I'm tired.
Oh and here is an episode!
Darkside: Extinction
Moderator: Moderators
I was half way through writing the NEXT episode and then I realized I forgot to post the one before that one.
So here's both in an uber post of DEEWM!
Mike was sitting at the bar and glowered at his drink, still smarting from taking not one but two bombs practically in the face. Helena was next to him, chatting with her boyfriend. Cain was looking very very tired, just as Mike supposed a General who was suddenly in full command of the entire marine compliment. That made Mike smile, trying to capture the look on Keller's face..
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're pregnant!├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller almost shouted, looking at Sarris.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh...yeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said, her ears burning.
Keller stood up, pushing his chair back, and walked to Sarris. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats great!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, hugging her, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're pregnant!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Sarris gaped, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're...You're not upset?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy would I be upset?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked, stepping back slightly, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat did you think I wasn't going to want to have a baby?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Sarris forced a smile to her face, ├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no thats crazy├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Keller stepped back, holding up a finger to stay her, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll be...right back! I need to tell the crew!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He ran out of the room, almost jumping with joy. Sarris felt more and more stupid every second as she stood there, looking after him.
Mike was brought back to the present when Helena elbowed him in the side. He looked at her, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat? What!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDid you know that crime is down fifteen percent on the Prometheus?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike blinked, surprised, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...I heard that the police force can barely patrol a third of the ship!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWeird, huh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said, ├óÔé¼┼ôCain here said that apparently people have just...stopped committing crimes├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike leaned forward to see around Helena to look at the General, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôHow's commanding sitting for you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Cain sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts sitting├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts sitting. At least I'm not getting shot at├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox walked into the bar, sighing. She walked to the front of the bar, sat down at the farthest corner and waited for ten minuets. Then the bartender arrived. ├óÔé¼┼ôWant something?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, her voice curt.
├óÔé¼┼ôWater please├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, looking down.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight...right├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender walked away, grumbling. Five minuets later she came back with a cup of water. Fox, who had been busy studying the wall, took the cup and thanked the bartender. She sipped from the cup as best she could.
Mike had watched the whole interplay with growing anger. Helena and Cain were laughing at some joke, but he hadn't even heard the start of it, let alone the punch line. Mike felt the urge to do something. Then he chewed his lower lip and looked back at his drink.
Then Helena slapped him on the back. ├óÔé¼┼ôMike├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôLook who just walked in├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike turned half way around.
Eve had walked into the bar. Mike blinked, feeling better just looking at her. Eve walked through the crowd, slipping through them as if they were smoke. She got to Mike's seat and sat down next to him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWater please├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, raising her hand. After a few moments water was placed in front of her. She took it and drank it down. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôOther then the fact that this is a marine only bar...what are you doing here?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Eve took a deep breath, then said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI...am...bored├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're bored├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, raising his eyebrows, ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...theres...not much I can do about that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, looking at him, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut see...I'm almost wishing that there was some sort of crises going on just so I have something to DO!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about Hicks?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked.
Eve shrugged, ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's happy...far happier then me and yet I know that ...that I should be happy. But instead I'm bored, like some kind of spoiled child!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox saw the glowing woman. She stared, not quite sure what to make of her. She wondered if anyone else noticed that she was glowing, quite a bit. Then Fox remembered she could see in deeper and higher spectrum then Humans could. The woman suddenly turned to look at her and Fox felt as if she was being X-rayed by those eyes. She looked at her empty cup and wondered how long she'd have to wait for a refill.
Eve leaned over to Mike. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is that?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked.
Mike blinked, looking at who Eve was looking at. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a....her name is Fox├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked, looking at him head on.
├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a furry├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, sighing, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd she just got transferred to this squad. Apparently they think I'm good at handling unorthodox recruits...someone like you, for example├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve frowned at him, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut what is a furry?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike sighed, closing his eyes, ├óÔé¼┼ôA furry is a genetically engineered individual, tailor made to carter to a slightly perverted side of the sex industry├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôThere's a not perverted side to the sex industry?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut anyway├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ignoring that comment, ├óÔé¼┼ôFurrys were made to bridge the gap between people who liked to sleep with people...and people who liked to sleep with...well...you know├óÔé¼┬Ø his ear's burned as he said this, lot quite looking at Eve. Eve snorted, ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me guess...Troy owned her├óÔé¼┬Ø she said.
├óÔé¼┼ôGot it in one├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said.
Eve looked at Fox, who was sitting with her elbow on the bar top, strangely shaped head placed in the natural 'thinking' position. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats just the kind of sick, disgusting thing Troy would have had├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, turning back to Mike.
Fox's ear shifted slightly and she got up, not wanting a refill again. She walked out of the bar.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe man was a monster├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, raising her finger, completely oblivious that Fox had left, ├óÔé¼┼ôOwning a woman like that, and treating her like dirt I'd guess├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôShe made a good choice to join the marines...at least she won't be stuck dealing with the people on the Prometheus├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox walked into her room and sat down in her stool. She couldn't use a chair very well, thanks to her tail, but she could use a stool. Her tail thrashed around furiously, and she stared at the bulkhead. Being called inhuman, or a freak, or an aberration didn't bother her much. Or at least they hadn't bothered her. Until someone started to actually treat her like a human being. Now that she had experience, she found that she didn't like having it taken away.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain sighed, looking at the data slate he was using, ├óÔé¼┼ôHave we had any luck tracing the explosives...or the messages?├óÔé¼┬Ø. His aide sighed, almost at the same pitch as his, ├óÔé¼┼ôNo and No├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen we have no leads what so ever├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, standing up and pacing around the room, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd we still have an unknown number of people who want to kill brain cores and...freaks├óÔé¼┬Ø.
He thumbed some data into his slate, trying to find the statistics he was looking for. ├óÔé¼┼ôFifty brain cores and one genehack, or furry. And yet only Lit. Michal Dobson and Corporal Fox have been hit by terrorists attacks. They've had a week to hit again, and yet...nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain stopped his pacing and leaned over the back of his chair, frowning, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...it doesn't make sense├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø his aide said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut what are we going to do, wait for another attack?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike walked into his room, scratching behind his ears. He walked to his pantry and opened it. For some reason he had expected to find something other then the normal rations there, and as such was horribly disappointedly. He grabbed two protein bars out and saw a small device was placed back there. Mike frowned, backing towards the door.
Then he slapped the open on his door and fell backwards into the hallway.
He waited.
Nothing happened. Mike stood up, slowly leaning back in his quarters. He pressed the intercom button and said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Dobson...there's a strange object in my quarters that I think might be dangerous├óÔé¼┬Ø.
He waited, patiently, for the bomb squad. The bomb squad showed up with General Cain running in front of them, tucking his shirt into his pants. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs it a bomb?├óÔé¼┬Ø Was the first thing out of his mouth.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what the damn bomb squad is here for├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôIts not a bomb├óÔé¼┬Ø The leader of the bomb squad said after looking at the device for fifty seconds, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt looks like a speaker├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike ducked back into his room as the bomb squad peeled the device off the wall. They found a button marked play on it and after a thorough search, they declared it to be safe. They pressed the button and a voice, tinny and scrambled said;
├óÔé¼┼ôThere is a rot in humanity. It is a rot that has been growing, expanding, for the past hundred or so years. Genehacks, implants, impurities. We've all looked the other way, but after God's Vengeance fell on our heads, we can no longer afford to look the other way. This is a warning to you, Michal Dobson. You, who have tricked a large portion of the Humans into thinking you're a hero├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike raised his eye brows at that, but the voice was still going.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo this is a warning, and an ultimatum, to you and you're superiors. Remove every brain core, every gene hack, every freak off the marines or people will start to die. And I think Mike knows which one I'll start with├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The recording stopped. Mike looked at General Cain. Cain shrugged.
Eve walked down the hall, grinning. Two men had been following her, evil intents plainly broadcasted in their surface thoughts. They were an oddity, now a days. Eve had to walk through the worst area's of the ship, which were getting smaller and smaller every day.
She stopped her walk, not turning. The two men walked into the small alcove that she had chosen, each of them grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, still not turning, ├óÔé¼┼ôWant me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the first man said, looking at the other, ├óÔé¼┼ôA nice woman like yourself...should share what she's got, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve tightened her left fist in front of her, smiling.
