Darkside: Extinction
Moderator: Moderators
More is better? That is true!
Here is more! Cold, crawling hands and such.
Sarris wanted to keep her eyelids closed, she really did. But then the doctors gloved fingers pried her left eyelid open and shone a very very bright light into it. She groaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh good├óÔé¼┬Ø The doctor said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. He moved to the next patient. Sarris wanted to fall back asleep, or unconscious or whatever she had been before then. But then the screams reached her ears. She sat up, very slowly and looked around. She wasn't on the Hannibal, that was for sure. The medical symbol on the wall was overlaid on with a sword. Sarris groaned. She must have been captured. Then she reality of the screams hit her. There were far too many. The fact that they were there at all was shocking. Didn't anesthetic mean anything to these people.
Sarris cracked her eyes open again and looked around. The medical bay was over flowing, even to the extent gurneys were parked in closets. Each person was missing either an arm, a leg or two of both. Each of the patients had some kind of cauterization, but the pain...the pain must have been incredible. The anesthetic. Where was the anesthetic? Sarris looked around and realized she was the only non-dismembered person in the hold. What was going on? Only...explosives or artillery barrages took of limbs like this. What was going on back at the ship?
Helena sat in the center of the raider shuttle and hunched her shoulders. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've set up a solid com line├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, sitting down ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll be sending you back any second now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo offense but this shuttle is damn cold├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNone taken├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain muttered, sticking a cigarette in between his lips and lighting it up. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we can get this network back together then we can go back to killing each other├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHeres to that├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena smiled wry. She liked Cain. He seemed to have his head screwed on right. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôWant to talk to you're commander. He seems to have an urgent message for you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôStrange...├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena muttered. Cain got up and started to puff on his cigarette.
Helena walked to the com station in the shuttle and turned on the screen. Keller looked back at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôSergent├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was wondering if you could mind staying there├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI..uh...what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena blanched. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe crew over here thinks we should have a personal representative. And because we need to conserve all energy for the suits who are going to be working on getting power back on├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena nodded dumbly ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you also outrank Drew├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller pointed out. Helena looked over her shoulder. Cain finished his cigarette and stubbed it on the wall of the shuttle. Helena looked back at the monitor and nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd make sure they don't try anything...funny├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. Helena nodded again. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf they do├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôShoot to kill├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The exoskeleton crews got to work on the bits and parts of the ship. It was hard work, and clumsy with the exoskeletons on. The exoskeletons were fine with the guns and grenades and land mines that they normally worked with. Small vials, smaller tools and smaller bits and pieces. The fingers of the exoskeletons were just...not suited to it. Three men worked so hard that they didn't look at their batteries often enough. They ran dry and froze to death as they tried to struggled to move in suits that had suddenly became huge burden's rather then freeing movers. From then on Keller started rotating squads, as best he could. But it was hard, seeing as how they could barely keep in contact. The radio's were running out or breaking in any number of ways.
Then Eve volunteered. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked, looking at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't have any experience with-├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThree things├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, raising her fingers and counting the reasons off. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't need an exoskeleton. I can't freeze to death├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded, accepting that point. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. The pen on his desk levitated ├óÔé¼┼ôI can manipulate things without needing to reach them, or even see them├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded, accepting a point. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd three├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. Her hand fell on the desk and started to crawl around. Keller gaped at the hand. It stopped crawling, and...looked at him as best a hand could. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can do this├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, grinning all too much like a kid showing her new toy to her father.
So Eve started to work. She dashed down the corridor, breath steaming. She got to the latest spot she had been assigned too. Three men in exoskeletons stood there. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, feeling slightly chilly. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're late├óÔé¼┬Ø one of the men said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats the problem here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to set the tube in there to natch forty three├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, pointing. Eve looked at it. She felt the tube and the dial she needed to adjust with her mind. She fixed it. ├óÔé¼┼ôDone├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, sounding incredulous ├óÔé¼┼ôIt should take at least fifteen minuets to get the thing off├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then his partner turned on the scanner and ran it over the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts tuned perfectly├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe just need to readjust three more valves and we can have power for half the ship!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôGreat├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôCan we hurry up a bit?├óÔé¼┬Ø. She rubbed her arms ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a bit chilly├óÔé¼┬Ø. One of the men snorted. She snapped of a salute and ran down the hall to her next spot. The other men looked at each other ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø one of them said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs she the superwoman we've all been hearing about?├óÔé¼┬Ø. His partners laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I don't think so├óÔé¼┬Ø the man who had snapped at Eve said. They all turned to their work. Eve got to her next spot. Two raiders and a single marine were already hauling the wall partly off. Eve stopped them and fixed the problem in a few seconds, concentrated on the bit of machinery that was broken.
Then the lights came back on. The marine whooped, and the raiders cheered. Eve grinned, looking at the lights. Then the entire ship went dark again. The whooping and cheering faded. Then then, half way across the ship, a marine swore. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôKnocked the wire├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFix it!├óÔé¼┬Ø his partner snapped. The marine turned the wire back. But he forgot to slip his rubber tips back onto his finger tips and electricity shot through his glove. He jerked his hand off and swore loudly. He picked up his rubber tips and slipped them on his finger tips. Then he placed the wire back into its right spot. Then, halfway across the ship, Eve saw the lights come back on. ├óÔé¼┼ôSweet!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, grinning.
The cheers held back this time, no one wanting to suffer false hope again. But this time the lights held. The didn't flicker, they didn't waver. They held. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø Douglas said, looking at the celling fixture ├óÔé¼┼ôThat the lights are on for real this time├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think you're right├óÔé¼┬Ø Lee said ├óÔé¼┼ôDouglas, put you're hand on my bum├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Douglas asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Lee said, still staring at the lights. Douglas nodded. Then the room started to get...warm. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe heaters├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe heaters!├óÔé¼┬Ø Douglas stood up. Lee stood next to him ├óÔé¼┼ôThe heaters is right├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Douglas felt an arm snake around his waist. He looked at Lee, who was beaming at him. Douglas sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't get out of this time, can I?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lee said, grabbing him even closer.
The marine next to Eve checked his temperature. Then he cracked his helmet. He breathed the air and breathed out. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts freezing├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut at least the atmosphere isn't slicking up the floor anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø. He was joking, as it had never gotten that cold. But it was still damn cold. The raiders cracked their helmets. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø one of them said, pulling out a packet of cigarettes ├óÔé¼┼ôWant a smoke, or should we start shooting each other again?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm for a smoke├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, pulling a cigarette out of his finger and sticking it in her lips. She concentrated on the stub, witch burst into flames. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa├óÔé¼┬Ø The raider with the cigarette said.
Eve blew out the end and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThat always happens├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you warm this place up a bit?├óÔé¼┬Ø the other asked. Eve concentrated, trying to heat the place up. Then, to her surprise, the entire place felt warmer. ├óÔé¼┼ôHot damn├óÔé¼┬Ø The raider said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do I have to do to get you on my side?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The marine coughed loudly ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's ours├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Eve frowned at him ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey need me somewhere else├óÔé¼┬Ø she turned around and left. She wasn't petty enough to suck the heat out of the area as she left. The marine and raiders looked after her. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow look what you've gone and done!├óÔé¼┬Ø the raider without the cigarette said, slapping the other raider on the back ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've gone and chased off the best looking dame I've seen for five damn years!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike was given the honors of opening the door. He felt a little exited, standing there. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd now├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe dawn breaks├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike smiled and pressed the button. The door didn't open. Mike frowned. He pressed the button again. The door, slowly and ponderously opened. Ice crystales fell from the crack between the door and hit the ground. Cold air rushed into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts going to take a day, at least, to get back to full temperatures. Longer if we don't want to strain the heaters├óÔé¼┬Ø a technician said. No one seemed to care. Mike gestured out of the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, stepping in front of Keller and walking out.
The crew started to filter through the ship, all of the still wearing their heavy clothes. People started to work on getting the network on line. After a few hours they got it. The computer was working again, and the entire ship started to work again. It was slow, and it still felt cold, but a peace seemed to hold. Then Cain received his orders. ├óÔé¼┼ôCain├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, her face clear on the screen ├óÔé¼┼ôI want you to take you're gun and shoot Capitan Keller in the head├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn fact, have you're Raiders shoot everyone they can├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd use the special weapons that we have to capture Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou want me to shoot...to shoot allies├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are not allies├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe agreed on a truce├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're allies until we break the truce├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Michelle sighed, not quite sure what he didn't find clear. It was quite simple, to her at least. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou break the truce when you splatter Keller's brains over his bridge├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Cain shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...thats against the-├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, but Michelle cut him off ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just another sneak attack├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust like the one we pulled a few days ago├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain grinned, looking down ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't agree with that one either├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIn fact I remember threatening to resign├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle looked down at her desk and brought up the records. Yes Cain had threated to resign over some of their tactics. Then he request had been dropped a few hours later.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou dropped you're request├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThats a good question he said. It was something to do with the story you fed us about the minors being used in combat├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle's smile froze on her face. Did Cain figure it out. ├óÔé¼┼ôSeventeen would be a minor. Nineteen...would not├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou said they were using a minor in combat, and yet Eve by all counts is a nineteen year old├óÔé¼┬Ø he was still grinning. Michelle turned off the monitor, frowning. Cain grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you so happy like?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked, looking at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go now├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can talk to you're leader by pushing a button. I don't really need you around here├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Helena shrugged ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust tell me...what are you so happy about?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just wanted to shove it to that bitch for...twenty years now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're Capitan?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a tweaked one she is├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôSee you around Cain├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, not bothering to tack on the General honorific. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee you around Sargent├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, turning back to his screen. Helena stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôCain├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, turning around ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you need a new job, drop me a line├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't see that happening├óÔé¼┬Ø He said.
Hicks was tired, cold and hungry. But all of those thoughts melted like butter when he saw Eve. She was walking down the corridor, carrying a pile of data slates. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve?├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. Eve looked over the data slates. Then she saw Hicks. She threw the slates over her shoulder, where they hung in the air as if through some magic trick. Then she jumped onto Hicks, legs wrapping around his pelvis. She missed with her mouth, hitting his nose. Then she got it again. Hicks didn't even need to hold her legs with his hands, as Eve seemed to be able to hold herself up without touching the floor. The data slates continued to hang there.
├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said as he broke away, trying to breath. Eve grinned at him, hands on the side of his head, running through his hair. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you miss me├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI missed you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve smiled and said ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you want to kip off for a bit?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks was tempted, for sure. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've got to do some things first├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said ├óÔé¼┼ôThen I will have time for more then just a kip├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve grinned, unhooking her feet. She floated to the floor ├óÔé¼┼ôI've got a few tricks I've learned├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, still hugging him closely. Her hand drummed a rhythm on his back. Hicks smiled. Then the fingers changed their position, moving down to the small of his back.
But Eve hadn't moved. The fingers moved up to his other shoulder. Hicks looked at the shoulder in question. A detached hand danced on his shoulder. He looked at Eve, who smiled sweetly. ├óÔé¼┼ôA bit of a kip├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, a bit dazed ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve kissed him again. Her hand moved over the back of his neck and attached itself to her wrist. Then she broke up and said ├óÔé¼┼ôTo work. The faster we work the sooner we can fu-├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks cut her off with a kiss. Eve stepped away and started to pluck her data slates from the air. Hicks tried to not think about what it was like to have a girlfriend who could kill him with an idle thought.
Jorge looked at the screen. He was getting a call. Normally Cain, the glory hogging bastard, got the calls. Jorge smiled. Michelle smiled back ├óÔé¼┼ôBut first capture Eve. Do that before anything else. She can tip the balance├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jorge snapped of a salute and nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYes mam. What about Cain?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is a fine General├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôbut his...ethics are getting in the way. Tell him that he has been...demoted├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jorge smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd how should I go about telling him this?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe barrel of a gun would be a good way to start a conversation├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said.
