of the recovery wards, a slight spring in his step. Before he reached the end of the hallway, however, a soft call brought his attention to a open door.

├óÔé¼┼ôDobson,├óÔé¼┬Ø Chess said from her bed, ├óÔé¼┼ôDobson!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYes?├óÔé¼┬Ø Dobson asked, walking into her recovery ward. Chess sat up, feeling her neck gingerly. Dobson wasn't sure exactly how her healing process worked. Dobson wasn't sure that he wanted to know.

├óÔé¼┼ôCan you tell Teresa and Miles to keep it down?├óÔé¼┬Ø Chess asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôThey might be the only people in the ward, thats all the restraint they're showing!├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôChess...if you can go in there and look at them sleeping and bare to part them, then you have no heart,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dobson said.

├óÔé¼┼ôHave no heart,├óÔé¼┬Ø Chess muttered as Dobson walked away, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'd rather have no ears.├óÔé¼┬Ø

----------

Janet was sleeping soundly. She could tell she was asleep because she normally didn't have a man in bed with her. A beeping jerked her out of her fantasy and Janet sat up, bleary and frustrated at the lack of man in her bed.

├óÔé¼┼ôGod I need a vacation,├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered. The bleeping. She looked around the stateroom that Dobson had provided her. The Kliner drives were warming up nearby, a faint rumble permitting the ship. They had started warming up a few hours ago, reading to jump back to New Terra. The beeping! Janet focused on the phone next to the bed and pressed it, turning it on.

├óÔé¼┼ôSorry to wake you,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dobson said, not looking sorry at all, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...I thought you should know as soon as possible.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat! What!├óÔé¼┬Ø Janet snapped. Teresa and her boyfriend were probably bouncing like Jackrabbits about now, she thought viciously.

├óÔé¼┼ôAmadeus is alive,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dobson said, ├óÔé¼┼ôA picket ship spotted his ship making a break away from the Golgothan system. He warped away to the Deneb system before we could stop him. Reports from the Deneb system shows that he warped away again...by the time our ships got there, the warp trail had dissipated and we lost him.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhy didn't you tell me in the god damned morning!├óÔé¼┬Ø Janet snapped.

├óÔé¼┼ôI thought you'd like to know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Dobson said apologetically.

├óÔé¼┼ôWell I don't. What the hell is he going to do? Revolt? I doubt it. Good night.├óÔé¼┬Ø Janet stabbed the off button on her phone and lay back in her bed, closing her eyes. She tried to recapture the dream, but the man kept becoming Amadeus in her minds eyes.

Janet shuddered, swearing as she got out of bed and wrapped a nightgown about her shoulders. She walked to her computer console and sat down, bringing up her e-mail. Janet stared a the words for a few minutes, trying to get her eyes to recognize them as making some form of sense. They ran together and she thumped her head down, falling asleep instantly.

--------

Teresa twined her finger through Miles hair, smiling. She lay facing him, the air thick with his sent. Her nose seemed more sensitive now, picking up scents she never noticed before. Or maybe she was in love. Or both.

├óÔé¼┼ôTeresa...├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles said, his voice soft. Teresa shifted slightly, frowning. That tone of voice meant he was going to talk about her. She kept telling him to not talk about it and he kept bringing it up.

├óÔé¼┼ôWhen are we going to tell Janet?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teresa rolled over, surprised. She hadn't expected that question. Miles drew her closer, slipping an arm over her stomach.

├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not,├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, finality, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think she has had enough on her plate for the past three years...why add more?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Miles nodded.

├óÔé¼┼ôAren't you going to ask me what I think about my...problem?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôNot unless you're going to answer me,├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles said, matter of factly.

Teresa sighed, then giggled as he tickled her softly, fingers tracing the tattoos that ran over her body.

├óÔé¼┼ôI...I don't know who my mother was. I don't know who my father was,├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôOne of them had to be a...a...a-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôMessiah,├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles said. Teresa rolled over and stared at him, eyes wide.

├óÔé¼┼ôChess is, by the Deamonhunter's definition, a daemon. By your definition...she's a Messiah. But we both know she's neither...what about you?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou...have...you have no idea what you're suggesting,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa said, feeling goose bumps spread over her body. She curled up, letting Miles warm one of her sides.

├óÔé¼┼ôSorry,├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI just-├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôLets just...forget it,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa said, closing her eyes. Miles nodded. Teresa somehow managed to slip into sleep before Miles, who watched her sleep into the night. The Kliner engines jumped before he joined her in sleep.

Teresa dreamed. As she dreamed, her body changed, writhing with potential. Teresa's flesh body tossed and turned in her sleep, finality settling into a snuggling position with her lover.

Teresa's dream body walked down the street of New Terra. But it was not the New Terra she knew. The houses were shanty lean-to's. The streets were unpaved and the population were unwashed, muddy. A woman walked beside her, smiling slightly as she lead Teresa.

├óÔé¼┼ôSee how far we've come?├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said, ├óÔé¼┼ôHow far we've yet to go?├óÔé¼┬Ø

Teresa nodded, realizing her body was that of a child.

├óÔé¼┼ôYou are the next, if there was one before. Sometimes even I don't know. My mind comes and goes. All I know is some things are real but false. Others are false but true. Sometimes it doesn't matter.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not making sense,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa said, her voice whiny as she spoke.

├óÔé¼┼ôLife doesn't make sense,├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said, kneeling down and taking hold of Teresa's arms. Teresa held her back, as if she could learn more that way. Parts of the woman seemed to flicker, as if she was having trouble keeping form, ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't...concentrate long. I just wanted to tell you...that your grandmother would be pleased with you. She's...no Saint...but she...she'd be proud of you.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa asked. It was too late, as Teresa was suddenly gasping nothing but air.

Teresa opened her eyes. The lights in the room mimicked sunlight as best they could, shining down on her and Miles. Teresa sat up and sighed.

├óÔé¼┼ôCan't dreams ever come out and say what they mean?├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles asked, cracking his eyes open and looking at her.

├óÔé¼┼ôNothing,├óÔé¼┬Ø Teresa said, getting out of bed, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think staying in the recovery ward any longer would be criminal.├óÔé¼┬Ø

├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know,├óÔé¼┬Ø Miles said, grinning, ├óÔé¼┼ôI still feel a little woozy-├óÔé¼┬Ø

He was cut off when Teresa hurled his shirt into his face.

Cyanide cant be alive!

and is Eve Teresa's mother?

Lucy repeatedly said her mother was killed by "Saint" Elizabeth.

And good question!

oh now i get it

for a second i thot you you were gonna do what u did in darkside 2
with peter...