The other man nodded, walking forward. He reached out of Eve, but then she was gone, slipping out from under his arms and slamming her arm into his gut. The man doubled over, blood splattering out of his mouth as he fell backwards. Eve felt the bones crack under her elbow and grinned savagely. The other man grabbed his knife and stabbed at Eve, who slipped aside. He was sent off balance, falling forward. Right into Eve's right knee. His head snapped back and he landed, rolling onto his back. He spat and a single tooth pattered across the ground, tinging off the metallic wall. He Stood halfway up, Eve kneeling next to him. She hauled him to his feet and placed her hand on his face.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou really have to do better on the attack next time├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man looked completely lost, his eyes still wobbling from the two bangs he had taken on the head. Eve punched him in the nose, sending him toppling backwards as blood leaked out of his nose. Eve stood, looking around at the unconscious men. She cracked her knuckles and sighed, feeling slightly better.
Someone screamed half way around the ship, but Eve still heard it. Eve dissapeared and appeared next to a woman who's foot was getting crushed by a dropped bit of metal. Eve stooped down and picked the metal up, wincing at the bloody hole punched through the woman's foot. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh god!├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman was hissing, her eyes closed, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt hurts!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve waved her hand over the wound and healed it. The woman cracked her left eye open, the lack of pain as shocking as its presence. ├óÔé¼┼ôHave a nice day madam├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, and was gone, popping out of view and reappearing in her house.
├óÔé¼┼ôHave a nice day?├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks asked, looking up from his work. He had gotten a job, as loathsome as he found that idea, and was working doggedly at it. His job, if you could call it that, was editing the news slates that he had been reading. He wasn't any good at that, and going was slow. Very slow. But it was worth one ration chit a week, so he would do it. He thought about just having Eve create food out of thin air, but just thinking about that was just scary. So he did his job.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, sighing and leaning against the wall. She was smiling faintly, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I've found something to occupy myself├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Hicks turned around, eyes wide in false histrionics, ├óÔé¼┼ôCheating on me! I knew it!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGot it in one├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, smiling, ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been teleporting to other men and having torrid love affairs with them. Oh the things I have done...├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell that kills it├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks sighed, turning back to his slate, ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose I'll just have to take up the milk lady down the street. She keeps glancing at me, you know├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôReally├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, hugging him around the shoulders, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I should kill her├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Hicks didn't smile at that. Eve didn't see that, instead looking at the flowers around the room. Then she kissed him on the ear and whispered, ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is no crime to fight tonight...not that I've noticed├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Hicks smiled, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think there is a rapist on the loose├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, grinning as the sun light turned off, plunging them into night.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe's...right...here!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve giggled, ├óÔé¼┼ôThat tickles!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Fox slipped around the corner, rifle at the ready. She was on point for the first time...ever, and Mike had said that he believed in her. She couldn't let her L.T down, not after he had treated her like a human. The woman that had walked into the bar...that was another story. The rest of the squad came up behind her, also ready for battle. This was the nastiest area of the Prometheus, supposedly where the last of the crime lords were left. So the police were going to sweep this area clean over the next few nights.
Fox smelled something. She waved her hand and ducked back. Then a bullet bounced off the ground where she had been standing. Fox whipped her gun about and took aim at who was firing at them. Then her finger wouldn't close on the trigger. A bullet bounced off the wall she was ducked against. Then Mike, Mankowski and Helena were up, readying their guns. Lee came last, lugging a largish gun. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis ought to make them think twice├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered.
The enemies were on the walls, surrounding their position and laying down fire. Then Fox saw one take aim at Lee. She raised her rifle to take the target out. Her finger wouldn't close on the trigger. The man fired and Lee fell, blood splattering. Fox felt a bit of it splash on her nose and she felt her bile rise. Mike took out two enemies with a quick three round burst. The remaining enemies ran, dashing for cover. Mankowski was patching up Lee as best he could. The rifle woman had been hit in the gut, a nasty intestine wound. Fox stared at the blood, unable to move.
├óÔé¼┼ôFox...FOX!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike shouted at her. Fox snapped out of her daze and looked at the L.T. ├óÔé¼┼ôSecure this area!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd call for evac!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
So here's both in an uber post of DEEWM!
Mike was sitting at the bar and glowered at his drink, still smarting from taking not one but two bombs practically in the face. Helena was next to him, chatting with her boyfriend. Cain was looking very very tired, just as Mike supposed a General who was suddenly in full command of the entire marine compliment. That made Mike smile, trying to capture the look on Keller's face..
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're pregnant!├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller almost shouted, looking at Sarris.
├óÔé¼┼ôUh...yeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said, her ears burning.
Keller stood up, pushing his chair back, and walked to Sarris. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats great!├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, hugging her, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're pregnant!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Sarris gaped, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're...You're not upset?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWhy would I be upset?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked, stepping back slightly, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat did you think I wasn't going to want to have a baby?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Sarris forced a smile to her face, ├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no thats crazy├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Keller stepped back, holding up a finger to stay her, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll be...right back! I need to tell the crew!├óÔé¼┬Ø. He ran out of the room, almost jumping with joy. Sarris felt more and more stupid every second as she stood there, looking after him.
Mike was brought back to the present when Helena elbowed him in the side. He looked at her, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat? What!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDid you know that crime is down fifteen percent on the Prometheus?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike blinked, surprised, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...I heard that the police force can barely patrol a third of the ship!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWeird, huh?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said, ├óÔé¼┼ôCain here said that apparently people have just...stopped committing crimes├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike leaned forward to see around Helena to look at the General, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôHow's commanding sitting for you├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Cain sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts sitting├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts sitting. At least I'm not getting shot at├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox walked into the bar, sighing. She walked to the front of the bar, sat down at the farthest corner and waited for ten minuets. Then the bartender arrived. ├óÔé¼┼ôWant something?├óÔé¼┬Ø She asked, her voice curt.
├óÔé¼┼ôWater please├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, looking down.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight...right├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender walked away, grumbling. Five minuets later she came back with a cup of water. Fox, who had been busy studying the wall, took the cup and thanked the bartender. She sipped from the cup as best she could.
Mike had watched the whole interplay with growing anger. Helena and Cain were laughing at some joke, but he hadn't even heard the start of it, let alone the punch line. Mike felt the urge to do something. Then he chewed his lower lip and looked back at his drink.
Then Helena slapped him on the back. ├óÔé¼┼ôMike├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôLook who just walked in├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike turned half way around.
Eve had walked into the bar. Mike blinked, feeling better just looking at her. Eve walked through the crowd, slipping through them as if they were smoke. She got to Mike's seat and sat down next to him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWater please├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, raising her hand. After a few moments water was placed in front of her. She took it and drank it down. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôOther then the fact that this is a marine only bar...what are you doing here?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Eve took a deep breath, then said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI...am...bored├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're bored├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, raising his eyebrows, ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...theres...not much I can do about that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, looking at him, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut see...I'm almost wishing that there was some sort of crises going on just so I have something to DO!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about Hicks?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked.
Eve shrugged, ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's happy...far happier then me and yet I know that ...that I should be happy. But instead I'm bored, like some kind of spoiled child!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox saw the glowing woman. She stared, not quite sure what to make of her. She wondered if anyone else noticed that she was glowing, quite a bit. Then Fox remembered she could see in deeper and higher spectrum then Humans could. The woman suddenly turned to look at her and Fox felt as if she was being X-rayed by those eyes. She looked at her empty cup and wondered how long she'd have to wait for a refill.
Eve leaned over to Mike. ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is that?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked.
Mike blinked, looking at who Eve was looking at. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a....her name is Fox├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked, looking at him head on.
├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a furry├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, sighing, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd she just got transferred to this squad. Apparently they think I'm good at handling unorthodox recruits...someone like you, for example├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve frowned at him, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut what is a furry?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike sighed, closing his eyes, ├óÔé¼┼ôA furry is a genetically engineered individual, tailor made to carter to a slightly perverted side of the sex industry├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôThere's a not perverted side to the sex industry?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut anyway├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ignoring that comment, ├óÔé¼┼ôFurrys were made to bridge the gap between people who liked to sleep with people...and people who liked to sleep with...well...you know├óÔé¼┬Ø his ear's burned as he said this, lot quite looking at Eve. Eve snorted, ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me guess...Troy owned her├óÔé¼┬Ø she said.
├óÔé¼┼ôGot it in one├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said.
Eve looked at Fox, who was sitting with her elbow on the bar top, strangely shaped head placed in the natural 'thinking' position. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats just the kind of sick, disgusting thing Troy would have had├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, turning back to Mike.