Here is more! Cold, crawling hands and such.
Sarris wanted to keep her eyelids closed, she really did. But then the doctors gloved fingers pried her left eyelid open and shone a very very bright light into it. She groaned. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh good├óÔé¼┬Ø The doctor said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're alive├óÔé¼┬Ø. He moved to the next patient. Sarris wanted to fall back asleep, or unconscious or whatever she had been before then. But then the screams reached her ears. She sat up, very slowly and looked around. She wasn't on the Hannibal, that was for sure. The medical symbol on the wall was overlaid on with a sword. Sarris groaned. She must have been captured. Then she reality of the screams hit her. There were far too many. The fact that they were there at all was shocking. Didn't anesthetic mean anything to these people.
Sarris cracked her eyes open again and looked around. The medical bay was over flowing, even to the extent gurneys were parked in closets. Each person was missing either an arm, a leg or two of both. Each of the patients had some kind of cauterization, but the pain...the pain must have been incredible. The anesthetic. Where was the anesthetic? Sarris looked around and realized she was the only non-dismembered person in the hold. What was going on? Only...explosives or artillery barrages took of limbs like this. What was going on back at the ship?
Helena sat in the center of the raider shuttle and hunched her shoulders. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe've set up a solid com line├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, sitting down ├óÔé¼┼ôWe'll be sending you back any second now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said ├óÔé¼┼ôNo offense but this shuttle is damn cold├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNone taken├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain muttered, sticking a cigarette in between his lips and lighting it up. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôIf we can get this network back together then we can go back to killing each other├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHeres to that├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena smiled wry. She liked Cain. He seemed to have his head screwed on right. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôWant to talk to you're commander. He seems to have an urgent message for you├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôStrange...├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena muttered. Cain got up and started to puff on his cigarette.
Helena walked to the com station in the shuttle and turned on the screen. Keller looked back at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôSergent├óÔé¼┬Ø He said ├óÔé¼┼ôI was wondering if you could mind staying there├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI..uh...what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena blanched. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe crew over here thinks we should have a personal representative. And because we need to conserve all energy for the suits who are going to be working on getting power back on├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena nodded dumbly ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you also outrank Drew├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller pointed out. Helena looked over her shoulder. Cain finished his cigarette and stubbed it on the wall of the shuttle. Helena looked back at the monitor and nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYes sir├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd make sure they don't try anything...funny├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said. Helena nodded again. ├óÔé¼┼ôIf they do├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôShoot to kill├óÔé¼┬Ø.
The exoskeleton crews got to work on the bits and parts of the ship. It was hard work, and clumsy with the exoskeletons on. The exoskeletons were fine with the guns and grenades and land mines that they normally worked with. Small vials, smaller tools and smaller bits and pieces. The fingers of the exoskeletons were just...not suited to it. Three men worked so hard that they didn't look at their batteries often enough. They ran dry and froze to death as they tried to struggled to move in suits that had suddenly became huge burden's rather then freeing movers. From then on Keller started rotating squads, as best he could. But it was hard, seeing as how they could barely keep in contact. The radio's were running out or breaking in any number of ways.
Then Eve volunteered. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked, looking at her ├óÔé¼┼ôYou don't have any experience with-├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThree things├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, raising her fingers and counting the reasons off. ├óÔé¼┼ôFirst├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't need an exoskeleton. I can't freeze to death├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded, accepting that point. ├óÔé¼┼ôTwo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. The pen on his desk levitated ├óÔé¼┼ôI can manipulate things without needing to reach them, or even see them├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded, accepting a point. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd three├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. Her hand fell on the desk and started to crawl around. Keller gaped at the hand. It stopped crawling, and...looked at him as best a hand could. ├óÔé¼┼ôI can do this├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, grinning all too much like a kid showing her new toy to her father.
So Eve started to work. She dashed down the corridor, breath steaming. She got to the latest spot she had been assigned too. Three men in exoskeletons stood there. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, feeling slightly chilly. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're late├óÔé¼┬Ø one of the men said. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats the problem here?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe need to set the tube in there to natch forty three├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, pointing. Eve looked at it. She felt the tube and the dial she needed to adjust with her mind. She fixed it. ├óÔé¼┼ôDone├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø the man said, sounding incredulous ├óÔé¼┼ôIt should take at least fifteen minuets to get the thing off├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then his partner turned on the scanner and ran it over the wall. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts tuned perfectly├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe just need to readjust three more valves and we can have power for half the ship!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôGreat├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôCan we hurry up a bit?├óÔé¼┬Ø. She rubbed her arms ├óÔé¼┼ôIts a bit chilly├óÔé¼┬Ø. One of the men snorted. She snapped of a salute and ran down the hall to her next spot. The other men looked at each other ├óÔé¼┼ôHuh├óÔé¼┬Ø one of them said ├óÔé¼┼ôIs she the superwoman we've all been hearing about?├óÔé¼┬Ø. His partners laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôNo, I don't think so├óÔé¼┬Ø the man who had snapped at Eve said. They all turned to their work. Eve got to her next spot. Two raiders and a single marine were already hauling the wall partly off. Eve stopped them and fixed the problem in a few seconds, concentrated on the bit of machinery that was broken.
Then the lights came back on. The marine whooped, and the raiders cheered. Eve grinned, looking at the lights. Then the entire ship went dark again. The whooping and cheering faded. Then then, half way across the ship, a marine swore. ├óÔé¼┼ôDamn it├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôKnocked the wire├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFix it!├óÔé¼┬Ø his partner snapped. The marine turned the wire back. But he forgot to slip his rubber tips back onto his finger tips and electricity shot through his glove. He jerked his hand off and swore loudly. He picked up his rubber tips and slipped them on his finger tips. Then he placed the wire back into its right spot. Then, halfway across the ship, Eve saw the lights come back on. ├óÔé¼┼ôSweet!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, grinning.
The cheers held back this time, no one wanting to suffer false hope again. But this time the lights held. The didn't flicker, they didn't waver. They held. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø Douglas said, looking at the celling fixture ├óÔé¼┼ôThat the lights are on for real this time├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI think you're right├óÔé¼┬Ø Lee said ├óÔé¼┼ôDouglas, put you're hand on my bum├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Douglas asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNothing├óÔé¼┬Ø Lee said, still staring at the lights. Douglas nodded. Then the room started to get...warm. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe heaters├óÔé¼┬Ø Someone shouted. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe heaters!├óÔé¼┬Ø Douglas stood up. Lee stood next to him ├óÔé¼┼ôThe heaters is right├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Douglas felt an arm snake around his waist. He looked at Lee, who was beaming at him. Douglas sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI can't get out of this time, can I?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lee said, grabbing him even closer.
The marine next to Eve checked his temperature. Then he cracked his helmet. He breathed the air and breathed out. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts freezing├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut at least the atmosphere isn't slicking up the floor anymore├óÔé¼┬Ø. He was joking, as it had never gotten that cold. But it was still damn cold. The raiders cracked their helmets. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø one of them said, pulling out a packet of cigarettes ├óÔé¼┼ôWant a smoke, or should we start shooting each other again?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm for a smoke├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said, pulling a cigarette out of his finger and sticking it in her lips. She concentrated on the stub, witch burst into flames. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhoa├óÔé¼┬Ø The raider with the cigarette said.
Eve blew out the end and sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôThat always happens├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan you warm this place up a bit?├óÔé¼┬Ø the other asked. Eve concentrated, trying to heat the place up. Then, to her surprise, the entire place felt warmer. ├óÔé¼┼ôHot damn├óÔé¼┬Ø The raider said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat do I have to do to get you on my side?├óÔé¼┬Ø. The marine coughed loudly ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's ours├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Eve frowned at him ├óÔé¼┼ôI think├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey need me somewhere else├óÔé¼┬Ø she turned around and left. She wasn't petty enough to suck the heat out of the area as she left. The marine and raiders looked after her. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow look what you've gone and done!├óÔé¼┬Ø the raider without the cigarette said, slapping the other raider on the back ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've gone and chased off the best looking dame I've seen for five damn years!├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Mike was given the honors of opening the door. He felt a little exited, standing there. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd now├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe dawn breaks├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike smiled and pressed the button. The door didn't open. Mike frowned. He pressed the button again. The door, slowly and ponderously opened. Ice crystales fell from the crack between the door and hit the ground. Cold air rushed into the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts going to take a day, at least, to get back to full temperatures. Longer if we don't want to strain the heaters├óÔé¼┬Ø a technician said. No one seemed to care. Mike gestured out of the door. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, stepping in front of Keller and walking out.
The crew started to filter through the ship, all of the still wearing their heavy clothes. People started to work on getting the network on line. After a few hours they got it. The computer was working again, and the entire ship started to work again. It was slow, and it still felt cold, but a peace seemed to hold. Then Cain received his orders. ├óÔé¼┼ôCain├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, her face clear on the screen ├óÔé¼┼ôI want you to take you're gun and shoot Capitan Keller in the head├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôIn fact, have you're Raiders shoot everyone they can├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd use the special weapons that we have to capture Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain gulped ├óÔé¼┼ôYou want me to shoot...to shoot allies├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are not allies├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe agreed on a truce├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôWe're allies until we break the truce├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Michelle sighed, not quite sure what he didn't find clear. It was quite simple, to her at least. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou break the truce when you splatter Keller's brains over his bridge├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Cain shook his head ├óÔé¼┼ôThats...thats against the-├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, but Michelle cut him off ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just another sneak attack├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust like the one we pulled a few days ago├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain grinned, looking down ├óÔé¼┼ôI didn't agree with that one either├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIn fact I remember threatening to resign├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle looked down at her desk and brought up the records. Yes Cain had threated to resign over some of their tactics. Then he request had been dropped a few hours later.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou dropped you're request├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThats a good question he said. It was something to do with the story you fed us about the minors being used in combat├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle's smile froze on her face. Did Cain figure it out. ├óÔé¼┼ôSeventeen would be a minor. Nineteen...would not├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou said they were using a minor in combat, and yet Eve by all counts is a nineteen year old├óÔé¼┬Ø he was still grinning. Michelle turned off the monitor, frowning. Cain grinned. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you so happy like?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked, looking at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can go now├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôI can talk to you're leader by pushing a button. I don't really need you around here├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Helena shrugged ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôJust tell me...what are you so happy about?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just wanted to shove it to that bitch for...twenty years now├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're Capitan?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's a tweaked one she is├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôSee you around Cain├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, not bothering to tack on the General honorific. ├óÔé¼┼ôSee you around Sargent├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, turning back to his screen. Helena stopped ├óÔé¼┼ôCain├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, turning around ├óÔé¼┼ôIf you need a new job, drop me a line├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't see that happening├óÔé¼┬Ø He said.
Hicks was tired, cold and hungry. But all of those thoughts melted like butter when he saw Eve. She was walking down the corridor, carrying a pile of data slates. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve?├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. Eve looked over the data slates. Then she saw Hicks. She threw the slates over her shoulder, where they hung in the air as if through some magic trick. Then she jumped onto Hicks, legs wrapping around his pelvis. She missed with her mouth, hitting his nose. Then she got it again. Hicks didn't even need to hold her legs with his hands, as Eve seemed to be able to hold herself up without touching the floor. The data slates continued to hang there.