Fox's ear shifted slightly and she got up, not wanting a refill again. She walked out of the bar.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe man was a monster├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, raising her finger, completely oblivious that Fox had left, ├óÔé¼┼ôOwning a woman like that, and treating her like dirt I'd guess├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôShe made a good choice to join the marines...at least she won't be stuck dealing with the people on the Prometheus├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox walked into her room and sat down in her stool. She couldn't use a chair very well, thanks to her tail, but she could use a stool. Her tail thrashed around furiously, and she stared at the bulkhead. Being called inhuman, or a freak, or an aberration didn't bother her much. Or at least they hadn't bothered her. Until someone started to actually treat her like a human being. Now that she had experience, she found that she didn't like having it taken away.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain sighed, looking at the data slate he was using, ├óÔé¼┼ôHave we had any luck tracing the explosives...or the messages?├óÔé¼┬Ø. His aide sighed, almost at the same pitch as his, ├óÔé¼┼ôNo and No├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôThen we have no leads what so ever├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, standing up and pacing around the room, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd we still have an unknown number of people who want to kill brain cores and...freaks├óÔé¼┬Ø.
He thumbed some data into his slate, trying to find the statistics he was looking for. ├óÔé¼┼ôFifty brain cores and one genehack, or furry. And yet only Lit. Michal Dobson and Corporal Fox have been hit by terrorists attacks. They've had a week to hit again, and yet...nothing├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain stopped his pacing and leaned over the back of his chair, frowning, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt...it doesn't make sense├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø his aide said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut what are we going to do, wait for another attack?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike walked into his room, scratching behind his ears. He walked to his pantry and opened it. For some reason he had expected to find something other then the normal rations there, and as such was horribly disappointedly. He grabbed two protein bars out and saw a small device was placed back there. Mike frowned, backing towards the door.
Then he slapped the open on his door and fell backwards into the hallway.
He waited.
Nothing happened. Mike stood up, slowly leaning back in his quarters. He pressed the intercom button and said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Dobson...there's a strange object in my quarters that I think might be dangerous├óÔé¼┬Ø.
He waited, patiently, for the bomb squad. The bomb squad showed up with General Cain running in front of them, tucking his shirt into his pants. ├óÔé¼┼ôIs it a bomb?├óÔé¼┬Ø Was the first thing out of his mouth.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what the damn bomb squad is here for├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôIts not a bomb├óÔé¼┬Ø The leader of the bomb squad said after looking at the device for fifty seconds, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt looks like a speaker├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike ducked back into his room as the bomb squad peeled the device off the wall. They found a button marked play on it and after a thorough search, they declared it to be safe. They pressed the button and a voice, tinny and scrambled said;
├óÔé¼┼ôThere is a rot in humanity. It is a rot that has been growing, expanding, for the past hundred or so years. Genehacks, implants, impurities. We've all looked the other way, but after God's Vengeance fell on our heads, we can no longer afford to look the other way. This is a warning to you, Michal Dobson. You, who have tricked a large portion of the Humans into thinking you're a hero├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike raised his eye brows at that, but the voice was still going.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo this is a warning, and an ultimatum, to you and you're superiors. Remove every brain core, every gene hack, every freak off the marines or people will start to die. And I think Mike knows which one I'll start with├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The recording stopped. Mike looked at General Cain. Cain shrugged.
Eve walked down the hall, grinning. Two men had been following her, evil intents plainly broadcasted in their surface thoughts. They were an oddity, now a days. Eve had to walk through the worst area's of the ship, which were getting smaller and smaller every day.
She stopped her walk, not turning. The two men walked into the small alcove that she had chosen, each of them grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, still not turning, ├óÔé¼┼ôWant me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the first man said, looking at the other, ├óÔé¼┼ôA nice woman like yourself...should share what she's got, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve tightened her left fist in front of her, smiling.
The other man nodded, walking forward. He reached out of Eve, but then she was gone, slipping out from under his arms and slamming her arm into his gut. The man doubled over, blood splattering out of his mouth as he fell backwards. Eve felt the bones crack under her elbow and grinned savagely. The other man grabbed his knife and stabbed at Eve, who slipped aside. He was sent off balance, falling forward. Right into Eve's right knee. His head snapped back and he landed, rolling onto his back. He spat and a single tooth pattered across the ground, tinging off the metallic wall. He Stood halfway up, Eve kneeling next to him. She hauled him to his feet and placed her hand on his face.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou really have to do better on the attack next time├óÔé¼┬Ø. The man looked completely lost, his eyes still wobbling from the two bangs he had taken on the head. Eve punched him in the nose, sending him toppling backwards as blood leaked out of his nose. Eve stood, looking around at the unconscious men. She cracked her knuckles and sighed, feeling slightly better.
Someone screamed half way around the ship, but Eve still heard it. Eve dissapeared and appeared next to a woman who's foot was getting crushed by a dropped bit of metal. Eve stooped down and picked the metal up, wincing at the bloody hole punched through the woman's foot. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh god!├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman was hissing, her eyes closed, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt hurts!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve waved her hand over the wound and healed it. The woman cracked her left eye open, the lack of pain as shocking as its presence. ├óÔé¼┼ôHave a nice day madam├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, and was gone, popping out of view and reappearing in her house.
├óÔé¼┼ôHave a nice day?├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks asked, looking up from his work. He had gotten a job, as loathsome as he found that idea, and was working doggedly at it. His job, if you could call it that, was editing the news slates that he had been reading. He wasn't any good at that, and going was slow. Very slow. But it was worth one ration chit a week, so he would do it. He thought about just having Eve create food out of thin air, but just thinking about that was just scary. So he did his job.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, sighing and leaning against the wall. She was smiling faintly, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I've found something to occupy myself├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Hicks turned around, eyes wide in false histrionics, ├óÔé¼┼ôCheating on me! I knew it!├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôGot it in one├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, smiling, ├óÔé¼┼ôI've been teleporting to other men and having torrid love affairs with them. Oh the things I have done...├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell that kills it├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks sighed, turning back to his slate, ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose I'll just have to take up the milk lady down the street. She keeps glancing at me, you know├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôReally├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, hugging him around the shoulders, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I should kill her├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Hicks didn't smile at that. Eve didn't see that, instead looking at the flowers around the room. Then she kissed him on the ear and whispered, ├óÔé¼┼ôThere is no crime to fight tonight...not that I've noticed├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Hicks smiled, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think there is a rapist on the loose├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, grinning as the sun light turned off, plunging them into night.
├óÔé¼┼ôHe's...right...here!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve giggled, ├óÔé¼┼ôThat tickles!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Fox slipped around the corner, rifle at the ready. She was on point for the first time...ever, and Mike had said that he believed in her. She couldn't let her L.T down, not after he had treated her like a human. The woman that had walked into the bar...that was another story. The rest of the squad came up behind her, also ready for battle. This was the nastiest area of the Prometheus, supposedly where the last of the crime lords were left. So the police were going to sweep this area clean over the next few nights.
Fox smelled something. She waved her hand and ducked back. Then a bullet bounced off the ground where she had been standing. Fox whipped her gun about and took aim at who was firing at them. Then her finger wouldn't close on the trigger. A bullet bounced off the wall she was ducked against. Then Mike, Mankowski and Helena were up, readying their guns. Lee came last, lugging a largish gun. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis ought to make them think twice├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered.
The enemies were on the walls, surrounding their position and laying down fire. Then Fox saw one take aim at Lee. She raised her rifle to take the target out. Her finger wouldn't close on the trigger. The man fired and Lee fell, blood splattering. Fox felt a bit of it splash on her nose and she felt her bile rise. Mike took out two enemies with a quick three round burst. The remaining enemies ran, dashing for cover. Mankowski was patching up Lee as best he could. The rifle woman had been hit in the gut, a nasty intestine wound. Fox stared at the blood, unable to move.
├óÔé¼┼ôFox...FOX!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike shouted at her. Fox snapped out of her daze and looked at the L.T. ├óÔé¼┼ôSecure this area!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd call for evac!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
-
Guessmyname
- Posts: 3301
- Joined: 28 Apr 2005, 21:07
Uber post of DEWM!
Shocking twists! Turns! Tricks! Sudden changes of fortune! Psycoanalaysis!
Fox crouched down and slid her backpack off. Demolitions covered a surprisingly large number of duties in one word. Carrying the com set was one. She slipped the com set out, still disturbed by her fingers unwillingness to pull the trigger.
├óÔé¼┼ôHQ, HQ this is...is Foxtrot team, I repeat, this is Foxtrot team├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said.