├óÔé¼┼ôEve├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said as he broke away, trying to breath. Eve grinned at him, hands on the side of his head, running through his hair. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôDid you miss me├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI missed you├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve smiled and said ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you want to kip off for a bit?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks was tempted, for sure. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've got to do some things first├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said ├óÔé¼┼ôThen I will have time for more then just a kip├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve grinned, unhooking her feet. She floated to the floor ├óÔé¼┼ôI've got a few tricks I've learned├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, still hugging him closely. Her hand drummed a rhythm on his back. Hicks smiled. Then the fingers changed their position, moving down to the small of his back.
But Eve hadn't moved. The fingers moved up to his other shoulder. Hicks looked at the shoulder in question. A detached hand danced on his shoulder. He looked at Eve, who smiled sweetly. ├óÔé¼┼ôA bit of a kip├óÔé¼┬Ø he said, a bit dazed ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve kissed him again. Her hand moved over the back of his neck and attached itself to her wrist. Then she broke up and said ├óÔé¼┼ôTo work. The faster we work the sooner we can fu-├óÔé¼┬Ø. Hicks cut her off with a kiss. Eve stepped away and started to pluck her data slates from the air. Hicks tried to not think about what it was like to have a girlfriend who could kill him with an idle thought.
Jorge looked at the screen. He was getting a call. Normally Cain, the glory hogging bastard, got the calls. Jorge smiled. Michelle smiled back ├óÔé¼┼ôBut first capture Eve. Do that before anything else. She can tip the balance├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jorge snapped of a salute and nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôYes mam. What about Cain?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe is a fine General├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôbut his...ethics are getting in the way. Tell him that he has been...demoted├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jorge smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd how should I go about telling him this?├óÔé¼┬Ø he asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôThe barrel of a gun would be a good way to start a conversation├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said.
So...I blame Deci.
See last night he and I were talking, via Teamspeak, and he mentioned ├óÔé¼┼ôIt would be fun to play an Action/RPG where you can play as Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Fang chimed in by saying ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is Eve and why do I care├óÔé¼┬Ø. The rest of the conversation was funny, but I refuse to record it. What was important is that this idea was JAMMED into my head like some kind of...cinder block.
So I lay up half the night and worked out how to control every single ass kicking power that Eve has at her disposal with three buttons and you're mouse. Whats this, you say? You can snap out you're forearm blades by clicking the respective mouse button. So you click right mouse button and you're right arm sprouts a long, deadly blade. All good so far. Click again and you swing the blade. Click a lot, jump around a bit. Generally mash buttons and watch the body parts and arterial blood spurt. Fun. If you manage to do a combo move then you are rewarded with a cool slow mo death thingy.
Now the first of the three buttons is a Shapeshifter button. You push this button and you get a drop down menu where you can use the scroll button to chose a verity of Shapeshifter powers. Like detaching you're right hand and crawling it around. You can also change you're face around, to sneak past guards more easily. There are some other things, but you'll have to play the game to find out...to bad it doesn't exist.
Second button is the psi button. You press the psi button on the enemy and can choose any number of abilities IF they haven't noticed you. Things like 'mind-frag', 'force suicide', 'memory blank' and such. If the enemy has noticed you then they are too scrambled by fighting for you to slam into them with the subtlety needed for things like 'force-suicides'. But you can still just bash into their mind with the the subtlety of an GD Saturation Artillery and stun them. Unfortunately you can not affect Transcendi...yet.
Third, and most fun button, is the telekinetic button (oh boy, all and all sat). Basic use: You press and hold the telekinetic button and move you're cursor around. If it hits an enemy that enemy starts falling in pieces. Cut off hands, arms, legs, and heads. Cut them in half, or more. Whatever you want. You can also learn new abilities, like grabbing objects. So if you put you're cursor onto a...pen, say, and tap the telekinetic button. The pen will fly to you, and start to float around you're head. Charge up the speed of the pen by pressing and holding the telekinetic button until you have gotten the power you want. Then aim and fire. Straight through the eye at mach seven with a pen. Ouch. Also you can hold down the telekinetic button and one of you're mouse buttons, and volia you can stop bullets!
So now they set you lose on enemy soldiers, S-02 beasts, other Stage Three's and the other enemy's that Eve fights through three novels...I mean two novels. Of course I do...
All this game needs is...to be made. With the Source engine, I say. Did I mention that its a RPG too? So you use telekinetics more and you get better telekinetics that you can use longer and strong. You start off by stopping messily nine millimeters and picking up pens. Then you advance to stopping tank shells, nuke blasts and throwing around asteroids. Whatever.
Also, note, you CAN die. Not many people remember that S-02 have weak points, the central collection of cells that controls the smarter ones. If you hit that, the entire S-02 bit vaporizes. Anyone remember that? So if enough bullets wear Eve down, she will die. Oh dears.
. The intro movie would be nine year old Eve being captured out of her home, her father shot and her mother half beaten to death. After the intro, this game would go to the Hiroshima research station, a ten year old Eve being 'bid on' by different corporations and military officials. As a demonstration she is lead through a maze of traps, dangers. Aka Tutorial. After that, when no one thinks she can be used as a weapon with out the one's using her getting torn to shreds along with the enema, she is placed back into confinement. Then, two years later, she makes her escape. I'd have to edit some parts of the plot to get more fighting in there. A longer flight by our party members through Dantana's streets, fighting S-02, rouge Dantana Planetary Guard members, looters and such.
Then the fights in the Hannibal, with EVEN MORE Raiders to kill. Then it would provide to what happens next. Witch involves a lot of skulduggery, infiltration and Eve learning some new tricks. Neat tricks.
Hint: It ends with bility and starts with an I.
See last night he and I were talking, via Teamspeak, and he mentioned ├óÔé¼┼ôIt would be fun to play an Action/RPG where you can play as Eve├óÔé¼┬Ø. Fang chimed in by saying ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is Eve and why do I care├óÔé¼┬Ø. The rest of the conversation was funny, but I refuse to record it. What was important is that this idea was JAMMED into my head like some kind of...cinder block.
So I lay up half the night and worked out how to control every single ass kicking power that Eve has at her disposal with three buttons and you're mouse. Whats this, you say? You can snap out you're forearm blades by clicking the respective mouse button. So you click right mouse button and you're right arm sprouts a long, deadly blade. All good so far. Click again and you swing the blade. Click a lot, jump around a bit. Generally mash buttons and watch the body parts and arterial blood spurt. Fun. If you manage to do a combo move then you are rewarded with a cool slow mo death thingy.
Now the first of the three buttons is a Shapeshifter button. You push this button and you get a drop down menu where you can use the scroll button to chose a verity of Shapeshifter powers. Like detaching you're right hand and crawling it around. You can also change you're face around, to sneak past guards more easily. There are some other things, but you'll have to play the game to find out...to bad it doesn't exist.
Second button is the psi button. You press the psi button on the enemy and can choose any number of abilities IF they haven't noticed you. Things like 'mind-frag', 'force suicide', 'memory blank' and such. If the enemy has noticed you then they are too scrambled by fighting for you to slam into them with the subtlety needed for things like 'force-suicides'. But you can still just bash into their mind with the the subtlety of an GD Saturation Artillery and stun them. Unfortunately you can not affect Transcendi...yet.
Third, and most fun button, is the telekinetic button (oh boy, all and all sat). Basic use: You press and hold the telekinetic button and move you're cursor around. If it hits an enemy that enemy starts falling in pieces. Cut off hands, arms, legs, and heads. Cut them in half, or more. Whatever you want. You can also learn new abilities, like grabbing objects. So if you put you're cursor onto a...pen, say, and tap the telekinetic button. The pen will fly to you, and start to float around you're head. Charge up the speed of the pen by pressing and holding the telekinetic button until you have gotten the power you want. Then aim and fire. Straight through the eye at mach seven with a pen. Ouch. Also you can hold down the telekinetic button and one of you're mouse buttons, and volia you can stop bullets!
So now they set you lose on enemy soldiers, S-02 beasts, other Stage Three's and the other enemy's that Eve fights through three novels...I mean two novels. Of course I do...
All this game needs is...to be made. With the Source engine, I say. Did I mention that its a RPG too? So you use telekinetics more and you get better telekinetics that you can use longer and strong. You start off by stopping messily nine millimeters and picking up pens. Then you advance to stopping tank shells, nuke blasts and throwing around asteroids. Whatever.
Also, note, you CAN die. Not many people remember that S-02 have weak points, the central collection of cells that controls the smarter ones. If you hit that, the entire S-02 bit vaporizes. Anyone remember that? So if enough bullets wear Eve down, she will die. Oh dears.
. The intro movie would be nine year old Eve being captured out of her home, her father shot and her mother half beaten to death. After the intro, this game would go to the Hiroshima research station, a ten year old Eve being 'bid on' by different corporations and military officials. As a demonstration she is lead through a maze of traps, dangers. Aka Tutorial. After that, when no one thinks she can be used as a weapon with out the one's using her getting torn to shreds along with the enema, she is placed back into confinement. Then, two years later, she makes her escape. I'd have to edit some parts of the plot to get more fighting in there. A longer flight by our party members through Dantana's streets, fighting S-02, rouge Dantana Planetary Guard members, looters and such.
Then the fights in the Hannibal, with EVEN MORE Raiders to kill. Then it would provide to what happens next. Witch involves a lot of skulduggery, infiltration and Eve learning some new tricks. Neat tricks.
Hint: It ends with bility and starts with an I.
but think of the fun you could have. Just cut their gun arm off and watch them go "AGUGHGHAHAAAAHGHAHAAA!" wile fountains of blood splattered everywhere.
Also if she objects to gore, then how do you get away with reading this?
I'm suprised that I'm getting away with writing it, now that I think about it
Also if she objects to gore, then how do you get away with reading this?
I'm suprised that I'm getting away with writing it, now that I think about it
Transformation! Blood! Psi powers that will shock you, disgust you and even reach into you're very SOUL!
Also one really sick, perverted quasi-love affair.
Jorge walked up to General Cain, smiling. The General was talking with one of the raider Colonels , a woman named Shelly. She was laughing at whatever he had said. ├óÔé¼┼ôGeneral├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorge said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it, Jorge?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain asked, smiling. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorge said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts like this├óÔé¼┬Ø he pulled his pistol. A gun shot rang. Jorge looked at the smoking hole in his stomach. He turned halfway around and looked over his shoulder. Helena grinned, lowing her pistol. The traitorous Lieutenant General collapsed to his knees, then fell face first to the ground. Cain looked at Helena, who slipped her pistol into her holster. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain asked ├óÔé¼┼ôHow? Why?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is easy├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said ├óÔé¼┼ôJorge was going to shoot you in the back and order the war started again├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI gathered├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Shelly was looking at Helena with just as much shock as her General. She was also slowly reaching for her pistol.
├óÔé¼┼ôHow is something I really shouldn't tell you...but we bugged you're com line├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...you bugged my com line?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, looking incredulous. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut Kel- the Capitan wanted to make sure we'd know if you're Capitan tried something├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd now that leaves the...why├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI like you, for one thing├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I really don't want any more people killed on this ship. It's getting old├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain smiled. Then he felt a barrel press into the back of his head. Cain grinned, raising his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a development├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôTake you're pistol out and slide it over here├óÔé¼┬Ø Shelly said to Helena.
Helena sighed, doing so. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Shelly said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow many ranks you think the Capitan will jump me once I kill you?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain could hear her grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôProbably...four or so├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said. Helena frowned ├óÔé¼┼ôIs everyone on you're ship a cut throat, or is it just me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo its just you├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd...me now that I think about it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Shelly grinned, squeezing the trigger. Cain ducked at the last second. The gun went off, singing the top of his hair. Helena dove to the ground and grabbed her pistol, just barely. Shelly aimed down and shot her in the stomach. Helena curled up into a ball, pistol clattering over the floor.