Static.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Foxtrot team├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, more urgently, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need medical evacuation!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lee groaned as Mankowski tightened the bandage. Mike turned away and walked to Fox, who was beginning to look down right panicked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats the matter?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, his voice hushed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're getting nothing but static on the set├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, ├óÔé¼┼ôSomeone one is jamming us├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike looked around at their position. They were at least two miles away from the exit, and add to that at least ten more miles of twisting, winding corridors, in the dead of night, with a wounded marine that probably wouldn't survive going a single mile... Mike's thoughts trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can't more Lee in her condition...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Fox cut him off, placing her hand on his shoulder, claws digging slightly into his shirt. ├óÔé¼┼ôMike├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm getting a signal├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike grabbed the set.
├óÔé¼┼ôI bet you're feeling awfully alone out there, traitor├óÔé¼┬Ø a voice said, scrambled slightly to prevent him from being able to tell just who it was. But it still sounded naggingly familer. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow you're trapped...you and the freak in you're squad├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, nasty memories of being trapped by Laurence rising in the back of his mind.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot that easy├óÔé¼┬Ø The voice said, ├óÔé¼┼ôSee I have connections, and I have the last bits of criminality, the ones that haven't dropped out of business...and those criminals really loved the military weapons that I've been leaking them├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike looked around, trying to see if he could spot the enemy surrounding them. He was sure they were being set up for a trap. He looked to the rest of his squad, and with a flurry of hand gestures, he warned Helena and Mankowski to set up a perimeter and defend the area. Fox went to join them, but Mike stopped her with a glance.
The voice had continued, oblivious to all this, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo now you're going to die. You and you're friends, and the freak. Then I'm going to take out the other traitors and make humanity pure again├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not going to go down without a fight├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, but the line was staticy again. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôFox, you get this stowed. Helena, you and Mankowski see if you can get Lee into one of these...├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked at the dilapidated, abandoned makeshift huts that surrounded him, ├óÔé¼┼ôhouses├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox saw the first enemy. She brought her gun up, hissing a warning to Mike. Her trigger finger spasmed, but the gun didn't go off, her finger locked an eight of an inch from the trigger. Mike saw the man too and brought his gun up. Then the enemy, a civilian wielding a ZX-74 fired and Fox felt a bullet tear through her right ear. Mike fired and the enemy fell, blood spurting from a newly holed throat. Fox dropped her gun, hand going to her torn and bloody ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôOw!├óÔé¼┬Ø She hissed, her voice still softer then a normal human. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet under cover├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, handing her gun to her.
Helena dragged Lee into the hut, looking around the interior as she did so. IT was a standard four wall affair, and had a single table made from a old door with two uneven poles welded to the side. Helena grabbed her sniper rifle and jumped to the top of the table. She got to the wall and climbed her way onto the thin wall. She balanced there, barely, and propped her rifle up. She could see...fifty or so civilian's with guns running through the hallways around the buildings around theirs. They were all moving with a sense of purpose. But, Helena thought, anyone could look purposeful. She took aim and fired.
One of the enemies fell, a bullet planted directly in the center of mass. Every single other one of the men around that guy dropped, trying to find cover. Helena fired again and another person dropped.
├óÔé¼┼ôKeep dropping them├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, barring the door as he walked in. Fox was refusing to let anyone even bandage her ear, tearing her shirt and wrapping it about her head like a bandanna. Helena fired again and again, keeping the enemy down as best she could.
├óÔé¼┼ôL.T├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I can't shoot├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôIs something wrong with you're gun?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, confused.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...Its...when I try to pull the trigger my finger just...stops├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, looking at the ground. Mike was silent for a bit, thinking. He sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôI have...I have no idea, Fox. Just stay back and look after Lee. Mankowski, get up here├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mankowski did so, hauling their heavy gun up to the door. Helena fired twice more. Then two ZX's cracked and a bullet bounced off the wall. The other slammed into her bicep, sending her rolling into the room. She landed on her back, stunned. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, still checking his ZX, ├óÔé¼┼ôFox get her under cover!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Mankowski set up their HMG, shoving the barrel under the ill made door, which was uneven and had a large gap in the lower right corner. The enemies were advancing in very poor form, so Mankowski showed them the error of their way. The machine gun opened up and bullet poured into the enemy, leaving ten lying on the ground. The twenty survivors ran back, leaving their dead and dying comrades without looking back. Mike propped himself up on the table and poked his binoculars over the edge of the wall, looking through the slant view. ├óÔé¼┼ôThree of 'em are running├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôNice job with that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mankowski grinned, looking through the targeting retical on the MG. Two ZX's fired on full atou, peppering the door with bullets. Mankowski jerked back, wincing as a bullet bounced past him. The gun barrel was bent, a bullet gonging out a large chunk of it. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, another bullet slamming into the door, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think we're a little outnumbered├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike looked around, chewing his lower lip. Helena winced as Fox tied a bandage tight around her wound. Then the door was kicked down. ├óÔé¼┼ôHANDS UP!├óÔé¼┬Ø Their point man shouted. The entire squad raised their hands.
Mike grunted as his captors bound his hands and hauled him outside. They threw him to his knees and went back in for Lee, Mankowski, Helena and finally Fox. The leader of their enemies, a rather tall man with a walruses mustache pointed out Lee and Helena. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet those women medical attention├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd put that man somewhere safe├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The three others got dragged, or in Mankowski's case, walked, away. That left Mike and Fox, surrounded by at least fifteen armed and very angry looking me. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Their leader said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're just going to have to wait for the boss├óÔé¼┬Ø.
A minute passed. Mike caught Fox's eye with his own and tired to extrude a sense of calm. Fox was looking just a little panicked, her nose flaring once every few seconds as she sniffed the air.
Another minute passed. The leader of the men surrounding the two marines was starting to look very worried.
Then a man shoved through the back of their group, shouting, ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry I'm late fellows├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The man burst out from between two of the men, pushing through them. Mike gaped.
├óÔé¼┼ôGot a bit tied up back at the Hannibal├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, brushing off his sleeve, ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a bit of trouble with the security check points├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The leader of the men coughed, looming over Cain's shoulder. Cain turned halfway around and pulled out a small badge. He flashed it at the man, who bowed slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow that thats cleared up├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, turning to Mike and Fox.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're the terrorist?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked.
Cain smiled, ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't believe no one suspected me. I thought It was obvious, but...well...you guys are really gullible├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike looked at the sky, grinding his teeth. Fox's uninjured ear was flattened to the side of her head, teeth bared.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain's second in command said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat should we do with the freak and the traitor?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Cain's grin suddenly seemed very forced as he turned to the man. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't need all you're troops. Send the...living ones back home and tell them we've done a good job├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø The second in command said, gesturing to the others. They left, walking out with lots of resentful looks at Cain and the two marines. Once they were gone Cain clapped his second in command on the shoulder. Something glinted in his hand.
├óÔé¼┼ôGood job we did, huh?├óÔé¼┬Ø the second command said, turning his head to Cain. Then Cain pulled the trigger in the gun he had in his hand.
Blood splashed over his face as the second in command fell forward, a largish hole blown in the side of his head. Cain winced, sliding his pistol into his holster and whipping his face off with a handkerchief that he had brought with him. The gun had been silenced, so the entire affair was over with little more then a splashing sound and two thumps as the second in command fell forward.
Mike gaped as Cain undid the handcuffs on him. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry about the ruse boys├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we finally managed to track down the terrorist├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHow...a...what are...whats going on?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked.
Cain helped him to his feet and started undoing Fox's bindings. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce we tracked down the terrorist...who it is will surprise the hell out of you, mind that├óÔé¼┬Ø. He helped Fox to her feet. Fox yelped and Cain jumped back, realizing he had trod on her tail.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho is the terrorist?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôWho's been trying to kill us?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Cain sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was-├óÔé¼┬Ø he started. Then they all heard a click of a gun's firing pin being pulled back and Cain's back stiffened, feeling the all too familer feel of a gun being pressed into the back of his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt was me├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller said.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh son of a bitch├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, grinding his teeth.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou freaks├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller said, gesturing with his free hand to Fox and Mike, ├óÔé¼┼ôHands above you're heads├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller said, moving away from Cain and backing up so he could cover all three of them, ├óÔé¼┼ôTime to take out the trash├óÔé¼┬Ø.
He took aim at Mike.
Then Fox ducked down, picking one of the stolen ZX-74's from the ground, where it had fallen from the corpse of one of its users. She snapped the barrel to cover Miller's head. Miller aimed his gun at her, eyes narrowing.
Then Miller's gun moved to aim at Mike. ├óÔé¼┼ôShoot me...and I shoot him├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller said.