Cain spun around and found a gun in his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry General├óÔé¼┬Ø Shelly said, not sounding sorry at all. Then her head exploded. The gun dropped to the floor. The other Marine stepped into the room, dropping the barrel of his assault rifle. ├óÔé¼┼ôDrew, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain asked, standing up and brushing bits of skull and brains off his shirt. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I'm down a Lieutenant General and a Colonel├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou could always work for us├óÔé¼┬Ø Drew said, kneeling beside Helena. He rolled her onto her back. ├óÔé¼┼ôOw├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena groaned, looking at the bullet wound. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts nothing more then a mosquito bite├óÔé¼┬Ø Drew smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'll be making out with you're boyfriend in no time├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's not my-├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's not my-├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena groaned at the same time.
Michelle sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôCan't anything go right on that starship?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked the air. The air, unfortunately, was replaced by Taraka. ├óÔé¼┼ôApparently not when you're in command├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Michelle gulped, not liking his tone. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks to you Eve has gotten stronger├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks to you the...others have begun to think I might not be the most...efficient Constable for this spiral arm. Do you want me to spend the next thirty millennium inside a singularity?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, standing up. Taraka smiled, for a reason that Michelle couldn't fathom. He licked his lips, slowly mulling over whatever he was going to say. Then he nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I can still salvage this situation. But first, for you're reward├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Michelle smiled. Then a force clamped down on her throat. She gagged, clawing at the invisible force. Then the force hauled up and she was slammed against the wall, raised at least five feet above the ground. Taraka smiled, walking to her. The force tightened slightly. Michelle tried to say something, but her face was going completely blue. Then the force relaxed and Michelle slid to the floor, gasping. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôwho is stronger?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you-├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle started to say. Then an invisible force smashed into her face, sending her sprawling into her desk. Blood dribbled down her nose, witch felt slightly off center.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou think you might be like me├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka hissed ├óÔé¼┼ôI heard it as plainly as if you shouted it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...but you├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou would never be anything close...to...me├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI want you to understand that. I am the master, you are the slave├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle gasped, the invisible hand grasping around her neck. Then it grabbed her wrist. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is the master├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle started to say. Then the force hauled on her arm and Michelle felt the bone jerk slightly out of place. She screamed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, you are still useful├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo I'm going to grant you're wish...up to a point├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle gasped, her right arm feeling as if it were about to fall off.
Taraka placed his finger on her forehead. Then a tendril of black grit flowed onto Michelle's head. It flowed up through her nose and devoured her brain. For a split second Michelle ceased to exist. Then, in a perfect replacement, the S-02 converted itself into a shimmering, golden clump of cells. Michelle blinked. She felt human, still. Taraka walked away from her, looking over his shoulder at her ├óÔé¼┼ôBe ready for combat in three Earth hours├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThen you're going after Eve. By you're self. That way if you fail...you won't be around for me to deal with├óÔé¼┬Ø he smiled and vanished. Michelle gasped, her right arm immobile and in pain. She closed her eyes, feeling her mind expand like a balloon.
She opened her eyes and looked around. She saw a pen on the table. After concentrating on it for a split second the pen slid over to her hand. She grinned, picking it up. Then she let it go and it hung there, a slight tug on her mind. She looked at the door and sent the pen flying with a flick of her mind. The pen shot into the door and shattered, ink flying. Michelle grinned. She stood up and her arm screamed in pain. She sat down, the arm's hurt lessening. ├óÔé¼┼ôComputer├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôSend a message to the medical staff and my Interrogator├óÔé¼┬Ø. She sat as comfortably as she could, looking at the splatter of ink on the door. This was going to be interesting.
The Interrogator stopped the medic. ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you noticed anything odd about the Capitan?├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator asked. The medic shook her head ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I really need to see to the Capitan. Said she hurt her arm pretty bad├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Interrogator smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a plan to make this ship's ventures more profitable and less...senseless. I mean...why attack the Hannibal and use up all our recourses in capturing Eve? Sounds too much trouble then its worth├óÔé¼┬Ø. The medic looked around, not sure what to make of this development ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôSir I'm not here to think about that├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTrue├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I think I could use you for a little plan I have├óÔé¼┬Ø. The medic gulped. Now her record of not getting involved in cloak and dagger shit was over.
Michelle looked up. I hope she remembers. God damn it I hate this shi-. Michelle blinked. Voices were echoing in her head. She recognized one of the voices. It was the Interrogator. He was...Mechelle concentrated on his thoughts, trying to pick just one of them out. Did Eve have this problem, or was she just new. Then Mechelle realized what the Interrogator was thinking. He was so controlled, so calm when he wad talking with her. Mechelle smiled, remembering that was why he had attracted himself to her. Now it would have been her death if she hadn't this new...ability. The door opened, with a nervous looking Medic trailing behind the Interrogator.
Mechelle was smiling. The Interrogator kept his face as impassive as he could, trying not to laugh. She really had no idea. He looked at the medic, who almost jumped as he did so. She then moved to Mechelle, binding the Capitan's arm and shooting her up with some pain killers. She then reached for the sedatives. Then the Interrogator would have some...fun. The medic flicked the syringe, trying to get some of the bubble out. She squirted the liquid out a bit, getting the rest out. Then her forearm, right above the elbow, exploded off her body. The medic starred at the severed limp, witch lay on the desk, twitching.
She opened her mouth to scream. The Interrogator took a half step backwards. Then the medic's head sloughed off her body, plopping neck down on the desk. Her moth still open in silent scream, her eyes staring straight at the Interrogator. He turned around and ran. Mechelle smiled, reaching for him with her mind. But then she snarled. She couldn't quite grasp him. She levitated and hurled a pen at him, aiming straight for the back of his head. But the Interrogator dived through the door and the pen shot over him, rather then hitting him. Mechelle ran around her desk, ignoring the blood. She ran into the hallway. Then a gun barrel pressed into the back of her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø The Interrogator said.
Then his arm exploded. It didn't come off, or get yanked off his shoulder. Instead it simply split along a line leading from the middle of the knuckle to the elbow, splitting in half. The mangled arm sprayed blood over Michelle's back. The Interrogator opened his mouth to scream. Then he felt two invisible hands reach inside his mouth, taking hold on his upper and lower jaw. Mechelle turned around, smiling. Then she started to slowly pull his upper and lower jaws apart. The Interrogator tried to close his jaw. Then with a wet snap his skull split in half. There was blinding pain, a flash of white. Then he didn't feel anything.
Mechelle grinned at the corpses. She wondered if this meant ready for combat. Then she heard a clapping sound. She turned around and saw Taraka behind her desk, applauding slowly. He stopped clapping and placed his left hand on the medic's head. He slid it around to look at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have made greater strides then I expected├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought the transformation would drive you mad, at first├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mechelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI am man├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, looking at her bloody hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat could be good├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, batting the severed head away casually. Mechelle walked to the desk and bowed her head ├óÔé¼┼ôMaster├óÔé¼┬Ø she hissed. Taraka grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is good├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
Cain lit his cigarette. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I have one of those?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked, looking up from her book. She had requested the data slate when she had been moved to the hospital. The wounded in the ship were five times the size of the hospital of the ship, so one of the larger cargo bay's had been converted to a recovery ward for lesser wounds. Raider and Marine medics and doctors tended the wounded and Helena was reading her favored book while Cain just sat a few feet from her and smoked. And smoked. And smoked. He was on his third pack. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know thats not healthy├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, tossing her a pack. Helena looked over the pack. It read ├óÔé¼┼ôNon-addicting, nicotine free cigarettes!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats the point of this then?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôToo make me look cool├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said.
Sarris walked down the hallway, using her crutches as best she could. Smith, the marine who had made sure she hadn't been pumped for secrets or anything, followed behind him like a second shadow. Smith didn't talk much, but he was always sure to help Sarris whenever she needed it. It had been a remarkably tame last few days. The wounded were being fixed up, many of them simply sedated and carted away to get replacements. Once those ran out they would use cybernetics. Once those ran out they would use a hook, a peg leg. Whatever was available. ├óÔé¼┼ôI want to go back to the Hannibal├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris grunted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think we can, sir├óÔé¼┬Ø Smith said.
Sarris sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI think we can├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow so?├óÔé¼┬Ø Smith asked. That was more that she could normally get out of him. ├óÔé¼┼ôStow away├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said ├óÔé¼┼ôIn two crates and get unpacked on the Hannibal├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat doesn't make sense├óÔé¼┬Ø Smith said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't have ships going to the Hannibal, now that they've moved all the wounded over├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarris nodded and closed her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I'm sick of these damn crutches and this damn pain in my belly!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She turned around and hobbled back to her alloted room. Once she got there she almost fell into the bed. Smith watched her as she fell asleep. Then he pulled up a chair and sat at the door, ready to stop anyone who would try and do something to Sarris. He didn't trust anyone in this ship.
Keller wondered if Sarris was alive. She was marked as captured, but Cain said he didn't know if she was still alive. His Capitan had broken off communication off with him. The raiders on the ship didn't know that, but Cain was actually working for Keller now. He had sent his forum of resignation to the Excalibur and his request for work to Keller. Keller had accepted him after listening to Helena and Drew's testimonial. The two troopers had evidence, from the bug he had ordered placed on the Raider's out of ship com line, that suggested Cain didn't much like his old superiors. Keller could see why. Now that he had access to the computers he did some more back round checks.
Mechelle looked like a grade A wacko, from what Keller was finding. He was interrupted by his monitor flicking on. ├óÔé¼┼ôCom signal├óÔé¼┬Ø An orderly said ├óÔé¼┼ôfrom the Excalibur├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll take it├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. The orderly was replaced by an image of Mechelle. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello Captain Keller├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, smiling. There was something different about her face. About her eyes. They seemed to...glow softly, if that made any sense. ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, his lip curling. Rage was boiling inside him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe would like to send over some people that we've captured as a personal demonstration of our sincere desire to make up for the...incident├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe incident├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what you're calling it now?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mechelle nodded, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôI take that as a yes├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll hand over who we've captured too├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, knowing that if he held them back that was just one more reason for Mechelle to start shooting again. Not that she had needed much of a reason before. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Mechelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôSigning off├óÔé¼┬Ø. She pressed a button and dissapeared from the screen. Keller sighed and turned on his computer, switching to the com channel ├óÔé¼┼ôSend for Eve Montoya. I have a job for her├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. The computer chimed affably and Keller sat back in his chair, trying to not feel too good. But he couldn't help it. Sarris was coming home.
Hicks lay in bed, panting. Eve's hand tickled his chest as she lay on his side, grinning at him. Hicks rolled his head over ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he stopped, not having a way to describe what had happened. Eve smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can say you have a girlfriend who can touch you in ten different places at once├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI could at that├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. Eve snuggled closer to him ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know...I used to think that if I used my powers I would become something...inhuman├óÔé¼┬Ø. She trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat would never happen├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow do you know?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked, a faint quaver in her voice. Hicks smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôCause I said so├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow forgive my slowness. I can only touch you in three spots once├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve giggled as he kissed her neck, his hands trying to make up for his lack of telekinesis.
They were interrupted when the phone rang. ├óÔé¼┼ôUrgent urgent!├óÔé¼┬Ø the rang announced. Eve looked up ├óÔé¼┼ôSon of a bitch├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered, looking at the phone. She stood up, reluctantly leaving the warmth of the blankets and Hicks. The ship still felt ten degree's too cold for her. But that was probably just everyone's experiences during what was being called the Long Night. She danced across the cold floor, her naked feet making slapping sounds. Hicks grinned, enjoying the show. Eve got to the phone and leaned in so only her head was visible. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve Montoya here├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Keller came into view ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a job for you. Can you come down to my office in an hour or so?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôKay├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Keller singed off and Eve turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...where were we?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked, looking at Hicks.
Mike sat at the bar. A stood down from him, Lizzy also sat. They were both drinking. The bar seemed empty, with only one or two other people there. The marines didn't seem to want to be out and about now a days. That was probably because fifteen of them were dead, twenty wounded. That left about twenty five still walking, and those seemed to be throwing themselves into one of the four orgies that were currently sprouting at specially set aside rooms. It seemed they needed to bleed off the adrenalin from recent warfare. Now Mike and Lizzy sat, not talking, nursing their drinks. ├óÔé¼┼ôMakes you think├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI always thought how someone reacts to night shows how they are├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNight is rare in this day and age. Not darkness, but Night├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe actual, real thing. I thought I knew night until...one night...├óÔé¼┬Ø she smiled.
├óÔé¼┼ôI was in a helicopter, heading over the Jungles around the colony├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat colony?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôDarkside, of course├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, looking at her drink. ├óÔé¼┼ôOf course├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, sipping some alcohol. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd the helicopter went down. A shuttle smashed into it by accident, and we lost most of the men. It was night time, we were in an alien jungle and hostile offwolrders. That was the first time I truly faced what one would call...Night. Not just darkness, kept at bay by electrical lights and infrared goggles, X-ray specs and numbers. But real, honest to god Night├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd how did you react?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, looking at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow I always react├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI found the biggest fucking gun I could and I attacked head on├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike snorted, drinking his beer down.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôSome people screw, some people tell stories. Some people drink, some people worry. Other sleep, some wonder. Some dream, others just pray. But tonight...all I really have to do is just hope I can get home├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike sighed, feeling down ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat has gotten into you?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot much├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just I want to get home now. Have you ever wanted something so bad it felt as if you're heart was yanking itself out of its ribcage?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, looking at his feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what it feels to me├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThinking of him...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike felt a stab of pain, knowing she was thinking of her husband.
He stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to bed├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts still to damn cold on this ship├óÔé¼┬Ø. He sucked the last bit of beer from his cup and set it down. Then he walked to the door. Lizzy still sat there, looking into her drink. He looked her over. His heart felt like it was going to yank itself out of his ribcage. Then he walked out of the bar, the door closing shut behind him.
Also one really sick, perverted quasi-love affair.
Jorge walked up to General Cain, smiling. The General was talking with one of the raider Colonels , a woman named Shelly. She was laughing at whatever he had said. ├óÔé¼┼ôGeneral├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorge said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is it, Jorge?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain asked, smiling. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Jorge said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts like this├óÔé¼┬Ø he pulled his pistol. A gun shot rang. Jorge looked at the smoking hole in his stomach. He turned halfway around and looked over his shoulder. Helena grinned, lowing her pistol. The traitorous Lieutenant General collapsed to his knees, then fell face first to the ground. Cain looked at Helena, who slipped her pistol into her holster. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain asked ├óÔé¼┼ôHow? Why?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat is easy├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said ├óÔé¼┼ôJorge was going to shoot you in the back and order the war started again├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI gathered├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Shelly was looking at Helena with just as much shock as her General. She was also slowly reaching for her pistol.
├óÔé¼┼ôHow is something I really shouldn't tell you...but we bugged you're com line├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou...you bugged my com line?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, looking incredulous. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut Kel- the Capitan wanted to make sure we'd know if you're Capitan tried something├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd now that leaves the...why├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI like you, for one thing├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I really don't want any more people killed on this ship. It's getting old├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain smiled. Then he felt a barrel press into the back of his head. Cain grinned, raising his hands ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is a development├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôTake you're pistol out and slide it over here├óÔé¼┬Ø Shelly said to Helena.
Helena sighed, doing so. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Shelly said ├óÔé¼┼ôHow many ranks you think the Capitan will jump me once I kill you?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Cain could hear her grinning. ├óÔé¼┼ôProbably...four or so├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said. Helena frowned ├óÔé¼┼ôIs everyone on you're ship a cut throat, or is it just me├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo its just you├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd...me now that I think about it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Shelly grinned, squeezing the trigger. Cain ducked at the last second. The gun went off, singing the top of his hair. Helena dove to the ground and grabbed her pistol, just barely. Shelly aimed down and shot her in the stomach. Helena curled up into a ball, pistol clattering over the floor.
Cain spun around and found a gun in his face. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry General├óÔé¼┬Ø Shelly said, not sounding sorry at all. Then her head exploded. The gun dropped to the floor. The other Marine stepped into the room, dropping the barrel of his assault rifle. ├óÔé¼┼ôDrew, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain asked, standing up and brushing bits of skull and brains off his shirt. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow I'm down a Lieutenant General and a Colonel├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou could always work for us├óÔé¼┬Ø Drew said, kneeling beside Helena. He rolled her onto her back. ├óÔé¼┼ôOw├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena groaned, looking at the bullet wound. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts nothing more then a mosquito bite├óÔé¼┬Ø Drew smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYou'll be making out with you're boyfriend in no time├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShe's not my-├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHe's not my-├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena groaned at the same time.
Michelle sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôCan't anything go right on that starship?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked the air. The air, unfortunately, was replaced by Taraka. ├óÔé¼┼ôApparently not when you're in command├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Michelle gulped, not liking his tone. ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks to you Eve has gotten stronger├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks to you the...others have begun to think I might not be the most...efficient Constable for this spiral arm. Do you want me to spend the next thirty millennium inside a singularity?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle said, standing up. Taraka smiled, for a reason that Michelle couldn't fathom. He licked his lips, slowly mulling over whatever he was going to say. Then he nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI think I can still salvage this situation. But first, for you're reward├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Michelle smiled. Then a force clamped down on her throat. She gagged, clawing at the invisible force. Then the force hauled up and she was slammed against the wall, raised at least five feet above the ground. Taraka smiled, walking to her. The force tightened slightly. Michelle tried to say something, but her face was going completely blue. Then the force relaxed and Michelle slid to the floor, gasping. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôwho is stronger?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat are you-├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle started to say. Then an invisible force smashed into her face, sending her sprawling into her desk. Blood dribbled down her nose, witch felt slightly off center.
├óÔé¼┼ôYou think you might be like me├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka hissed ├óÔé¼┼ôI heard it as plainly as if you shouted it├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôBut...but you├óÔé¼┬Ø she gasped. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou would never be anything close...to...me├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôI want you to understand that. I am the master, you are the slave├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle gasped, the invisible hand grasping around her neck. Then it grabbed her wrist. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said ├óÔé¼┼ôWho is the master├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI├óÔé¼┬Ø Michelle started to say. Then the force hauled on her arm and Michelle felt the bone jerk slightly out of place. She screamed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are!├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou are!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Taraka smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôNow, you are still useful├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôSo I'm going to grant you're wish...up to a point├óÔé¼┬Ø. Michelle gasped, her right arm feeling as if it were about to fall off.
Taraka placed his finger on her forehead. Then a tendril of black grit flowed onto Michelle's head. It flowed up through her nose and devoured her brain. For a split second Michelle ceased to exist. Then, in a perfect replacement, the S-02 converted itself into a shimmering, golden clump of cells. Michelle blinked. She felt human, still. Taraka walked away from her, looking over his shoulder at her ├óÔé¼┼ôBe ready for combat in three Earth hours├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThen you're going after Eve. By you're self. That way if you fail...you won't be around for me to deal with├óÔé¼┬Ø he smiled and vanished. Michelle gasped, her right arm immobile and in pain. She closed her eyes, feeling her mind expand like a balloon.
She opened her eyes and looked around. She saw a pen on the table. After concentrating on it for a split second the pen slid over to her hand. She grinned, picking it up. Then she let it go and it hung there, a slight tug on her mind. She looked at the door and sent the pen flying with a flick of her mind. The pen shot into the door and shattered, ink flying. Michelle grinned. She stood up and her arm screamed in pain. She sat down, the arm's hurt lessening. ├óÔé¼┼ôComputer├óÔé¼┬Ø She said ├óÔé¼┼ôSend a message to the medical staff and my Interrogator├óÔé¼┬Ø. She sat as comfortably as she could, looking at the splatter of ink on the door. This was going to be interesting.
The Interrogator stopped the medic. ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you noticed anything odd about the Capitan?├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator asked. The medic shook her head ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I really need to see to the Capitan. Said she hurt her arm pretty bad├óÔé¼┬Ø. The Interrogator smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a plan to make this ship's ventures more profitable and less...senseless. I mean...why attack the Hannibal and use up all our recourses in capturing Eve? Sounds too much trouble then its worth├óÔé¼┬Ø. The medic looked around, not sure what to make of this development ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôSir I'm not here to think about that├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôTrue├óÔé¼┬Ø the Interrogator said ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I think I could use you for a little plan I have├óÔé¼┬Ø. The medic gulped. Now her record of not getting involved in cloak and dagger shit was over.
Michelle looked up. I hope she remembers. God damn it I hate this shi-. Michelle blinked. Voices were echoing in her head. She recognized one of the voices. It was the Interrogator. He was...Mechelle concentrated on his thoughts, trying to pick just one of them out. Did Eve have this problem, or was she just new. Then Mechelle realized what the Interrogator was thinking. He was so controlled, so calm when he wad talking with her. Mechelle smiled, remembering that was why he had attracted himself to her. Now it would have been her death if she hadn't this new...ability. The door opened, with a nervous looking Medic trailing behind the Interrogator.
Mechelle was smiling. The Interrogator kept his face as impassive as he could, trying not to laugh. She really had no idea. He looked at the medic, who almost jumped as he did so. She then moved to Mechelle, binding the Capitan's arm and shooting her up with some pain killers. She then reached for the sedatives. Then the Interrogator would have some...fun. The medic flicked the syringe, trying to get some of the bubble out. She squirted the liquid out a bit, getting the rest out. Then her forearm, right above the elbow, exploded off her body. The medic starred at the severed limp, witch lay on the desk, twitching.
She opened her mouth to scream. The Interrogator took a half step backwards. Then the medic's head sloughed off her body, plopping neck down on the desk. Her moth still open in silent scream, her eyes staring straight at the Interrogator. He turned around and ran. Mechelle smiled, reaching for him with her mind. But then she snarled. She couldn't quite grasp him. She levitated and hurled a pen at him, aiming straight for the back of his head. But the Interrogator dived through the door and the pen shot over him, rather then hitting him. Mechelle ran around her desk, ignoring the blood. She ran into the hallway. Then a gun barrel pressed into the back of her head. ├óÔé¼┼ôSorry├óÔé¼┬Ø The Interrogator said.
Then his arm exploded. It didn't come off, or get yanked off his shoulder. Instead it simply split along a line leading from the middle of the knuckle to the elbow, splitting in half. The mangled arm sprayed blood over Michelle's back. The Interrogator opened his mouth to scream. Then he felt two invisible hands reach inside his mouth, taking hold on his upper and lower jaw. Mechelle turned around, smiling. Then she started to slowly pull his upper and lower jaws apart. The Interrogator tried to close his jaw. Then with a wet snap his skull split in half. There was blinding pain, a flash of white. Then he didn't feel anything.
Mechelle grinned at the corpses. She wondered if this meant ready for combat. Then she heard a clapping sound. She turned around and saw Taraka behind her desk, applauding slowly. He stopped clapping and placed his left hand on the medic's head. He slid it around to look at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou have made greater strides then I expected├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought the transformation would drive you mad, at first├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mechelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI am man├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, looking at her bloody hands. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat could be good├óÔé¼┬Ø Taraka said, batting the severed head away casually. Mechelle walked to the desk and bowed her head ├óÔé¼┼ôMaster├óÔé¼┬Ø she hissed. Taraka grinned ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is good├óÔé¼┬Ø he said.