Fox's finger slid over the trigger, her tail twitching nervously. Her mind seemed locked, unable to complete the action. Her left eye darted to Mike's face, seeing his eyes screwed up in fear
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not goin-├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller started.
Fox pulled the trigger. Blood sprayed, blooming from a large hole punched through Miller's chest. The captain took a half step back, eyes wide. Then he fell backwards, quite dead.
Fox felt her knee's go weak, knocking together. She lowered the ZX, feeling weak. The rifle slipped from her fingers and clattered to the ground. Her heart hammered in her chest as she looked at the first man she had ever killed. Cain slowly lowered his hands. Mike opened his left eye, looking around cautiously.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo we've done a thorough psych analysis on the fur...Fox├óÔé¼┬Ø the doctor said, rubbing her eyes with the backs of her thumbs, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd the only reason we could is that our service aren't needed as frequently on the Prometheus...and I really thought I'd get a break, not spending my time psychoanalyzing a sex toy├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike coughed, looking over the table at the Doctor.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø the doctor said, hastily moving on, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe found that we missed an embedded command sequence in the...Fox's mind. It stops her from doing lethal harm to human beings├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôThen...how could she fire the gun?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. He had wanted a complete after action report after finding out that Miller was the real terrorist. He hadn't, at the time, realized exactly how many meetings that would follow from a 'complete' after action report.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø The doctor shrugged, ├óÔé¼┼ôSeems to be a one time phenomena. With a bit more training she can break the command line...but its going to be hard├óÔé¼┬Ø
Cain sighed, leaning back in bed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI done good, didn't I?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Helena nodded, her arm still wrapped in a bandage.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt was stupid of you, though├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, ├óÔé¼┼ôTo go rushing off as soon as you found...what was his name?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDouglas, I think├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said.
├óÔé¼┼ôAs soon as you found Douglas was the one giving orders├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said, ├óÔé¼┼ôReally stupid├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Cain nodded, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut thats why you love me├óÔé¼┬Ø
The third in command of the terrorist organization sat behind a desk, frowning. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, sitting down, ├óÔé¼┼ôTell me...for the record...who gave you you're orders?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, whipping his brow, ├óÔé¼┼ôI...er...Jerry got the orders, man. Got it by a scrambled voice message, but they said that if they had this badge that we trust them├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike nodded, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo you got you're orders from this third source. Where did you get the guns from?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI already told you guys this!├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said, annoyed.
├óÔé¼┼ôtell me again├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike shouted, standing up, ├óÔé¼┼ôTell me again and you don't have to spend the rest of you're life eating through a straw!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man quailed, flinching at that, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe...we got our guns from Supple drops. Every time an order came through, it be backed up with guns. Mike grinned, leaning over the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...we're going to see if you deserve the death penalty for treason├óÔé¼┬Ø. He left the man staring after him, eyes wide.
Keller sighed, looking at the reports. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow could we miss this?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey had a very intricate chain of orders, Supple drops, and secret messages...everything needed for a secret terrorist organization├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, rubbing his eyes, ├óÔé¼┼ôAlso shouldn't you be getting this from captain Glickson, or General Cain?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Keller smiled, ├óÔé¼┼ôDobson...you've always been a rather interesting marine. First the Dantana incident, then you're handling of Eve, and now this whole thing...so I hope you can enjoy a few weeks of leave, Captain Dobson├óÔé¼┬Ø. He slid a new insignia across the desk to Mike.
Mike took the insignia, gaping like an idiot. ├óÔé¼┼ôEnjoy you're promotion, Dobson├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, standing and offering his hand. Mike took it.
Fox sat in her room, staring at the wall. She had killed someone. It felt like a kick to the chest, realizing that. The man she had shot would never move, never walk, never talk ever again. She would quit the marines. She couldn't do that, not to anyone ever again.
Fox was started out of her revere when her door bell rang. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey Fox...this is Mike. Want to go down to the bar?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Fox looked at the door, feeling a little less cold.
Shocking twists! Turns! Tricks! Sudden changes of fortune! Psycoanalaysis!
Fox crouched down and slid her backpack off. Demolitions covered a surprisingly large number of duties in one word. Carrying the com set was one. She slipped the com set out, still disturbed by her fingers unwillingness to pull the trigger.
├óÔé¼┼ôHQ, HQ this is...is Foxtrot team, I repeat, this is Foxtrot team├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said.
Static.
├óÔé¼┼ôThis is Foxtrot team├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, more urgently, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need medical evacuation!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Lee groaned as Mankowski tightened the bandage. Mike turned away and walked to Fox, who was beginning to look down right panicked. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats the matter?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, his voice hushed.
├óÔé¼┼ôWe're getting nothing but static on the set├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, ├óÔé¼┼ôSomeone one is jamming us├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike looked around at their position. They were at least two miles away from the exit, and add to that at least ten more miles of twisting, winding corridors, in the dead of night, with a wounded marine that probably wouldn't survive going a single mile... Mike's thoughts trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe can't more Lee in her condition...├óÔé¼┬Ø
Fox cut him off, placing her hand on his shoulder, claws digging slightly into his shirt. ├óÔé¼┼ôMike├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm getting a signal├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike grabbed the set.
├óÔé¼┼ôI bet you're feeling awfully alone out there, traitor├óÔé¼┬Ø a voice said, scrambled slightly to prevent him from being able to tell just who it was. But it still sounded naggingly familer. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow you're trapped...you and the freak in you're squad├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho are you?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, nasty memories of being trapped by Laurence rising in the back of his mind.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot that easy├óÔé¼┬Ø The voice said, ├óÔé¼┼ôSee I have connections, and I have the last bits of criminality, the ones that haven't dropped out of business...and those criminals really loved the military weapons that I've been leaking them├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike looked around, trying to see if he could spot the enemy surrounding them. He was sure they were being set up for a trap. He looked to the rest of his squad, and with a flurry of hand gestures, he warned Helena and Mankowski to set up a perimeter and defend the area. Fox went to join them, but Mike stopped her with a glance.
The voice had continued, oblivious to all this, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo now you're going to die. You and you're friends, and the freak. Then I'm going to take out the other traitors and make humanity pure again├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're not going to go down without a fight├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, but the line was staticy again. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, ├óÔé¼┼ôFox, you get this stowed. Helena, you and Mankowski see if you can get Lee into one of these...├óÔé¼┬Ø he looked at the dilapidated, abandoned makeshift huts that surrounded him, ├óÔé¼┼ôhouses├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox saw the first enemy. She brought her gun up, hissing a warning to Mike. Her trigger finger spasmed, but the gun didn't go off, her finger locked an eight of an inch from the trigger. Mike saw the man too and brought his gun up. Then the enemy, a civilian wielding a ZX-74 fired and Fox felt a bullet tear through her right ear. Mike fired and the enemy fell, blood spurting from a newly holed throat. Fox dropped her gun, hand going to her torn and bloody ear. ├óÔé¼┼ôOw!├óÔé¼┬Ø She hissed, her voice still softer then a normal human. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet under cover├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, handing her gun to her.
Helena dragged Lee into the hut, looking around the interior as she did so. IT was a standard four wall affair, and had a single table made from a old door with two uneven poles welded to the side. Helena grabbed her sniper rifle and jumped to the top of the table. She got to the wall and climbed her way onto the thin wall. She balanced there, barely, and propped her rifle up. She could see...fifty or so civilian's with guns running through the hallways around the buildings around theirs. They were all moving with a sense of purpose. But, Helena thought, anyone could look purposeful. She took aim and fired.
One of the enemies fell, a bullet planted directly in the center of mass. Every single other one of the men around that guy dropped, trying to find cover. Helena fired again and another person dropped.
├óÔé¼┼ôKeep dropping them├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, barring the door as he walked in. Fox was refusing to let anyone even bandage her ear, tearing her shirt and wrapping it about her head like a bandanna. Helena fired again and again, keeping the enemy down as best she could.
├óÔé¼┼ôL.T├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI...I can't shoot├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôIs something wrong with you're gun?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, confused.