Cain lit his cigarette. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan I have one of those?├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena asked, looking up from her book. She had requested the data slate when she had been moved to the hospital. The wounded in the ship were five times the size of the hospital of the ship, so one of the larger cargo bay's had been converted to a recovery ward for lesser wounds. Raider and Marine medics and doctors tended the wounded and Helena was reading her favored book while Cain just sat a few feet from her and smoked. And smoked. And smoked. He was on his third pack. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know thats not healthy├óÔé¼┬Ø Helena said. ├óÔé¼┼ôActually├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said, tossing her a pack. Helena looked over the pack. It read ├óÔé¼┼ôNon-addicting, nicotine free cigarettes!├óÔé¼┬Ø. Helena sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôWhats the point of this then?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôToo make me look cool├óÔé¼┬Ø Cain said.
Sarris walked down the hallway, using her crutches as best she could. Smith, the marine who had made sure she hadn't been pumped for secrets or anything, followed behind him like a second shadow. Smith didn't talk much, but he was always sure to help Sarris whenever she needed it. It had been a remarkably tame last few days. The wounded were being fixed up, many of them simply sedated and carted away to get replacements. Once those ran out they would use cybernetics. Once those ran out they would use a hook, a peg leg. Whatever was available. ├óÔé¼┼ôI want to go back to the Hannibal├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris grunted. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't think we can, sir├óÔé¼┬Ø Smith said.
Sarris sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôI think we can├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow so?├óÔé¼┬Ø Smith asked. That was more that she could normally get out of him. ├óÔé¼┼ôStow away├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris said ├óÔé¼┼ôIn two crates and get unpacked on the Hannibal├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat doesn't make sense├óÔé¼┬Ø Smith said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey don't have ships going to the Hannibal, now that they've moved all the wounded over├óÔé¼┬Ø. Sarris nodded and closed her eyes ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I'm sick of these damn crutches and this damn pain in my belly!├óÔé¼┬Ø. She turned around and hobbled back to her alloted room. Once she got there she almost fell into the bed. Smith watched her as she fell asleep. Then he pulled up a chair and sat at the door, ready to stop anyone who would try and do something to Sarris. He didn't trust anyone in this ship.
Keller wondered if Sarris was alive. She was marked as captured, but Cain said he didn't know if she was still alive. His Capitan had broken off communication off with him. The raiders on the ship didn't know that, but Cain was actually working for Keller now. He had sent his forum of resignation to the Excalibur and his request for work to Keller. Keller had accepted him after listening to Helena and Drew's testimonial. The two troopers had evidence, from the bug he had ordered placed on the Raider's out of ship com line, that suggested Cain didn't much like his old superiors. Keller could see why. Now that he had access to the computers he did some more back round checks.
Mechelle looked like a grade A wacko, from what Keller was finding. He was interrupted by his monitor flicking on. ├óÔé¼┼ôCom signal├óÔé¼┬Ø An orderly said ├óÔé¼┼ôfrom the Excalibur├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll take it├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. The orderly was replaced by an image of Mechelle. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello Captain Keller├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, smiling. There was something different about her face. About her eyes. They seemed to...glow softly, if that made any sense. ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, his lip curling. Rage was boiling inside him. ├óÔé¼┼ôWe would like to send over some people that we've captured as a personal demonstration of our sincere desire to make up for the...incident├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôThe incident├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what you're calling it now?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mechelle nodded, smiling ├óÔé¼┼ôI take that as a yes├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll hand over who we've captured too├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller said, knowing that if he held them back that was just one more reason for Mechelle to start shooting again. Not that she had needed much of a reason before. ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø Mechelle said ├óÔé¼┼ôSigning off├óÔé¼┬Ø. She pressed a button and dissapeared from the screen. Keller sighed and turned on his computer, switching to the com channel ├óÔé¼┼ôSend for Eve Montoya. I have a job for her├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. The computer chimed affably and Keller sat back in his chair, trying to not feel too good. But he couldn't help it. Sarris was coming home.
Hicks lay in bed, panting. Eve's hand tickled his chest as she lay on his side, grinning at him. Hicks rolled his head over ├óÔé¼┼ôThat was...├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. Then he stopped, not having a way to describe what had happened. Eve smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can say you have a girlfriend who can touch you in ten different places at once├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI could at that├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. Eve snuggled closer to him ├óÔé¼┼ôYou know...I used to think that if I used my powers I would become something...inhuman├óÔé¼┬Ø. She trailed off. ├óÔé¼┼ôThat would never happen├óÔé¼┬Ø Hicks said. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow do you know?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked, a faint quaver in her voice. Hicks smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôCause I said so├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôNow forgive my slowness. I can only touch you in three spots once├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve giggled as he kissed her neck, his hands trying to make up for his lack of telekinesis.
They were interrupted when the phone rang. ├óÔé¼┼ôUrgent urgent!├óÔé¼┬Ø the rang announced. Eve looked up ├óÔé¼┼ôSon of a bitch├óÔé¼┬Ø she muttered, looking at the phone. She stood up, reluctantly leaving the warmth of the blankets and Hicks. The ship still felt ten degree's too cold for her. But that was probably just everyone's experiences during what was being called the Long Night. She danced across the cold floor, her naked feet making slapping sounds. Hicks grinned, enjoying the show. Eve got to the phone and leaned in so only her head was visible. ├óÔé¼┼ôEve Montoya here├óÔé¼┬Ø She said. Keller came into view ├óÔé¼┼ôI have a job for you. Can you come down to my office in an hour or so?├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôKay├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Keller singed off and Eve turned around ├óÔé¼┼ôNow...where were we?├óÔé¼┬Ø she asked, looking at Hicks.
Mike sat at the bar. A stood down from him, Lizzy also sat. They were both drinking. The bar seemed empty, with only one or two other people there. The marines didn't seem to want to be out and about now a days. That was probably because fifteen of them were dead, twenty wounded. That left about twenty five still walking, and those seemed to be throwing themselves into one of the four orgies that were currently sprouting at specially set aside rooms. It seemed they needed to bleed off the adrenalin from recent warfare. Now Mike and Lizzy sat, not talking, nursing their drinks. ├óÔé¼┼ôMakes you think├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôI always thought how someone reacts to night shows how they are├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôNight is rare in this day and age. Not darkness, but Night├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThe actual, real thing. I thought I knew night until...one night...├óÔé¼┬Ø she smiled.
├óÔé¼┼ôI was in a helicopter, heading over the Jungles around the colony├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat colony?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôDarkside, of course├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, looking at her drink. ├óÔé¼┼ôOf course├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, sipping some alcohol. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd the helicopter went down. A shuttle smashed into it by accident, and we lost most of the men. It was night time, we were in an alien jungle and hostile offwolrders. That was the first time I truly faced what one would call...Night. Not just darkness, kept at bay by electrical lights and infrared goggles, X-ray specs and numbers. But real, honest to god Night├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd how did you react?├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike asked, looking at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôHow I always react├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôI found the biggest fucking gun I could and I attacked head on├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike snorted, drinking his beer down.
├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôSome people screw, some people tell stories. Some people drink, some people worry. Other sleep, some wonder. Some dream, others just pray. But tonight...all I really have to do is just hope I can get home├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike sighed, feeling down ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôwhat has gotten into you?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot much├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts just I want to get home now. Have you ever wanted something so bad it felt as if you're heart was yanking itself out of its ribcage?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, looking at his feet. ├óÔé¼┼ôThats what it feels to me├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôThinking of him...├óÔé¼┬Ø. Mike felt a stab of pain, knowing she was thinking of her husband.
He stood up ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to bed├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôIts still to damn cold on this ship├óÔé¼┬Ø. He sucked the last bit of beer from his cup and set it down. Then he walked to the door. Lizzy still sat there, looking into her drink. He looked her over. His heart felt like it was going to yank itself out of his ribcage. Then he walked out of the bar, the door closing shut behind him.
I want to avoid being called Literature as much as possible. Its just so pretentious, in my mind.
So I'm sticking with big guns, cool space ships, cooler gadgets, beautiful women, witty dilouge and lots of explosions and telekenetic powers. All my social commitary and philosphical rambalings will be snuck in AROUND all that stuff.
Oh and look, an Episode!
The ship had been mothballed for over a century. It had been surrounded by plastic sphere, the air sucked out and the none essential parts of the ship yanked out. Then, ten years ago, an order was received by the dry dock. Workers began to filter through the ship, refurbishing and replacing the parts that had been removed. The ship was as new. Then two workers, found a discrepancy in the blueprints that the dry dock had received. One of the workers, a young blond woman named Judith, asked her partner if he minded checking it out. Stan, who really would rather watch some porn, sighed and agreed somewhat regretfully.
They both trudged through the halls of the starship until they got to the discrepancy. There was nothing but a wall. Judith took out her scanner and tried to see through the wall. It was blocked against X-rays, as she guessed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't we just cut through?├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan asked, yawning. Judith nodded, pulling out her laser cutter. After a few moments the wall has a man sized hole sliced in it. Stan stepped in, carefully avoiding the boiling hot edges of the wall. Inside the hole he found a small chamber. Inside the chamber was a sphere with a thousand tiny spikes shooting off of it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Judith asked, leaning close to it. Stan, however, was more exited that he had found a name plate. The name plates had all be removed when the star ship was placed into storage, and its only designation was ├óÔé¼┼ôShip Number 666├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey, Judith! They missed one├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said, pulling the name plate off the wall. He looked at it ├óÔé¼┼ôPersephone├óÔé¼┬Ø He read.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said, dropping the name plate on the floor ├óÔé¼┼ôI wonder if we should tell our boss this?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not tell her in person?├óÔé¼┬Ø A whisper voice said from the hole they had cut in the wall. Stan and Judith jumped, spinning around. A woman, wearing a long silk robe, tied around her waist by a broad belt. She smiled, her wrinkles even more pronounced. It was strange to see someone who actually looked old. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not our boss├óÔé¼┬Ø Judith pointed out. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot precisely├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just paid for this entire operation├óÔé¼┬Ø. She patted the side of the ship ├óÔé¼┼ôI loved this ship├óÔé¼┬Ø she said softly, running her fingers over the walls ├óÔé¼┼ôI really did├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôThen├óÔé¼┬Ø she said bitterly ├óÔé¼┼ôI packed her up and forgot about her for a hundred years. Some way of returning love├óÔé¼┬Ø. Judith and Stan looked at each other, wondering how she had gotten on board. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted to tour this ship one last time. Never expected someone would find this place├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou said last...I thought you are going to own this ship once were done├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman smiled faintly ├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted this ship to be alive again. It's going to be needed├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou ask a lot of questions├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou didn't answer my question├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said. ├óÔé¼┼ôA storm is coming├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôA dark and terrible storm. This ship has something on it that will help. Its my duty to get it out in the open├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Judith looked at Stan. ├óÔé¼┼ôCrazy├óÔé¼┬Ø she mouthed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to be dead in a few hours├óÔé¼┬Ø she turned around. ├óÔé¼┼ôDeath?├óÔé¼┬Ø Judith asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman looked over her shoulder ├óÔé¼┼ôthe government was happy to pretend this ship didn't exist while it was in dry dock. Now that I'm waking it up there's going to be a rather large firefight over its ownership. I'm afraid I'm going to be the first casualties├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then she was gone, walking around the corner. Stan and Judith looked at each other. ├óÔé¼┼ôCrazy├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said. Judith, however, wasn't so sure anymore. They set to work, cleaning up the area they had found, trying to not touch the sphere in the middle of the room.