├óÔé¼┼ôNo...Its...when I try to pull the trigger my finger just...stops├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, looking at the ground. Mike was silent for a bit, thinking. He sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôI have...I have no idea, Fox. Just stay back and look after Lee. Mankowski, get up here├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mankowski did so, hauling their heavy gun up to the door. Helena fired twice more. Then two ZX's cracked and a bullet bounced off the wall. The other slammed into her bicep, sending her rolling into the room. She landed on her back, stunned. ├óÔé¼┼ôShit├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, still checking his ZX, ├óÔé¼┼ôFox get her under cover!├óÔé¼┬Ø
Mankowski set up their HMG, shoving the barrel under the ill made door, which was uneven and had a large gap in the lower right corner. The enemies were advancing in very poor form, so Mankowski showed them the error of their way. The machine gun opened up and bullet poured into the enemy, leaving ten lying on the ground. The twenty survivors ran back, leaving their dead and dying comrades without looking back. Mike propped himself up on the table and poked his binoculars over the edge of the wall, looking through the slant view. ├óÔé¼┼ôThree of 'em are running├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôNice job with that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mankowski grinned, looking through the targeting retical on the MG. Two ZX's fired on full atou, peppering the door with bullets. Mankowski jerked back, wincing as a bullet bounced past him. The gun barrel was bent, a bullet gonging out a large chunk of it. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø He said, another bullet slamming into the door, ├óÔé¼┼ôI think we're a little outnumbered├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike looked around, chewing his lower lip. Helena winced as Fox tied a bandage tight around her wound. Then the door was kicked down. ├óÔé¼┼ôHANDS UP!├óÔé¼┬Ø Their point man shouted. The entire squad raised their hands.
Mike grunted as his captors bound his hands and hauled him outside. They threw him to his knees and went back in for Lee, Mankowski, Helena and finally Fox. The leader of their enemies, a rather tall man with a walruses mustache pointed out Lee and Helena. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet those women medical attention├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd put that man somewhere safe├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The three others got dragged, or in Mankowski's case, walked, away. That left Mike and Fox, surrounded by at least fifteen armed and very angry looking me. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Their leader said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're just going to have to wait for the boss├óÔé¼┬Ø.
A minute passed. Mike caught Fox's eye with his own and tired to extrude a sense of calm. Fox was looking just a little panicked, her nose flaring once every few seconds as she sniffed the air.
Another minute passed. The leader of the men surrounding the two marines was starting to look very worried.
Then a man shoved through the back of their group, shouting, ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry I'm late fellows├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The man burst out from between two of the men, pushing through them. Mike gaped.
├óÔé¼┼ôGot a bit tied up back at the Hannibal├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, brushing off his sleeve, ├óÔé¼┼ôJust a bit of trouble with the security check points├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The leader of the men coughed, looming over Cain's shoulder. Cain turned halfway around and pulled out a small badge. He flashed it at the man, who bowed slightly. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow that thats cleared up├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, turning to Mike and Fox.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're the terrorist?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked.
Cain smiled, ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't believe no one suspected me. I thought It was obvious, but...well...you guys are really gullible├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike looked at the sky, grinding his teeth. Fox's uninjured ear was flattened to the side of her head, teeth bared.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain's second in command said, ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat should we do with the freak and the traitor?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Cain's grin suddenly seemed very forced as he turned to the man. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe don't need all you're troops. Send the...living ones back home and tell them we've done a good job├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø The second in command said, gesturing to the others. They left, walking out with lots of resentful looks at Cain and the two marines. Once they were gone Cain clapped his second in command on the shoulder. Something glinted in his hand.
├óÔé¼┼ôGood job we did, huh?├óÔé¼┬Ø the second command said, turning his head to Cain. Then Cain pulled the trigger in the gun he had in his hand.
Blood splashed over his face as the second in command fell forward, a largish hole blown in the side of his head. Cain winced, sliding his pistol into his holster and whipping his face off with a handkerchief that he had brought with him. The gun had been silenced, so the entire affair was over with little more then a splashing sound and two thumps as the second in command fell forward.
Mike gaped as Cain undid the handcuffs on him. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry about the ruse boys├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut we finally managed to track down the terrorist├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôHow...a...what are...whats going on?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked.
Cain helped him to his feet and started undoing Fox's bindings. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, ├óÔé¼┼ôOnce we tracked down the terrorist...who it is will surprise the hell out of you, mind that├óÔé¼┬Ø. He helped Fox to her feet. Fox yelped and Cain jumped back, realizing he had trod on her tail.
├óÔé¼┼ôWho is the terrorist?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, ├óÔé¼┼ôWho's been trying to kill us?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Cain sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôIt was-├óÔé¼┬Ø he started. Then they all heard a click of a gun's firing pin being pulled back and Cain's back stiffened, feeling the all too familer feel of a gun being pressed into the back of his head.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt was me├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller said.
├óÔé¼┼ôOh son of a bitch├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, grinding his teeth.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou freaks├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller said, gesturing with his free hand to Fox and Mike, ├óÔé¼┼ôHands above you're heads├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller said, moving away from Cain and backing up so he could cover all three of them, ├óÔé¼┼ôTime to take out the trash├óÔé¼┬Ø.
He took aim at Mike.
Then Fox ducked down, picking one of the stolen ZX-74's from the ground, where it had fallen from the corpse of one of its users. She snapped the barrel to cover Miller's head. Miller aimed his gun at her, eyes narrowing.
Then Miller's gun moved to aim at Mike. ├óÔé¼┼ôShoot me...and I shoot him├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller said.
Fox's finger slid over the trigger, her tail twitching nervously. Her mind seemed locked, unable to complete the action. Her left eye darted to Mike's face, seeing his eyes screwed up in fear
├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not goin-├óÔé¼┬Ø Miller started.
Fox pulled the trigger. Blood sprayed, blooming from a large hole punched through Miller's chest. The captain took a half step back, eyes wide. Then he fell backwards, quite dead.
Fox felt her knee's go weak, knocking together. She lowered the ZX, feeling weak. The rifle slipped from her fingers and clattered to the ground. Her heart hammered in her chest as she looked at the first man she had ever killed. Cain slowly lowered his hands. Mike opened his left eye, looking around cautiously.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo we've done a thorough psych analysis on the fur...Fox├óÔé¼┬Ø the doctor said, rubbing her eyes with the backs of her thumbs, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd the only reason we could is that our service aren't needed as frequently on the Prometheus...and I really thought I'd get a break, not spending my time psychoanalyzing a sex toy├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike coughed, looking over the table at the Doctor.
├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø the doctor said, hastily moving on, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe found that we missed an embedded command sequence in the...Fox's mind. It stops her from doing lethal harm to human beings├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôThen...how could she fire the gun?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. He had wanted a complete after action report after finding out that Miller was the real terrorist. He hadn't, at the time, realized exactly how many meetings that would follow from a 'complete' after action report.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø The doctor shrugged, ├óÔé¼┼ôSeems to be a one time phenomena. With a bit more training she can break the command line...but its going to be hard├óÔé¼┬Ø
Cain sighed, leaning back in bed. ├óÔé¼┼ôI done good, didn't I?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. Helena nodded, her arm still wrapped in a bandage.
├óÔé¼┼ôIt was stupid of you, though├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, ├óÔé¼┼ôTo go rushing off as soon as you found...what was his name?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôDouglas, I think├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said.
├óÔé¼┼ôAs soon as you found Douglas was the one giving orders├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said, ├óÔé¼┼ôReally stupid├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Cain nodded, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut thats why you love me├óÔé¼┬Ø
The third in command of the terrorist organization sat behind a desk, frowning. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, sitting down, ├óÔé¼┼ôTell me...for the record...who gave you you're orders?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, whipping his brow, ├óÔé¼┼ôI...er...Jerry got the orders, man. Got it by a scrambled voice message, but they said that if they had this badge that we trust them├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike nodded, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo you got you're orders from this third source. Where did you get the guns from?├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI already told you guys this!├óÔé¼┬Ø The man said, annoyed.
├óÔé¼┼ôtell me again├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike shouted, standing up, ├óÔé¼┼ôTell me again and you don't have to spend the rest of you're life eating through a straw!├óÔé¼┬Ø
The man quailed, flinching at that, ├óÔé¼┼ôWe...we got our guns from Supple drops. Every time an order came through, it be backed up with guns. Mike grinned, leaning over the table. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...we're going to see if you deserve the death penalty for treason├óÔé¼┬Ø. He left the man staring after him, eyes wide.
Keller sighed, looking at the reports. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow could we miss this?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôThey had a very intricate chain of orders, Supple drops, and secret messages...everything needed for a secret terrorist organization├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, rubbing his eyes, ├óÔé¼┼ôAlso shouldn't you be getting this from captain Glickson, or General Cain?├óÔé¼┬Ø
Keller smiled, ├óÔé¼┼ôDobson...you've always been a rather interesting marine. First the Dantana incident, then you're handling of Eve, and now this whole thing...so I hope you can enjoy a few weeks of leave, Captain Dobson├óÔé¼┬Ø. He slid a new insignia across the desk to Mike.
Mike took the insignia, gaping like an idiot. ├óÔé¼┼ôEnjoy you're promotion, Dobson├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, standing and offering his hand. Mike took it.
Fox sat in her room, staring at the wall. She had killed someone. It felt like a kick to the chest, realizing that. The man she had shot would never move, never walk, never talk ever again. She would quit the marines. She couldn't do that, not to anyone ever again.
Fox was started out of her revere when her door bell rang. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey Fox...this is Mike. Want to go down to the bar?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Fox looked at the door, feeling a little less cold.
Behold! THINGS ARE HAPPENING!
Mike played with his cup, slowly spinning it in his fingers. The bar had a first time event, two women who had brought their saxophones with them on the Prometheus had had held onto them through hell and high water. The two musicians, who called themselves ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Banshee Duo├óÔé¼┬Ø, played a slow, almost beautiful melody. After...about a year and a half of not hearing music, Mike found himself quite taken with it.
Fox sat next to him, sipping her water, her mangled ear still bound in a bandanna. ├óÔé¼┼ôNice tune├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, her voice soft. The crowd around them all faced the duo, most standing as they played. It was a slow rhythm, one to dance too. No one was dancing.
Mike sighed, slowly, ├óÔé¼┼ôAlien invasions, terrorists, betrayals, bombings, criminals...god like beings and the end of life as we know it. Hell of a year├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox raised her cup, the corner of her elongated mouth twitching upwards, ├óÔé¼┼ôHell of a life├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAll four years of it├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour only four?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, incredulous.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...the rest of it was in a tube├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox sighed, looking down. The song ended and the crowd started to applaud, cheering. The lead singer stepped forward and grabbed her mic, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...this next number is for a big hero of us two...you might have heard of her├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman paused dramatically, ├óÔé¼┼ôElizabeth Montoya├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike's hand spasmed on the cup, almost breaking it. The song started, a slightly more cheerful tune then the last one. Fox saw Mike's jaw knotted and she felt the burning need to do something about it. ├óÔé¼┼ôI never met her├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, looking at her cup.
├óÔé¼┼ôShame├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. Then he set his cup down and turned to Fox. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have three weeks of leave. Want to...├óÔé¼┬Ø
He trailed off, seeing Fox's expression. ├óÔé¼┼ôNever mind├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said turning back to his drink. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no!├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just I don't have leave├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike blinked, then shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI just got promoted...so I have clearance to give you leave├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...okay├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, softly, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I'm not sure if I want to be in the marines any more...I don't know if I CAN be in the marines anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou know...no one is going to think less of you because you have psych programming├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said.
Fox was about to say something. Then the bartender walked up to them and leaned over. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry mam├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I think you need to leave├óÔé¼┬Ø .
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat? Why!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, before Fox could even open her mouth.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want an incident in my bar├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender said, ├óÔé¼┼ôTheres a bit of a unkind feeling towards...her kind├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôMy kind?├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox asked, piping up before Mike could say anything, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm the only furry on the ship├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot the only genehack├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I don't want any dama-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, you're just a fucking bigot├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, standing up. The bartender's eyes narrowed, but she kept her tong. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on Fox...we don't need this place├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. Fox stood, tail twitching nervously.
Then.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey...YOU!├óÔé¼┬Ø The lead player of the Duo said, pointing at Mike. Mike turned around. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...yeah you!├óÔé¼┬Ø The player said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBring you're girlfriend up too├óÔé¼┬Ø
Fox's unmangled ear flattened to the side of her ear. Mike actually started to blush, but he did what the lead player said.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The lead player said, ├óÔé¼┼ôthis is captain Dobson...we've all heard of him right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was a general sound of assent from the crowd. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe knew Montoya, he brought her daughter back from Dantana, he's fought terrorists, Soots, and worse├óÔé¼┬Ø the lead player continued, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd he gets the honor...of being our first dance├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôO...Our what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôCome on├óÔé¼┬Ø The lead player said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou put you're hand on this fine woman's hip, and-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI know how to dance├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike hissed, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just...we don't have enough room├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah we do├óÔé¼┬Ø The lead singer rose her voice to a louder pitch, ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone push back...unless you want to dance. Now you two, get ready├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox was looking completely flummoxed, but Mike still took her hands and moved closer. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust follow my lead├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd...relax. No one expects either of us to do any good├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight, Jelly├óÔé¼┬Ø the Lead player said, turning to her partner, ├óÔé¼┼ôSing Sing Sing, on a one, two, three, four!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
They started to play a jovial piece, a fast paced one that made Mike have to jump too, his body barely remembering the last time he started to dance. He and Fox did the best they could, not quite keeping in time. Other couples joined in, starting to dance. It was a strange group of people, ranging from man/women partnerships, to man/man, women/women, some people dancing by themselves, but Fox and Mike were at the center of the dance.
The two saxophones couldn't keep up the piece, so the computer was called into effect, backing them up with a recording of the same song, atou-adjusting the tempo to match the two real saxophones.
Mike spun Fox around with his hand, her tail slapping against them. They fell out of tempo, unable to continue, laughing as they did so. They moved back to the bar, smiling. The bartender was frowning at them, but it was slightly less sever. Mike couldn't care less. Fox watched the two saxophonists, both of their face's beat red from the playing, grinning from ear to ear.
The bartender managed to keep the frown up for three more minuets, looking at the couple. Then the frown faded from her face and she sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, walking down the bar to two women who needed refills on their cups, ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose thats that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Cain rubbed his temples, looking at the data slate. He had been put in charge, for some reason, of selecting the person who would do the best job at running the Prometheus. In the end he had found...no one suitable enough. When he had told Keller, the captain had mulled this information over in his mind for a few moments then had said ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...why don't you do it?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain had been to surprised to say anything else, and so...volia.
Now he was sitting at Miller's desk, running through the data the prior commander had been using. Currently he had found the crime records. Something strange was being said, not in the frequency, which Cain already knew about. Rather it was the pattern. He scrolled back on the time table, resetting the crime map. Then he typed in some command changes, so that less crime was signified by a blue tinge to the map. Cain pressed the 'play forward' button and the screen started to play the information forward.
A blue circle began to expand from a central point, expanding and filling the entire ship over a few weeks. Cain played the time back again and played it again. Then again. Cain almost slumped over his desk, seeing the center point of this 'un-crime'. It was Eve's house. Cain stood up, picking up a hat as he did so. He walked down the center of the Prometheus, the crew carefully avoiding his eyes as he walked past them. He got to one of the cargo elevators that brought crew and supplies to and from the cargo hold. Then he started to walk through the city, nodding at people as they watched him. Stories about Miller had percolated through the community, rising Cain to 'hero' levels.
Eve looked up as a knock sounded. She had been washing every dish and wall in the house, two of them with her actual hands, the rest with her mind. She brought the other scrubbers that surrounded the area to levitate around her head, then set them down. Then she opened the door with a quick jerk of her mind. Cain walked into the room, holding his hat with his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...mam├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI have some questions├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve stared at the data slate, not quite sure what to say. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...uh├óÔé¼┬Ø she started. Then a sudden flare of silvery white light burst from her skin, shining despite the sun lamps. Eve looked at her hands, gasping as electrical energy crackled down her spine. Cain stood up in his chair, stepping backwards. The table started to crumple, crushed by an invisible force. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain shouted.
Eve closed her eyes, trying to reign in her power. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...can't....I can't control it!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
She collapsed to one knee, her power reaching out to do...something. ├óÔé¼┼ôRUN!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. Cain backed out of the room. Then he shouted to the people around the house ├óÔé¼┼ôEvacuate the area....everyone evacuate the area!├óÔé¼┬Ø
People stared at him. Cain pulled his pistol out and fired it into the air. ├óÔé¼┼ôEvacuate the god damned area!├óÔé¼┬Ø. People started to run, mostly away from his gun then anything else.
Eve looked at her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you want?├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped, feeling another surge of energy. But the Other was gone...she had been gone, completely and utterly, for the last month and a half. This was something different.
Cain looked around, not wanting to follow his own advice. A weird, crackling energy was surrounding the house. Then a woman was standing behind him, looking on. ├óÔé¼┼ôI said, Evac...uate...├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain snapped, then trailing off as he turned around.
Michelle looked at Eve's house. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts begging├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat...what are you doing here!├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain gulped, backing slowly away from her.