The woman walked down the hall. Then she saw a man leaning against the wall, head facing away from her. She stopped, looking at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôJason├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. The man looked over his shoulder and winked ├óÔé¼┼ôGot it in one├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI never forget a head├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôEspecially one as unique as yours├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jason shrugged ├óÔé¼┼ôI was thinking of getting lips soon. Lizzy's going to be back in a few decades, anyway├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou still hung up on her? She's been gallivanting around the galaxy for the past century├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason asked, a slight smile in his voice. The woman sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're hopeless├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Then her smile faltered ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're...you're here for the Persephone, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôGot it one...again├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said, snapping his fingers ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I want it for purely selfish reasons├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman sighed, leaning against the wall ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me guess├óÔé¼┬Ø She trailed off, thinking. Jason laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure you already know. So I think the others arms of the government aren't going to bother you much├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said, sounding surprised for the first time in a long while. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôI fudged the accounting a bit. Seems that...I paid for this refurbishing├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks a lot├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jason bowed, always the gentleman. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan...Can I take her out for one last ride?├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can take her out to Pluto. Then I'll drop you off in a shuttle├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I never see you, or the ship again?├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't be so sure├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason smiled obliquely.
Lizzy threw her head back and let the drink fill her mouth. She set the bottle down, her cheeks puffed out with liquor. Then she swallowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThree hundred and five!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, writing the number down on a pad of paper. Mike knocked on her door ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you in there drinking again?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, standing up and trying to cram the empty bottles under her bed. Mike opened the door. He looked around at the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are going to exchange prisoners in a few hours├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôThats fine├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you need to be present├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, picking Lizzy up out of her chair and brushing her off a bit. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause you're sitting in here, drinking you're self to death├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI was thinking if I drank enough time would go faster├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered.
The air lock had the entire surviving bridge crew, including the newest member of the bridge crew, General Cain. He looked rather nervous about seeing his old boss again. Keller assured him that he would be protected. Eve was there, as was Capitan Himmler and a squadron of marines, selected for their experience. Mike was just glad it wasn't his squad, as Helena was still in the hospital, Hicks had to literally pried off Eve's side with a crowbar, Mankowski was trying to impress his new best friend, some man named Douglas, and Mike was busy trying to not go crazy. It was a bit hard, but he was managing it. They all needed time off. So, after he deposited Lizzy at the room they were going to be transferring prisoners to, he walked to the bar.
Lizzy stood behind her daughter and groaned, her head aching. ├óÔé¼┼ôMom├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you been drinking again?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone is making a fuss├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not healthy├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôPfft├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've survived worse├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've got to get out and do things├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôJason will still be there when we get back to Homeworld. Moping about it isn't going to solve anything├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy nodded slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAlso how did the cryogenic tubes hold up through the power outage├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve jumped. She had never thought about that. She looked at Keller, who looked very nervous, and asked ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan...how did the Cryotubes hold up during the fighting?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Keller looked at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are fine. The tubes are each made to last for at least a month without power. After that problems start to creep into their solution├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh...good then├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. Lizzy nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI wonder if a refugee would want to swap places with me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. Then she brightened ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou could take up a hobby...like modeling├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI hate modeling├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôPosing nude always seems kind of fun├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought you meant little plastic things├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThats crazy├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShhh├óÔé¼┬Ø someone hissed. The air lock was cycling.
After a few moments the air lock door opened and the enemy Capitan stood there. She smiled at everyone, her right arm in a cast. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd here are you're prisoners├óÔé¼┬Ø she gestured behind her. A man and a woman stood there. The woman was Sarris. ├óÔé¼┼ôSarris!├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller exclaimed, running forward. Sarris hobbled forward no less enthusiastically on two crutches. Keller hugged her around the middle, kissing her. The crutches clattered to the floor, and Sarris wrapped her arms around Keller, trying to not fall over. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have a chair I can sit down in?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris gasped. The other marine who was with her walked out, nodding to the Capitan.
Once Sarris was sat down, Keller gestured to his marines. They brought in the twenty Raiders they had captured. Five of the captured raiders, including Douglas, walked to Michelle and handed her papers of resignation. The remaining fifteen filed into the air lock. The air lock door closed behind them, and they loaded onto the shuttle. Keller walked up to Michelle and stuck out his hand, feeling slightly generous after having Sarris returned to him. Then his hand detached. It landed on the floor, twitching. Then blood started to pump out of his wrist. Keller starred at the severed appendage, eyes bugging.
Then a invisible hand grabbed him and hauled him backwards. Keller landed on the floor. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet out! EVERYONE GET OUT!├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve shouted. There was a panicking rush for the doors as Eve ran forward. She snapped out her forearm blades. Two marines stayed behind, including Sarris and Lizzy. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet out! Get out!├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve shouted. The two marines helped Sarris to her feet and took her away. Lizzy dragged Sarris out. She left the General on the floor and ran back in. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey! Hey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris shouted, but the door closed off her words. She tried to get to her feet, but her legs were still weak. Then Keller was at her side. Despite missing a hand, and despite the pain and despite the fact he was sill bleeding, he tried to haul Sarris to her feet. Then he was joined by Smith, and the three of them made off down the hallway.
Eve stood, facing Michelle. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is amazing├óÔé¼┬Ø The other woman giggled ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is really great├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve was about to say something when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. Lizzy ran to her side. ├óÔé¼┼ômom?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. Lizzy slid her pistol out ├óÔé¼┼ôJust here to help├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Eve sighed, looking at Michelle. Michelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is going to be fun├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, taking a step forward. Eve looked at her and snapped her forearm blades out. Lizzy aimed her pistol and fired two quick shots. Michelle grunted with each bullet, her mind bending slightly as it tried to stop them. One nicked her cheek, the other skidding off a field in front of her into the wall.
Michelle gasped. That was...hard. Eve, from the video's, made it look so easy. ├óÔé¼┼ôMom├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôKeep shooting!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCopy├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, firing the rest of her magazine. Each bullet skidded around and off the shield, some bouncing off completely. Eve ran forward. Michelle focused on her as Lizzy reloaded, the spent magazine dropping to the floor with a clatter. Eve jerked back at the last second, an invisible line of cutting force snapping through where she had been a few moments ago. It caught the tip of her forearm blade, slicing it off with a twang. Eve winced, feeling the sharp sting of it. Then she lashed out with her own mind to hit Michelle.
Michelle felt the force bounce off her shield, and slid backwards. Lizzy slapped a new cartridge into her gun and brought it up. Michelle, tiring of her interference, picked up debris that lay from the floor. It was a jumbled collection of items that floated around her head. Bullets, spent shell casings, even Keller's severed hand. Lizzy saw what she was doing and dived to the side a split before several small objects smashed into the walls behind her, denting them fiercely. Lizzy skidded to a stop and was tagged by the last item that Michelle had picked up. Lizzy grunted, falling against the wall. She felt her chest, witch was slick with blood. Then she picked the severed hand off her body and threw it away, making a sound of disgust.
Eve hammered on Michelle's defenses, her powers striking with little subtlety but a massive helping of sheer force. Michelle frowned, slowly moving to the side. Then she focused her attention on the spent magazine Lizzy had dropped. Eve's eyes widened fractionally. Then the magazine slammed into her forehead, sending her sprawling. She landed, and her foot twitched. Michelle grinned, looking away from her fallen adversary and at Lizzy. ├óÔé¼┼ôHell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered, opening the bulkhead into the hallway. Then she slipped through and closed the door as fast as she could. ├óÔé¼┼ôVent the compartment├óÔé¼┬Ø She gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôGotta vent the compartment├óÔé¼┬Ø. She looked around. Marines were running down the hall, ordered into action by Keller.
├óÔé¼┼ôSet up a cordon down there├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, wincing as she moved. Her chest was bruised something fiercely by the severed hand slamming into her. The marines nodded, getting to work. One of them ran into a nearby room and hauled a desk out. He slid it over the corridor, creating some cover. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, moving to the nearest computer slot. She turned it on and asked for Keller. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah?├óÔé¼┬Ø He snapped. The background of the feed showed that he was in a hospital, probably getting his wounds tended too. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to vent the compartment. I think If we can get Eve and Michelle off the ship we might be able to keep the collateral minimal├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about Eve?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôListen├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôEve is worth ten of that bitch. She'll be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll order the compartment vented├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy heard a loud, reverberating bang on the air lock door. ├óÔé¼┼ôBetter make it quick├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. But Keller had already signed off. She sighed and ran to the cordon ├óÔé¼┼ôJust in case├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnyone have another ZX?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've got a pistol├óÔé¼┬Ø one of the marines said. Lizzy took it and unholstered her other pistol, holding them both like some archaic cowboy. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow we wait├óÔé¼┬Ø she said.
So I'm sticking with big guns, cool space ships, cooler gadgets, beautiful women, witty dilouge and lots of explosions and telekenetic powers. All my social commitary and philosphical rambalings will be snuck in AROUND all that stuff.
Oh and look, an Episode!
The ship had been mothballed for over a century. It had been surrounded by plastic sphere, the air sucked out and the none essential parts of the ship yanked out. Then, ten years ago, an order was received by the dry dock. Workers began to filter through the ship, refurbishing and replacing the parts that had been removed. The ship was as new. Then two workers, found a discrepancy in the blueprints that the dry dock had received. One of the workers, a young blond woman named Judith, asked her partner if he minded checking it out. Stan, who really would rather watch some porn, sighed and agreed somewhat regretfully.
They both trudged through the halls of the starship until they got to the discrepancy. There was nothing but a wall. Judith took out her scanner and tried to see through the wall. It was blocked against X-rays, as she guessed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy don't we just cut through?├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan asked, yawning. Judith nodded, pulling out her laser cutter. After a few moments the wall has a man sized hole sliced in it. Stan stepped in, carefully avoiding the boiling hot edges of the wall. Inside the hole he found a small chamber. Inside the chamber was a sphere with a thousand tiny spikes shooting off of it. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat the hell is this?├óÔé¼┬Ø Judith asked, leaning close to it. Stan, however, was more exited that he had found a name plate. The name plates had all be removed when the star ship was placed into storage, and its only designation was ├óÔé¼┼ôShip Number 666├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey, Judith! They missed one├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said, pulling the name plate off the wall. He looked at it ├óÔé¼┼ôPersephone├óÔé¼┬Ø He read.
├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said, dropping the name plate on the floor ├óÔé¼┼ôI wonder if we should tell our boss this?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy not tell her in person?├óÔé¼┬Ø A whisper voice said from the hole they had cut in the wall. Stan and Judith jumped, spinning around. A woman, wearing a long silk robe, tied around her waist by a broad belt. She smiled, her wrinkles even more pronounced. It was strange to see someone who actually looked old. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're not our boss├óÔé¼┬Ø Judith pointed out. ├óÔé¼┼ôNot precisely├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI just paid for this entire operation├óÔé¼┬Ø. She patted the side of the ship ├óÔé¼┼ôI loved this ship├óÔé¼┬Ø she said softly, running her fingers over the walls ├óÔé¼┼ôI really did├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôThen├óÔé¼┬Ø she said bitterly ├óÔé¼┼ôI packed her up and forgot about her for a hundred years. Some way of returning love├óÔé¼┬Ø. Judith and Stan looked at each other, wondering how she had gotten on board. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted to tour this ship one last time. Never expected someone would find this place├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôBut├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou said last...I thought you are going to own this ship once were done├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman smiled faintly ├óÔé¼┼ôI wanted this ship to be alive again. It's going to be needed├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôFor what?├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou ask a lot of questions├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôGood├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou didn't answer my question├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said. ├óÔé¼┼ôA storm is coming├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôA dark and terrible storm. This ship has something on it that will help. Its my duty to get it out in the open├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Judith looked at Stan. ├óÔé¼┼ôCrazy├óÔé¼┬Ø she mouthed. ├óÔé¼┼ôWell├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm going to be dead in a few hours├óÔé¼┬Ø she turned around. ├óÔé¼┼ôDeath?├óÔé¼┬Ø Judith asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôYes├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman looked over her shoulder ├óÔé¼┼ôthe government was happy to pretend this ship didn't exist while it was in dry dock. Now that I'm waking it up there's going to be a rather large firefight over its ownership. I'm afraid I'm going to be the first casualties├óÔé¼┬Ø. Then she was gone, walking around the corner. Stan and Judith looked at each other. ├óÔé¼┼ôCrazy├óÔé¼┬Ø Stan said. Judith, however, wasn't so sure anymore. They set to work, cleaning up the area they had found, trying to not touch the sphere in the middle of the room.
The woman walked down the hall. Then she saw a man leaning against the wall, head facing away from her. She stopped, looking at him. ├óÔé¼┼ôJason├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. The man looked over his shoulder and winked ├óÔé¼┼ôGot it in one├óÔé¼┬Ø he said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI never forget a head├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman said ├óÔé¼┼ôEspecially one as unique as yours├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jason shrugged ├óÔé¼┼ôI was thinking of getting lips soon. Lizzy's going to be back in a few decades, anyway├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou still hung up on her? She's been gallivanting around the galaxy for the past century├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôSo?├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason asked, a slight smile in his voice. The woman sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're hopeless├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Then her smile faltered ├óÔé¼┼ôYou're...you're here for the Persephone, right?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôGot it one...again├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said, snapping his fingers ├óÔé¼┼ôBut I want it for purely selfish reasons├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman sighed, leaning against the wall ├óÔé¼┼ôLet me guess├óÔé¼┬Ø She trailed off, thinking. Jason laughed ├óÔé¼┼ôI'm sure you already know. So I think the others arms of the government aren't going to bother you much├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôReally?├óÔé¼┬Ø The woman said, sounding surprised for the first time in a long while. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôI fudged the accounting a bit. Seems that...I paid for this refurbishing├óÔé¼┬Ø. The woman smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks...├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôThanks a lot├óÔé¼┬Ø. Jason bowed, always the gentleman. ├óÔé¼┼ôCan...Can I take her out for one last ride?├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôSure├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou can take her out to Pluto. Then I'll drop you off in a shuttle├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd I never see you, or the ship again?├óÔé¼┬Ø the woman asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôDon't be so sure├óÔé¼┬Ø Jason smiled obliquely.
Lizzy threw her head back and let the drink fill her mouth. She set the bottle down, her cheeks puffed out with liquor. Then she swallowed. ├óÔé¼┼ôThree hundred and five!├óÔé¼┬Ø She said, writing the number down on a pad of paper. Mike knocked on her door ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôAre you in there drinking again?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, standing up and trying to cram the empty bottles under her bed. Mike opened the door. He looked around at the room. ├óÔé¼┼ôLizzy├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are going to exchange prisoners in a few hours├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôThats fine├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd you need to be present├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said, picking Lizzy up out of her chair and brushing her off a bit. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhy?├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôBecause you're sitting in here, drinking you're self to death├óÔé¼┬Ø Mike said. ├óÔé¼┼ôI was thinking if I drank enough time would go faster├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered.
The air lock had the entire surviving bridge crew, including the newest member of the bridge crew, General Cain. He looked rather nervous about seeing his old boss again. Keller assured him that he would be protected. Eve was there, as was Capitan Himmler and a squadron of marines, selected for their experience. Mike was just glad it wasn't his squad, as Helena was still in the hospital, Hicks had to literally pried off Eve's side with a crowbar, Mankowski was trying to impress his new best friend, some man named Douglas, and Mike was busy trying to not go crazy. It was a bit hard, but he was managing it. They all needed time off. So, after he deposited Lizzy at the room they were going to be transferring prisoners to, he walked to the bar.
Lizzy stood behind her daughter and groaned, her head aching. ├óÔé¼┼ôMom├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve sighed ├óÔé¼┼ôHave you been drinking again?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôEveryone is making a fuss├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered. ├óÔé¼┼ôIts not healthy├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. ├óÔé¼┼ôPfft├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI've survived worse├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôYou've got to get out and do things├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôJason will still be there when we get back to Homeworld. Moping about it isn't going to solve anything├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy nodded slowly ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAlso how did the cryogenic tubes hold up through the power outage├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve jumped. She had never thought about that. She looked at Keller, who looked very nervous, and asked ├óÔé¼┼ôCapitan...how did the Cryotubes hold up during the fighting?├óÔé¼┬Ø.
Keller looked at her. ├óÔé¼┼ôUh├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôThey are fine. The tubes are each made to last for at least a month without power. After that problems start to creep into their solution├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh...good then├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. Lizzy nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôI wonder if a refugee would want to swap places with me?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said. Then she brightened ├óÔé¼┼ôI know├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôYou could take up a hobby...like modeling├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôNo!├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôI hate modeling├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI don't know├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôPosing nude always seems kind of fun├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy blinked. ├óÔé¼┼ôOh├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôI thought you meant little plastic things├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôWhat?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked ├óÔé¼┼ôThats crazy├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôShhh├óÔé¼┬Ø someone hissed. The air lock was cycling.
After a few moments the air lock door opened and the enemy Capitan stood there. She smiled at everyone, her right arm in a cast. ├óÔé¼┼ôHello├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnd here are you're prisoners├óÔé¼┬Ø she gestured behind her. A man and a woman stood there. The woman was Sarris. ├óÔé¼┼ôSarris!├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller exclaimed, running forward. Sarris hobbled forward no less enthusiastically on two crutches. Keller hugged her around the middle, kissing her. The crutches clattered to the floor, and Sarris wrapped her arms around Keller, trying to not fall over. ├óÔé¼┼ôDo you have a chair I can sit down in?├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris gasped. The other marine who was with her walked out, nodding to the Capitan.
Once Sarris was sat down, Keller gestured to his marines. They brought in the twenty Raiders they had captured. Five of the captured raiders, including Douglas, walked to Michelle and handed her papers of resignation. The remaining fifteen filed into the air lock. The air lock door closed behind them, and they loaded onto the shuttle. Keller walked up to Michelle and stuck out his hand, feeling slightly generous after having Sarris returned to him. Then his hand detached. It landed on the floor, twitching. Then blood started to pump out of his wrist. Keller starred at the severed appendage, eyes bugging.
Then a invisible hand grabbed him and hauled him backwards. Keller landed on the floor. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet out! EVERYONE GET OUT!├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve shouted. There was a panicking rush for the doors as Eve ran forward. She snapped out her forearm blades. Two marines stayed behind, including Sarris and Lizzy. ├óÔé¼┼ôGet out! Get out!├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve shouted. The two marines helped Sarris to her feet and took her away. Lizzy dragged Sarris out. She left the General on the floor and ran back in. ├óÔé¼┼ôHey! Hey!├óÔé¼┬Ø Sarris shouted, but the door closed off her words. She tried to get to her feet, but her legs were still weak. Then Keller was at her side. Despite missing a hand, and despite the pain and despite the fact he was sill bleeding, he tried to haul Sarris to her feet. Then he was joined by Smith, and the three of them made off down the hallway.
Eve stood, facing Michelle. ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is amazing├óÔé¼┬Ø The other woman giggled ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is really great├óÔé¼┬Ø. Eve was about to say something when she heard the sound of footsteps behind her. Lizzy ran to her side. ├óÔé¼┼ômom?├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve asked. Lizzy slid her pistol out ├óÔé¼┼ôJust here to help├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. Eve sighed, looking at Michelle. Michelle smiled ├óÔé¼┼ôThis is going to be fun├óÔé¼┬Ø she said, taking a step forward. Eve looked at her and snapped her forearm blades out. Lizzy aimed her pistol and fired two quick shots. Michelle grunted with each bullet, her mind bending slightly as it tried to stop them. One nicked her cheek, the other skidding off a field in front of her into the wall.
Michelle gasped. That was...hard. Eve, from the video's, made it look so easy. ├óÔé¼┼ôMom├óÔé¼┬Ø Eve said ├óÔé¼┼ôKeep shooting!├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôCopy├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, firing the rest of her magazine. Each bullet skidded around and off the shield, some bouncing off completely. Eve ran forward. Michelle focused on her as Lizzy reloaded, the spent magazine dropping to the floor with a clatter. Eve jerked back at the last second, an invisible line of cutting force snapping through where she had been a few moments ago. It caught the tip of her forearm blade, slicing it off with a twang. Eve winced, feeling the sharp sting of it. Then she lashed out with her own mind to hit Michelle.
Michelle felt the force bounce off her shield, and slid backwards. Lizzy slapped a new cartridge into her gun and brought it up. Michelle, tiring of her interference, picked up debris that lay from the floor. It was a jumbled collection of items that floated around her head. Bullets, spent shell casings, even Keller's severed hand. Lizzy saw what she was doing and dived to the side a split before several small objects smashed into the walls behind her, denting them fiercely. Lizzy skidded to a stop and was tagged by the last item that Michelle had picked up. Lizzy grunted, falling against the wall. She felt her chest, witch was slick with blood. Then she picked the severed hand off her body and threw it away, making a sound of disgust.
Eve hammered on Michelle's defenses, her powers striking with little subtlety but a massive helping of sheer force. Michelle frowned, slowly moving to the side. Then she focused her attention on the spent magazine Lizzy had dropped. Eve's eyes widened fractionally. Then the magazine slammed into her forehead, sending her sprawling. She landed, and her foot twitched. Michelle grinned, looking away from her fallen adversary and at Lizzy. ├óÔé¼┼ôHell├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy muttered, opening the bulkhead into the hallway. Then she slipped through and closed the door as fast as she could. ├óÔé¼┼ôVent the compartment├óÔé¼┬Ø She gasped ├óÔé¼┼ôGotta vent the compartment├óÔé¼┬Ø. She looked around. Marines were running down the hall, ordered into action by Keller.
├óÔé¼┼ôSet up a cordon down there├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, wincing as she moved. Her chest was bruised something fiercely by the severed hand slamming into her. The marines nodded, getting to work. One of them ran into a nearby room and hauled a desk out. He slid it over the corridor, creating some cover. ├óÔé¼┼ôRight├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said, moving to the nearest computer slot. She turned it on and asked for Keller. ├óÔé¼┼ôYeah?├óÔé¼┬Ø He snapped. The background of the feed showed that he was in a hospital, probably getting his wounds tended too. ├óÔé¼┼ôI need to vent the compartment. I think If we can get Eve and Michelle off the ship we might be able to keep the collateral minimal├óÔé¼┬Ø.
├óÔé¼┼ôWhat about Eve?├óÔé¼┬Ø Keller asked. ├óÔé¼┼ôListen├óÔé¼┬Ø Lizzy said ├óÔé¼┼ôEve is worth ten of that bitch. She'll be fine├óÔé¼┬Ø. Keller nodded ├óÔé¼┼ôOkay├óÔé¼┬Ø he said ├óÔé¼┼ôI'll order the compartment vented├óÔé¼┬Ø. Lizzy heard a loud, reverberating bang on the air lock door. ├óÔé¼┼ôBetter make it quick├óÔé¼┬Ø she said. But Keller had already signed off. She sighed and ran to the cordon ├óÔé¼┼ôJust in case├óÔé¼┬Ø she said ├óÔé¼┼ôAnyone have another ZX?├óÔé¼┬Ø. ├óÔé¼┼ôI've got a pistol├óÔé¼┬Ø one of the marines said. Lizzy took it and unholstered her other pistol, holding them both like some archaic cowboy. ├óÔé¼┼ôNow we wait├óÔé¼┬Ø she said.
Last edited by Zoombie on 05 Sep 2006, 05:26, edited 1 time in total.