├óÔé¼┼ôI came...I suppose for nostalgia purposes├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think Eve can pretend anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike played with his cup, slowly spinning it in his fingers. The bar had a first time event, two women who had brought their saxophones with them on the Prometheus had had held onto them through hell and high water. The two musicians, who called themselves ├óÔé¼┼ôThe Banshee Duo├óÔé¼┬Ø, played a slow, almost beautiful melody. After...about a year and a half of not hearing music, Mike found himself quite taken with it.
Fox sat next to him, sipping her water, her mangled ear still bound in a bandanna. ├óÔé¼┼ôNice tune├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, her voice soft. The crowd around them all faced the duo, most standing as they played. It was a slow rhythm, one to dance too. No one was dancing.
Mike sighed, slowly, ├óÔé¼┼ôAlien invasions, terrorists, betrayals, bombings, criminals...god like beings and the end of life as we know it. Hell of a year├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox raised her cup, the corner of her elongated mouth twitching upwards, ├óÔé¼┼ôHell of a life├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAll four years of it├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYour only four?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked, incredulous.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell...the rest of it was in a tube├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox sighed, looking down. The song ended and the crowd started to applaud, cheering. The lead singer stepped forward and grabbed her mic, ├óÔé¼┼ôSo...this next number is for a big hero of us two...you might have heard of her├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman paused dramatically, ├óÔé¼┼ôElizabeth Montoya├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike's hand spasmed on the cup, almost breaking it. The song started, a slightly more cheerful tune then the last one. Fox saw Mike's jaw knotted and she felt the burning need to do something about it. ├óÔé¼┼ôI never met her├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, looking at her cup.
├óÔé¼┼ôShame├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. Then he set his cup down and turned to Fox. ├óÔé¼┼ôI have three weeks of leave. Want to...├óÔé¼┬Ø
He trailed off, seeing Fox's expression. ├óÔé¼┼ôNever mind├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said turning back to his drink. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo...no!├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox said, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just I don't have leave├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike blinked, then shook his head. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI just got promoted...so I have clearance to give you leave├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox sighed, ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...okay├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, softly, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I'm not sure if I want to be in the marines any more...I don't know if I CAN be in the marines anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYou know...no one is going to think less of you because you have psych programming├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said.
Fox was about to say something. Then the bartender walked up to them and leaned over. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sorry mam├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I think you need to leave├óÔé¼┬Ø .
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat? Why!├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, before Fox could even open her mouth.
├óÔé¼┼ôI don't want an incident in my bar├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender said, ├óÔé¼┼ôTheres a bit of a unkind feeling towards...her kind├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôMy kind?├óÔé¼┬Ø Fox asked, piping up before Mike could say anything, ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm the only furry on the ship├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôNot the only genehack├óÔé¼┬Ø the bartender said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I don't want any dama-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôNo, you're just a fucking bigot├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, standing up. The bartender's eyes narrowed, but she kept her tong. ├óÔé¼┼ôCome on Fox...we don't need this place├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. Fox stood, tail twitching nervously.
Then.
├óÔé¼┼ôHey...YOU!├óÔé¼┬Ø The lead player of the Duo said, pointing at Mike. Mike turned around. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah...yeah you!├óÔé¼┬Ø The player said, ├óÔé¼┼ôBring you're girlfriend up too├óÔé¼┬Ø
Fox's unmangled ear flattened to the side of her ear. Mike actually started to blush, but he did what the lead player said.
├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø The lead player said, ├óÔé¼┼ôthis is captain Dobson...we've all heard of him right?├óÔé¼┬Ø. There was a general sound of assent from the crowd. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe knew Montoya, he brought her daughter back from Dantana, he's fought terrorists, Soots, and worse├óÔé¼┬Ø the lead player continued, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd he gets the honor...of being our first dance├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôO...Our what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked.
├óÔé¼┼ôCome on├óÔé¼┬Ø The lead player said, ├óÔé¼┼ôYou put you're hand on this fine woman's hip, and-├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôI know how to dance├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike hissed, ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just...we don't have enough room├óÔé¼┬Ø
├óÔé¼┼ôYeah we do├óÔé¼┬Ø The lead singer rose her voice to a louder pitch, ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone push back...unless you want to dance. Now you two, get ready├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Fox was looking completely flummoxed, but Mike still took her hands and moved closer. ├óÔé¼┼ôJust follow my lead├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd...relax. No one expects either of us to do any good├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôRight, Jelly├óÔé¼┬Ø the Lead player said, turning to her partner, ├óÔé¼┼ôSing Sing Sing, on a one, two, three, four!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
They started to play a jovial piece, a fast paced one that made Mike have to jump too, his body barely remembering the last time he started to dance. He and Fox did the best they could, not quite keeping in time. Other couples joined in, starting to dance. It was a strange group of people, ranging from man/women partnerships, to man/man, women/women, some people dancing by themselves, but Fox and Mike were at the center of the dance.
The two saxophones couldn't keep up the piece, so the computer was called into effect, backing them up with a recording of the same song, atou-adjusting the tempo to match the two real saxophones.
Mike spun Fox around with his hand, her tail slapping against them. They fell out of tempo, unable to continue, laughing as they did so. They moved back to the bar, smiling. The bartender was frowning at them, but it was slightly less sever. Mike couldn't care less. Fox watched the two saxophonists, both of their face's beat red from the playing, grinning from ear to ear.
The bartender managed to keep the frown up for three more minuets, looking at the couple. Then the frown faded from her face and she sighed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, walking down the bar to two women who needed refills on their cups, ├óÔé¼┼ôI suppose thats that├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Cain rubbed his temples, looking at the data slate. He had been put in charge, for some reason, of selecting the person who would do the best job at running the Prometheus. In the end he had found...no one suitable enough. When he had told Keller, the captain had mulled this information over in his mind for a few moments then had said ├óÔé¼┼ôWell...why don't you do it?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain had been to surprised to say anything else, and so...volia.
Now he was sitting at Miller's desk, running through the data the prior commander had been using. Currently he had found the crime records. Something strange was being said, not in the frequency, which Cain already knew about. Rather it was the pattern. He scrolled back on the time table, resetting the crime map. Then he typed in some command changes, so that less crime was signified by a blue tinge to the map. Cain pressed the 'play forward' button and the screen started to play the information forward.
A blue circle began to expand from a central point, expanding and filling the entire ship over a few weeks. Cain played the time back again and played it again. Then again. Cain almost slumped over his desk, seeing the center point of this 'un-crime'. It was Eve's house. Cain stood up, picking up a hat as he did so. He walked down the center of the Prometheus, the crew carefully avoiding his eyes as he walked past them. He got to one of the cargo elevators that brought crew and supplies to and from the cargo hold. Then he started to walk through the city, nodding at people as they watched him. Stories about Miller had percolated through the community, rising Cain to 'hero' levels.
Eve looked up as a knock sounded. She had been washing every dish and wall in the house, two of them with her actual hands, the rest with her mind. She brought the other scrubbers that surrounded the area to levitate around her head, then set them down. Then she opened the door with a quick jerk of her mind. Cain walked into the room, holding his hat with his hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh...mam├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI have some questions├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Eve stared at the data slate, not quite sure what to say. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...uh├óÔé¼┬Ø she started. Then a sudden flare of silvery white light burst from her skin, shining despite the sun lamps. Eve looked at her hands, gasping as electrical energy crackled down her spine. Cain stood up in his chair, stepping backwards. The table started to crumple, crushed by an invisible force. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats going on!├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain shouted.
Eve closed her eyes, trying to reign in her power. ├óÔé¼┼ôI...can't....I can't control it!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
She collapsed to one knee, her power reaching out to do...something. ├óÔé¼┼ôRUN!├óÔé¼┬Ø she shouted. Cain backed out of the room. Then he shouted to the people around the house ├óÔé¼┼ôEvacuate the area....everyone evacuate the area!├óÔé¼┬Ø
People stared at him. Cain pulled his pistol out and fired it into the air. ├óÔé¼┼ôEvacuate the god damned area!├óÔé¼┬Ø. People started to run, mostly away from his gun then anything else.
Eve looked at her hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do you want?├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped, feeling another surge of energy. But the Other was gone...she had been gone, completely and utterly, for the last month and a half. This was something different.
Cain looked around, not wanting to follow his own advice. A weird, crackling energy was surrounding the house. Then a woman was standing behind him, looking on. ├óÔé¼┼ôI said, Evac...uate...├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain snapped, then trailing off as he turned around.
Michelle looked at Eve's house. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts begging├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat...what are you doing here!├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain gulped, backing slowly away from her.
├óÔé¼┼ôI came...I suppose for nostalgia purposes├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think Eve can pretend anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø.