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[Redbelle]

Wyld and the team gathered round a table in the oversized dining hall after taking a moment to gawk at their surroundings.
If the room they had met The Count in was lavish, then this room was utterly decadent.

White and gold seemed the key colour scheme, broken here and there with drapes, tied back by ties that likewise, were gold in colour. An interior fountain of gold cast figures sat in a recess in the wall, it's water's bubbling as the figure above holding a pitcher, appeared to pour water down onto the cast of a woman whose shoulder was wet as the water ran down her front, along an outstretched leg to drip into the basin.

Tables and chairs were arranged throughout the room. All arranged around a pedestal upon which a large bouquet of flowers rose and towered above them. Wyld went in and gave an experimental sniff.

They're Real!

She looked around at her team and was suddenly gripped by how out of place they all looked in their surroundings. They sat and got down to business. “How many kinds of wrong does this feel to all of you”? She asked as they sat. She looked over at Zia who had a sulky expression. “Thoughts”?

Zia remained quiet.

“Zee? What's with the silent treatment”?

“Can't talk”. She said at last. “Apparently I have Canker”.

“I panicked”! Wyld protested. “It's not like I had a plan coming in here”.

“I know that, but mouth flu? And why Canker”?

“Second thing that came to mind”.

“Do I want to know the first”?

“Periodontal disease”. Said Wyld. “It's where bacteria infect the gum pocket. Colonise the gum line and eat the living tissue that anchor the teeth to the jaw. That's before they enter the blood to attack the immune system. Your teeth start to move around before they fall out.......”. She went on.

“For goodness sake woman”. Baldurjack all but roared. “It's bad enough you behaviour was atrocious. Probably cost us tea in a cup and saucer. They'll give us mugs”! He went on. “But would you stop this infernal prattle before they hear you and throw us out! We are about to be served tea for free”! He picked up a menu from the table and flicked it to a page before handing it to Wyld. “Look at what they charge for the privilege”!

Wyld took the menu without looking and set it down. “If your tea is so important to you then pretend you don't know us, and sit at another table Brigadier”

Baldurjack snorted. “Excellent suggestion”!

He got up and sat at a table a little a ways from the group. Wyld turned to Zia and Naomi. “Alright. Game face's everyone. We'll meet the soldiers they have here. Soon I hope”. She added. “But something tells me we need to split up and start looking for..... whatever it is we're looking for as soon as poss.....”.

She paused as the door to the dining hall opened. Admitting Humphrey who wheeled a trolley filled with jostling crockery. She was more interested in who followed him though. Five alliance marines followed behind.

Not wearing armour.

Unarmed

Smiling. And joking with a easy, carefree attitude about them.

Wyld cast an eye over them. They looked healthy and full of vigour. What are they doing here?

Humphrey and the marines arrived at the table and the marines, seeing they had their own sat there already, suddenly stood to attention and saluted. One stood forward. “Lieutenant Commander Tector, Ma'am's”. He said holding his salute. “Begging your pardon. We were told we had guests. Didn't know we'd have officer's with us”.

Wyld her group stood and returned the salutes. “Corpsman Wyld. Pleased to see you in one piece”.

They held the salute for awhile. “You eh....” Tector said. “You gonna let us go”?

“I'm a lieutenant, commander”. Wyld gave an embarrassed smile. “I was waiting on you”.

“Right”. He said abashed. “Well, at ease everyone”.

Humphrey shook his head. Then started setting out cups and saucers for the table. Wyld saw Baldurjack over on the other table looking over forlornly, but did nothing to try and move back over.

“Commander Tector, not to put to fine a point on it”. She began. “But what the hell are you doing here”?

Tector settled in his chair as he took a cup from Humphrey “Well, that's a short and boring story. In the end, what it comes down to is that we were attacked and thrashed”. Humphrey held out a tea pot and began to pour Tectors cup as he looked on into the swirling steam that arose from it. “Long story?” He began. “We were on a patrol several klicks from here when we were ambushed”. He shuddered as he gripped the cups handle as Humphrey continued to pour. “You ever been in a Fubar patrol? One minute we were sitting pretty. The next, god's own fury rained down on us from every side. Cut the squad in half. And that wasn't the worst of it”. He went on. “Those husks they have ran at us while we were suppressed. You can't shoot them when your suppressed. They got right on top of us and started ripping us apart. That was when we fell apart”. He continued. “The whole squad fell apart and it was every man for himself. Some of us got to an underground entrance and never looked back. Didn't stop running till we came back up”. He nodded around them. “Turns out it was the exit nearest this place. You met the count's mech's on the way in”?

Wyld nodded.

“Damnest thing I ever saw”. Said Tector with a grin. “I mean, Mech's are stupid right? They don't fight worth a damn. But The Count Mech's.....”.

“Count Mech's”? Wyld interrupted.

“Yeah. Their the Count's Mech's. So we call them.....”.

“…..Count Mech's” Wyld finished for him. “Got it. Go on”.

“Well the ambusher's chased us through those tunnel's you see. And when we got close to this place, well we thought we were gonna get hit from both sides. Then the mechs open up on the Reapers and the doors open and this guy here”. Tector gestured at Humphrey “This guy invites us in while the Mech's tear the Reaper force apart. I mean they literally tore them to piece's with weapon fire”. He leaned forward as if he'd come to his favourite part of the story. Which judging by the gleam in his eye, it was. “All those S.O.B's who took out the platoon? Gone. Balm! Twenty six of my boys souls snuffed out? Serves the bastards right for what they did to us”!

“You were in command”?

“Yeah”. Tector looked around at the other four soldier's whose expression’s said they were living the recount along with him. “Yeah. Me and my command”. We got some good shots in”. He added. “But London don't belong to us anymore. It belongs to them”.

Wyld felt the air in the room turn sour at that remark. Her team looking on as as Tector put his cup in it's saucer and stirred the liquid. “Your still going to fight though right”?

Hell Yeah”! Tector looked up and nodded. “Got us some payback to Reap on those guys. Can't leave the fighting without chalking up enough to cover what we lost. Reaper's owe us bodies. Soon as we get a good nights sleep, we're off out again”.

Wyld titled her head. “How long have you been here”?

“Uhhh”. Tector titled his head and looked around at his men who just shrugged. “Good question”.

“If I may”. Humphrey interjected. “These men appeared along with other's of their platoon only a few days ago”.

“There you go” Tector said leaning back. “Not been here long. Soon as we get a good night sleep we'll be back out there”.

“Not been sleeping well, commander”?

“Forgive me ma'am”. Humphrey interjected again. “Around here we use the term, a good nights sleep, to say that they can leave the next day”.

“Yeah”. Tector agreed. “Sorry. There's a lingo to this place. Should have realised”.

“You said their were other's”.

“More of us? Yeah. Eight of us made it here”.

“Where are the other's”?

Tector smiled. “Their getting a good nights sleep”.

“They're leaving”?

“Sure as”.

Wyld paused. “Your going with them”?

“Not till we've had a good night's sleep”.

Wyld opened her mouth to press, then shut it. Something was very wrong. The men looked and sounded fine. But there was something more than off. They seemed eager to return to the fight. But seemed to have misplaced their comprehension of the circumstances in which they were in.

It sounds like their not leaving together.

They don't know how long they've been here.

Tector sounds beaten, yet still eager to fight.

Maybe she was misreading things. Seeing a platoon killed in front of you was enough to shake anyone. Being chased through under tunnels after the platoon had died, even more so. Sense of time was one of the things to go when a person entered shock.

Maybe these men had suffered a mental trauma? With the ones who were over the worst of it about the strike out? No. The ones who were ok would not leave without the ones who were not. Something was still off.

She just didn't know what.

She was jarred out of her contemplations when she heard Baldurjack make a noise. “Forgive my impertinence sir. But I cannot help but notice you have no more cup's”. She looked over and saw Humphrey standing to the side of Baldurjack. “You appear to have gotten the numbers wrong”.

“No mistake sir”. Humphrey said. “I was asked to serve our guests there evening tea and then invite you to a private audience with the master”.

“Aaah”! Baldurjack looked around a the other's and Wyld saw more than a bit of gloating going on behind that moustache. “Aaaaaaah”! He said again. “Well, I would be delighted to accept that generous offer. Most certainly”!

Go ahead galaxy. Take him. Was all Wyld could think. And good luck to you.

“And if the lady with the mouth infection would be inclined”. Humphrey added to Wylds table. “We do have an automated medical care mech on the first floor if the lady would like to accompany me”. He looked down his nose at Wyld. “I assure you. It offers better care packages than, mouth wash”.

“Good idea”. Wyld said with a forced smile. “You should definitely get that seen to”. She said to Zia who just sat there glaring, with her arms folded. 

Humphrey placed a hand on her arm and led both her and the Brigadier away and out through the large doors.

Wyld watched them go out. Then leaned forward. “Tector”, she said quietly. Why haven't you left yet”?

Tector raised an eyebrow “I need to rest all the men. Can't send them out as they are now”. His men all nodded as they drank their tea.

“But the war with the Reaper”? Wyld persisted. “We need every man we can get just to break even out there..... and breaking even? That's a stretch”.

“All the more reason to keep up with the care regime”. Tector responded. “I know it sounds crazy. But don't worry. We'll be out there again in no time. We just need a little more time”.

“Who said you need more time”?

“The Doctor”.

“The.....”. She had to think about it. “The automated medical care mech on the first floor”?

“No”! Tector laughed. “That's just for helping the real doctor. He works on the second floor”.

Strange Humphrey hadn't mentioned him. Wyld thought. “We're any of your men injured when you got here”?

“I couldn't tell you”. Tector answered as he sipped the last of his tea. “Aaaah”. He sighed. “That's just wonderful”.

Wyld had the distinct impression that questioning Tector would get her no further when she spotted something out of the corner of her eye.

A woman’s rest room......

In a war zone?

With toilet paper?!?!

Memories of shared, dug out latrines spurred her to action. “Well, if you will pardon me, I need to.... er”.

Tector looked in the direction she indicated. “Believe me”. He said in a low tone. “The first time we realised they were there..... thirty minutes before we came back out”. He winked. “It's quilted too”.

“Naomi”? Wyld asked, but Naomi shook her head and sipped at her tea.

On spur of the moment curiosity, Wyld picked up the menu Baldurjack had tried to hand her. She walked to the door with the ladies sign, running her finger down the price list and finding the item she was looking for. The door swung closed behind her and a moment later everyone in the hall heard her muffled yell.

“.........FER A CUP OF TEA”?!?!?

Modifié par Redbelle, 26 juillet 2013 - 09:40 .

[Redbelle]

Sir Humphrey led Baldurjack and Zia up the lobby stairs to the balcony area, where he stopped in front of a set of doors. “If you would be so kind as to make yourself comfortable Brigadier”. Humphrey said. “The master has several matters to attend to. He will be with you shortly”.

Dougal moved up to Humphrey and took a sniff. Humphrey ignored him as if he wasn't there. “Master”. He growled. “This man smells wrong. We must be cautious”.

“Bother it all! Must you be so impolite? Come now”. He ordered as Humphrey raised an eyebrow. “So sorry for that”. Said Baldurjack as Dougal moved back to his side. “Not normally so ill behaved. Probably just in need of a good walk. Lots of energy you know”!

“Quite”. Humphrey drew the word out with a deadpan expression. “Well, if you could refrain from going anywhere for now. The master will be with you shortly”.

“Yes of course”. Baldurjack assured him as Humphrey opened the doors and admitted him in. “Though perhaps a good tongue lashing. Can't abide these bad manners of late. Bad for morale In fact......”. He turned. “If you see or hear one of these lot doing something you don't like, thrash the blighter's. Need to learn their place in polite society, what”?

“What indeed, Brigadier”. Humphrey said as he closed the doors, leaving Baldurjack and Dougal alone.

The minute the doors closed Baldurjack rallied on Dougal. “What is the matter with people today”? He said, turning on the spot and thrusting his face in front of Dougal's. “The other's I can understand. But you”? He pointed a finger at Dougal's chest. “Look around you, boy. We are standing at the height of gentlemen society and I have been invited to meet with a man of station! Do not, blow this for us”!

A look, Baldurjack didn't like very much, crossed Dougal face as his eye's glinted gold in the light. “I understand master”. He said at last.

“Eh, Good boy”. Baldurjack backed away a little. He turned to look at the door. “Think though, to be admitted into the high echelons”.

“Yes master”.

To have influence among those who do rather than those who don't, Dougal”!

“Yes, master”.

“Think boy”. Baldurjack said, animated. “Just think of what I could do if all those on this Earth with that kind of power stood by me in this! Our darkest hour”!

Dougal tilted his head as if contemplating.

“This Count's army for example. Marvellous idea if you ask me. Robot's! All machine! Never talking back, never disobeying order's. Simply doing as they told, when they are told to”.

“Yet the ones in this building only serve the Count, and nobody but the Count master”.

“Yes, yes. Perhaps he'd be willing to lend them to me. Temporarily”. He stated. “Till we could make some of our own. Do you think they do discounts on bulk orders”?

Dougal was quiet before he spoke again. “Master. Perhaps we might find out more of this”. He seemed to ground out the word. “Synthetic..... army”.

“Eh? What for”?

“They are machines who follow the command of the one who they are programmed to obey.” Dougal pointed out. “Should we make some loyal to you, we would have a sample from which to build up your army”.

“Aha! Yes, that was good thinking there boy”. Baldurjack beamed. “Always knew you had a good head on you. Eye for talent you know. Glad to see you've been taking my lessons to heart”.

“And perhaps we might also find out why this place cannot be seen from above”.

Baldurjack stopped smiling. “Eh, what's this above nonsense? We all saw it outside clear as day”.

“Through your eye's master”.

“What”?

Dougal paused. “Nothing master. Just thinking out aloud”.

“Well stop it. I appreciate a good idea as much as the next man. But dash it all if we have time for every dalliance that springs to mind”.

“Shall we go master”?

“Now”? Baldurjack looked at the door again. “But what about tea”?

“If we are quick, we may discover how the Count controls his machines in time to discuss it with him when he arrives”. Dougal pointed out. “With the war still raging, we cannot afford to take our time while the opportunity of advantage slips away from us”.

Baldurjack frowned. The blessed war! He nearly forgotten.

“Well then, shall we be off. Quick look around the place and back again eh”?

Baldurjack opened the doors as Dougal strode through. “An excellent suggestion. Master”.

Modifié par Redbelle, 25 juillet 2013 - 08:01 .

[Redbelle]

Zia rode the elevator to the first floor with Humphrey

When this was over and done with, she was going to kill Wyld.....

Or kiss her again.

Honestly. Watching her reaction to being kissed was fun. Maybe then, she'd kill her.

Zia was bored. Everyone was talking again..... Everyone but her.

And it was Wyld's fault!

The rush to the front doors had been a cheap thrill. But when the mech army had revealed itself, she had pulsed with anticipation of what was to come. Something inside told her. She would not die. So she'd held back. Waiting to see how best to co-ordinate her biotic's with the others.

And she hadn't died. Because.... because..... Wyld had surrended! Put her hands up, walked into the building, had them hand over most of their weapons and sat down for tea and had kept her quiet throughout. Largely, she admitted, thanks to Baldurjacks loose tongue, by telling the prissy count whojamacallit that she had a mouth infection!

She was going to kill her. Or kiss. Kill. Kiss.

She needed a coin to decide, she decided.

No screw the coin. She'd get a highly contagious mouth infection from somewhere, then kiss her. Poetic justice delivered ala Zia. If only it wasn't such a terrible plan.

She sighed and Humphrey looked over. “Not long now". He told her as the doors pinged open on the first floor. “We keep the medical mech in one of the rooms. I'll leave you there while it goes about your treatment. Then you can come back down and rejoin your friends”.

Zia nodded. This was perfect. She would at least be able to scour the building. With her searching, off the radar, she felt sure she could dig something up. Because Wyld was right about one thing

Everything about the hotel felt, off.

Wyld seemed to have a sixth sense almost. Or the dumbest luck in the galaxy when it came to being right. Maybe she'd just kiss her a little bit for this one.

Her body felt supercharged which she did her best to temper as Humphrey stopped outside of a door in the long hall. “Would you kindly enter to begin your treatment”?

Zia reached out for the door handle as she nodded to Humphrey and as it swung open, she saw the mech he had spoken of. She stepped forward.

As soon as she walked through the door frame, she felt giddy. The world spun as her legs went out from under her. Her body suddenly went from energised to exhausted in moments as she crumpled to the floor. She struggled to keep her eye's open as she to looked back at Humphrey She struggled to find her voice to ask for help.

He stood outside the door. His hand in his pocket as he drew forth a pocket watch and checked it as he watched her. Then her eye's rolled up into her skull and all went dark.

And as the dark stretched out to envelop her.

She thought.

Just maybe.

She thought she heard a voice, calling her name.



Humphrey put away his pocket watch. This one had taken longer to go under than the others. From across the room, the mech stirred.

“Shall I prepare her”?

“No no”. Said Humphrey Idling looking at Zia's crumpled body. “This one isn't prepared. We must not contaminate the process”.

“Shall I terminate”?

Humphrey thought about it. “No”. He said in the end. “No let's keep this one. See if the process works on her without the supplement. Perhaps we can refine the signal to work without the tea”. He went on. “She's not going anywhere at any rate. Prep more rooms though will you? We will be having other guests arriving soon”.

“As you command”.

Humphrey nodded and left as the MediMech crossed the room and closed the door. Making the tea unnecessary would certainly speed up stage one of the process, he thought. And then they could move onto to stage two. And give these lucky people the goods night's sleep they deserved.

Modifié par Redbelle, 25 juillet 2013 - 09:40 .

[Redbelle]

Wyld emerged from the rest room.

That had been a welcome change of pace from battlefield toilet habits.

She looked over at the table she had left. Zia was still gone and Baldurjack, likewise, was not present.

However, Naomi had also disappeared.

Wyld felt a certain flair of panic which she clamped down on. She's a soldier. She thought to herself. She knows what we're supposed to be doing. More than likely she'd taken the opportunity to slink off while no one was looking and start looking for anything that might tell them what was going on in the hotel.

Tector and his group remained were they were though. Along with the tea they had, a cake stand, filled with three tier's of scones had appeared on the table that were disappearing as the soldier's picked them up, cut them open, and spooned rich thick cream onto them from pot's on the base before eagerly devouring them.

They didn't appear to have a care in the world.

Wyld sauntered over and cleared her throat. Tector looked up. “Just in time, we're about to finish these”. He held out an uncut scone. “Bite”?

“Funny”. Said Wyld, as the word reminded her of the husk head she'd left in the Valkyr. When she'd left the Mako she'd taken the arm of the dead Mako commander. What was left of it. And used it to test what a husk with dragon teeth could do to organic tissue.

It had begun to show signs of dehydration and greying an hour after she'd administered the first bite. With a faint luminescence of something showing under the skins epidermis.

Just one hour before symptoms began to manifest..

She looked around, and seeing no one but themselves, decided now was the time. “You guy's save me one. I need to find our hosts”.

“But you haven't touched your tea”.

Jan looked and saw her mug near the one Naomi had been drinking out of. “I'll have one later”. She said.

Tector shrugged as if it wasn't a concern and went back to eating with his men as Wyld left them behind. She went to lobby and rang the elevator. Stepping inside she looked at the floor options.

Zia was on the first floor.

Naomi could be anywhere.

Baldurjack.......

Forget Baldurjack. She thought to herself as she pressed the button for the basement. Start from the ground up.

The lift descended and when it came to rest the doors pinged open admitting Wyld to a large open area from which corridors branched off. She stood in the middle, wondering which one to take.

She sniffed the air.

She took the one ahead of her. Disinfectant. She'd smelled it enough times. Each aroma had it's own unique scent. She knew the one coming from up ahead. It was the kind a person used in hospitals. She stopped outside a door and pushed it open.

The room was dark but the first thing she saw was a large upright glass enclosure, easily big enough to fit several people inside, illuminated from the base. It was filled with a grey goo. What it was she couldn't guess. A medical gurney lay next to it, surrounded by monitoring equipment. Near the gurney, a tray on wheel's lay, covered in plastic wrap. She stepped inside the room and looked at the tray. The types of instruments that lay in a tray were all suited to specific operation's and Wyld knew this room was for serious works. As she looked at the tray's surface beyond the film she felt a lurch in her stomach as her unease grew.

It was a tray filled with instruments, meant for cutting.

She took a step back as her mind began to conjure the kind of business that room was intended for. She bumped into the glass enclosure. She spun and looked into the swirling mixture.

She thought she saw something move. Peered closer.

And leapt back as what looked like a misshapen hand thudded against the glass. Frightening her, as it just as quickly receded into the grey depths.

She spun around and left as quickly as she could. Remembering to close the door behind her. She hadn't been here after all.

But she had seen it all, and what she saw demanded explanation. This was no longer a case of unease in the pit of her stomach. She had question's that demanded a damn good answer. She got back into the elevator. Hit the button and waited as the doors closed on her.

As the doors closed there was silence for a moment before the other elevator doors, next door, opened and expelled Humphrey. He staggered out, backwards, dragging the prone body of Naomi in his arms. He hugged her torso to him as her feet dragged across the floor. He stopped as he rasped for air.

“I'm getting to bloody old for this”.

Modifié par Redbelle, 26 juillet 2013 - 06:23 .

[Redbelle]

After Zia, Baldurjack and then Wyld had left the table, Naomi sat alone with the marines and sipped her tea. She looked at the marines in front of her. Joking, smiling, being together, as one in a bond of invisible friendship and camaraderie.

There for her to see.

But apparently never to feel.

Zia.

Feelings ignored, when they weighed on her heavily.

Leaving her breathless.

Suffocating.

She became aware of Tector looking at her with a sympathetic expression. “Want to talk about it”?

“Um.....” Naomi stumbled, unsure of what to say. “I'm fine. Thank you”.

Tector leant back and pointed at one of the soldier's. “Lewis. Kitchen. Find food and more tea. Alright people gather around”. He said as Lewis left. “We've got an, 'everything's ok when it's obviously not, situation on our hands”. He said in mock seriousness. “I need you all in on this one”. He leant forward as Naomi blushed under the scrutiny she was receiving. “Talk to us”. Tector said.

Naomi looked around the table. Everyone was looking at her. She took a gulp to hide her rising panic.

Why not?  Her mind seemed to tell her.

“It's complicated”. She said putting her cup down. “You see, I met this girl. And I was happy to meet her. I mean. Really happy”. Eyebrows around the table went up. “It's not like that”. Eyebrows went down. “Well, not at first”. Eyebrows up again.

“Look”. She said leaning forward and talking in a hurry. “That one who left with the other two. Her names Zia. And she's everything I ever wanted to be. She's smart. She's funny. She's not scared of anything! When I'm with her I get this, heat, in me, that just wants to burst out and engulf her. She's confident and sexy and and makes me want to......”. She stopped suddenly, as she became aware the men were leaning in, a little to closely.

“Go on”. Said Tector, in a breathy whisper.

“I think I'll, keep that one to myself..... Thank you”.

They withdrew with a sigh of disappointment.

“The problem is I.....”.

“Can't throw the spear?. One of the other men piped up.

“Huh”? But the other man lifted his cup to his lips as Tector took over.

“Throw the spear. It means your guaranteed to go home hungry”. Zia's shook her head, not understanding. “Pretend your a caveman”. Tector explained. “You go out hunting for food. Armed only with a spear. You go out. And you see food running around. To get it, you need to throw the spear. If you throw the spear and hit the food, you go home with meat. If you miss, you don't get anything”. He gave her a grave look. “But if you don't to throw the spear your guaranteed nothing..... It happens”.

Tector suddenly looked weary as he explained. “Being afraid to throw. Having the fear of missing keeps you from throwing at all. So, you wait to see if something easier comes along to hit. But it never does”. He shrugged. “But what the hey. Right? You've still got the spear”. He looked at her then. His eye's boring into her. “But you don't want to go home with the spear. You want to go home with meat”.

Naomi nodded her head.

“So throw the god damned spear already"! Tector erupted. "That's all it takes. The problem isn't.....”. He lifted a finger. “.....that you don't know this. It's that you haven't the confidence to throw everything on the line for what you need”.

At that point Lewis returned. A tray of tea in one hand while his other carried a three tier, filled with scones. Tector clapped his hands together. “That's why your our recon man”! He laughed. “You always bring home the good stuff”.

Lewis dropped his spoils on the table. “Did I miss anything”?

“Nah”. Tector said as he took a scone and bit into it. “Our friend here just has spear fear”.

Lewis gave Naomi a look. “Miss. If they've said or asked you to do anything that you don't want to.....”

“Not that kind”! Tector interrupted, sending a mouthful of scone flying out his mouth. He swallowed and repeated. “Not that kind of fear. She's got a girl she can't.... you know......”.

“And your trying to give her advice”? Lewis , making the question an accusation. “How did you think that was a good idea”?

“Well I must have something to going for me, right”? Tector needled him. “You keep following around. How many tours now”?

“You'd be lost without me, sir”.

Tector winked at Naomi. “He's gay for me”.

Naomi blushed as Lewis sat down beside her and withdrew something from around his neck. “Unlike him”. He said stabbing a look at Tector. “I've been where you are now. I couldn't work up the courage to tell someone how I felt”. He withdrew a chain on which hung a gold plain ring. “And then I did”.

Naomi looked at the ring and taking it in her fingers, turned it to see the letter L.L and E.E.

“Are those, your initials”?

“And hers too”. Lewis said putting the ring away. “I was terrified when I asked her for our first date”.

“Why”?

“Because.... “ He sighed. “In my mind, we were already together. As long as I didn't tell her I could pretend we were a couple. And that was safe. I could be in control and not face her rejecting me”. He gave a sad smile. “That's what was holding me back all that time. I was afraid the real her, would reject me in a way the imaginary her never could. But....”. He continued. “The her in my mind wasn't the one I really wanted. It was a, convenient her, that made me want the, real her, even more”.

“What did you do”?

“Nothing”. Lewis said to Naomi's surprise. “I bottled it all up and kept on going. Then one day I saw her with someone and I panicked. I thought, maybe she's found someone. And that's when I had this deep seated, gut reaction that broke through the fear”.

“What was it”?

“I thought, I want the person she loves, to be me”.

From across the table, Tector gave an theatrical sniff. “My little Louie became a man"!

Lewis shot him a look of exasperation and reached out for a scone.

“It's so hard to let them grow up but he's done us.....” Whatever he was saying was lost as Lewis tossed a scone into the air in his direction. Tector rocked back his chair, opened his mouth and caught it as it fell to the applause of those around him.

“Show off”. Lewis smirked as he turned back to Naomi. “Whatever's holding you back, you need to break through. But I'm not going to tell you to do it. People gave me the same advice when I was love sick and I still chickened out. Until I faced the reality of never having her”.

Naomi bit the lip. “I don't know if I can”.

“Find out”?

“I.....”.

“You heard the man. Tector said, after he finished munching. “Find this little Zia of yours. Stand in front of her. And then.....”. He held his hands out to either side and shrugged. “I mean, all that stuff about being afraid is good advice and all. But seriously, you won't know if you have the gut's till your standing in front of her right”? He made a shooing motion. “So go! Times a wasting. She's around here somewhere, right”?

Naomi felt her breath quicken. The thought of standing in front of Zia and telling her how she felt since that moment in the shuttle. It felt electric, and sickening.

Then she thought of the sight of Wyld and Zia kissing against the tyre of the Valkyr and she felt worse.

Then she thought of herself in that position.

Pressed hard up against a flat surface. With Zia probing her mouth. She would be returning the gesture. Drawing a leg up and wrapping around her. Drawing her closer.........

Her, not Wyld.

She looked up and saw all the marines smiling at her encouragingly. Setting her chin she nodded. “Hell... yes”.

As she stood Tector gripped his tea cup and thrust it forward. “Preeeeesent”!

As one the marines raised their cups to Naomi who went crimson as she worked her way around the chairs. “I'll, uh, I'll just go”.

Tector waved without looking. “Take pictures”.

Naomi left the dining hall and then wondered just how she'd find Zia in such an enormous building. She heard voices coming from the lobby balcony. Recognised one as the Count.

Maybe he'll know. She thought.

Modifié par Redbelle, 26 juillet 2013 - 06:07 .

[Redbelle]

Count Berger stood at the door and adjusted his cape. He pulled down his waistcoat making sure he looked presentable. He had to look the part. He was about to confront the most dangerous man he'd faced to date since taking over the hotel.

The man, and his little dog too.

Humphrey appeared carrying a silver tray of tea.

“Ah, Herr Doctor”. The count greeted him. “How is our friend with the mouth infection”?

“Sleeping soundly I am happy to say”. Humphrey assured him. “The rooms we have prepared should have our signal beaming to them by now. Once they enter, they will all fall under the influence”.

“Gut”. Said the Count. “It is fortunate that they arrived vhen ve had free rooms available. Imagine vhat vould have happened if they came at the start of the invasion”. He smiled as he looked at the door's handles. “Though, I must admit. To have such a beauty arrive after we received the grey matter.... I have plans for that one. All in good time though”.

He squared his shoulders and taking both handles in hand, flung the doors wide open. “Brigadier Baldurjack? Ve have been expecting you for some time now”. He stopped.

He was addressing an empty room.

Glancing from one end to the other he turned to Humphrey who was likewise tilting his head this way and that from one end to the other.

“Vhere, is he”? The Count hissed.

“Not here, I'm afraid sir. If I may be so bold. The good Brigadier seems to have a few screws loose in the head”. He ignored the Count's Ire. “Perhaps he went for a walk”?

Count Berger simmered in anger. “You know vhat he is”? Humphrey shook his head. “He is a Reaper agent Herr Doctor! He carries one of them about with him”.

“That would explain a frightful lot sir. Speaking of which. I trust your implant will function to prevent any.....”. He paused. “Undue influence from our guest”?

The Count rubbed his temple behind his monocle. “I can see and hear the Reaper mind he projects. Though I must admit. Their relationship seems somewhat less than master and serva....”.

His words were cut off as a voice came form the open doors. “Excuse me”?

The Count turned and saw Naomi entering through the doorway. “Fräulein”. He said, taking a step forward. Just vat has she heard? “I vas hoping we vould bump into one another again”.

Naomi nodded, her face set and determined. She stepped forward as well. “If you have a moment, I'm looking for the woman you left with”? She tilted her head to address Humphrey “Her names Zia. I need to talk to her”.

“Oh”. Count Berger replied with what he hoped was an uninterested remark. “Is this something I may assist you with”?

Naomi's cheeks turned bright red as her gaze darted down to the carpet. “No. I just, really need to talk to her. Now, really”.

The Count felt himself relax. Though as he accepted that she had not heard anything at the door, a sharp stab of annoyance coursed through him. Is this voman and that other...... Pretty she may be. He thought. But there were wrinkles to be ironed out before she was perfect.

Oh well.

“Your friend is on the floor above us. She will be down in due course”. He stepped forward, closer to her now. He reached out and took her hand which started to tremble. “Fräulein you are tense”. He said, feigning concern. “Perhaps a cup of tea vith me shall calm your nerves”.

“No, thank you”. Said Naomi. Her voice seemed to tremor. Something about the man in front her......

“Oh , but I insist”. The Counted persisted as Humphrey put the tray on a pedestal and poured for them. “Ve should get to know each other better, yes? And your friend will be down shortly I am sure. Perhaps a drink will help steady your nerves if your talk is so important”.

Humphrey came over with the tray, with two steaming cups of tea resting on. Naomi smiled politely and took one.

The Count took the other and held it up. “To your health, mine Fräulein”.

Naomi smiled sheepishly at the toast and took a mouthful as the Count watched her. He hadn't drank she noticed. “Not thirsty...... Mr....Count..... er.....”.

“Please, no titles between us. You may call me Berger. And yourself”? He asked as Naomi swayed on her feet.

“Nay.... Naom....”. She placed a hand at the side of her head as she squeezed her eye's shut. “Sorry, feeling a bit.....”. She shook her head and looked up at him with eye's that couldn't focus. “I'm... called.... Naomi”. She said as her eye's fell shut and she fell into his arms. He caught her in one arm as Humphrey quickly caught the cup Naomi dropped. Then took the Counts as well. “Such a pretty name....”. Count Berger said as he stroked Naomi's hair. “....For such a pretty thing”.

“Hmmmm”. She went limp in his arms as he clutched her to his chest. Her light breathing tickled the skin exposed by his shirt.

“Sir”. Humphrey stepped forward. “If you are so emamoured of this one, perhaps she should be spared. Perhaps use one of the other's instead”?

“Do not be silly Doctor”. The Count admonished him. “One was picked up as a biotic. The other is only half a voman. And this, Brigadier? He is an unknown. The procedure cannot have that uncertainty factored into the equation. Besides....”. He said as he tilted Naomi's chin back. "Why settle for only one pretty face, vhen you can make more”.

Modifié par Redbelle, 26 juillet 2013 - 07:28 .

[Khambilo]

Misfits now looked more anxious than ever. Elderis and Hylar took up positions by the door while Arkeer remained poised by the tunnel entrance.

With Mia still too terrified to talk, no one was sure of what to expect.

“It’s Moaning Myrtle,” Trev yelled. “Has to be.”

“Will you shut up!” A.Q. snapped. “You’re making too much bloody noise! Besides, if it was Moaning Myrtle, Mia wouldn’t have even made it back.”

“So somethin’ worse than Moaning Myrtle!?” Trev squealed. “What could possibly be worse than Moaning Myrtle?”

Trev and some of the other Misfits shuddered at the thought.

“Something’s coming,” Arkeer announced, his shotgun fixed on the mouth of the tunnel.

Everyone waited in silence as a faint shuffling could be heard through the wall. The Misfits looked to each other anxiously. Rothan could only speculate as to what they had seen down here in the tunnels since the Reaper invasion began.

The scuffling grew louder, closer. Even Elderis and Hylar seemed taken aback by it, pulling their attention away from the door.

An explosion of dust blew out from the mouth of the crawlspace causing most everyone to jump. A few screamed, but Arkeer remained poised at the entrance.

“Woah, woah, woah, It’s me!” A voice came through the dust.

Seconds later, Hugh clawed himself out of the tunnel, covered in dirt from head to toe. Everyone relaxed, finally breathing.

Except for Rothan. “Where’s Rea?” He quickly asked. Hugh, now firmly out of the tunnel and coughing up dirt was unable to speak. Rothan moved in closer more urgent than before. “Where’s Rea?” He demanded.

“Gone!” Hugh sputtered.

Rothan could feel the blood draining from his face. No. He couldn’t mean that she was dead. He dropped down to Hugh’s eye level, looking him in the eye as he continued to cough.

“What do you mean, ‘gone’!”

Hugh cleared his throat again. “We saw something. Something terrible. Then the tunnel collapsed, and she fell.”

Arkeer now looked just perturbed more than anything. “Something terrible? Could you be a bit more descriptive?”

“All the people were dead.”

Mia stood now, her green gaze fixated on Arkeer. In tension of the moment, Rothan had nearly forgotten about Mia.

“She ain’t wrong,” Hugh confirmed as he pulled himself to his feet. “There are dragon teeth. Everywhere. The tunnels are filled with them.”

“You guys have been down here for months,” Hylar cut in. “How could you not notice something like that?”

“This tunnel,” Hugh pointed to the wall. “It leads to the touristy areas.”

“Myrtle territory,” Trev gasped.

“Exactly.” Hugh said. “When we first got down here we were trying to make our way across the city. There were shelters over there or so we heard. Tried cutting through that area, but…”

The Misfits fell silent all looking to each other, sharing grim looks of fear and sadness.

“Myrtle took a lot of us,” A.Q. said.

“Ever since then, we avoid the area like a plague. Now,” Hugh sighed. “Now I guess we know what she was guarding.”

Elderis kept his eyes on the door but spoke up all the same. “How many husks are we talking about here?”

Hugh shrugged as he pulled himself up to his feet. “I dunno. Hundreds at least.”

“Why would the Reapers have all those husks down here?” Rothan pondered out loud.

“Seems simple enough to me,” Arkeer said. “Hide your numbers. Keep the enemy unaware of what they’re up against.”

Rothan looked to Arkeer. “If that’s true, then…” It donned on Rothan that very moment. Entrances to the tunnels were all over the city. If the husks were made here they could be deployed anywhere. “Hylar,” Rothan called. “Could you bring up a display of the city?”

Hylar nodded, steeping forward and activating his omnitool. A moment later, the room was filled with orange light of the holographic map of the city.

“Hugh,” Rothan said. “Do you know where those tunnel entrances are?”

“Sure,” Hugh grunted. Then he pointed his finger to a singular point on the map. Immediately, Hylar gasped while Arkeer just frowned. “What? What is it?”

“No man’s land.” Arkeer stated.

“Right now, Allied forces are cutting their way towards the Reaper through here,” Rothan explained to Hugh and the others while pointing. “If those Husks activate and come up through those tunnels, they’ll be effectively surrounded.”

Hylar leaned in towards Hugh, clearly anxious about the whole situation. “Were they awake yet? Tell me, were they awake yet?”

Hugh shook his head nervously. “I don’t know… No.”

Rothan’s head fell. “And Rea’s down there with them.”

“If she’s alive,” Arkeer said.

“It weren’t that big a drop,” Hugh offered. “She may be hurt, but…”

“The main thing now is that the situation has changed,” Elderis peeked back. “Those husks come up, Hammer’s history.”

“Hammer might already be history,” Hylar said. “We all know the odds.”

“No, Elderis is right,” Rothan countered. “We have to find a way to get rid of those husks.”

Hugh scraped some dirt off his clothes. “Right, and just how are we gunna do that?”

“We have two missiles,” Arkeer smiled.

“Not an option,” Rothan quickly shot in. “They’re meant for the Reaper. Besides, the yield on those missiles plus the confined space… we’d probable blow ourselves up in the process.” Rothan peeked back at the display. The missiles needed to get to Reaper, no question. But he couldn’t just leave Rea behind. And the army of Husks… They could not be ignored. “Hugh,” he called as he pointed to a collection of buildings near the Reaper’s position. This was the rendezvous point that they had established with Grelk and the best likely vantage point for taking out the Reaper. “Are there exits from the tunnel around here?”

Hugh nodded. “Aye. It might take a little extra time to get there though, unless you plan on taking your precious cargo through a sea of Husks.”

“No,” Rothan’s head fell. “The missiles aren’t going through there. But I am.”

Hylar gaped at him. “That’s suicide. And last I checked, you were our demolition’s expert.”

“I’m not leaving Rea behind,” Rothan countered. “And something has to be done about the Husks.”

Trev was more aghast than anything as he threw up his arms in exasperation. “Oh yeah? What do you plan to do?”

“I’ll think of something,” Rothan shrugged, but still resolute about what he needed to do.

“This is insanity,” Hugh cried. “Just a second ago you said splitting up was a bad idea!”

“We’re not splitting up,” He said. “I’m going alone.”

While Hylar and Hugh seemed agitated by the whole scene, spouting statements of detest, Arkeer remained at the tunnel entrance, chuckling.

“You got balls on you,” he said. “I may not have said it before but you do. But the bird is right, that’s suicide.”

“Maybe. I have to try.”

“Sounds like you made up your mind then.”

“I have.” Rothan said looking down. He had only met Rea a few hours ago at the most, but already the thought of losing her. The thought of losing anyone in the squad… it was unbearable.

“We’re a unit. We’ve all got to look out for each other now.” Niria had told him that on Selvos. He and Niria weren’t really friends before the war, but the bond of fighting together, surviving together—it was the sort of connection that was stronger than a friendship.

In the brief time that he had known Rea, it seemed like she actually understood him. And now she needed his help. He had asked her to hold him to his promise of pulling his own weight around the squad, and even though she was not present to enforce it, her absence was doing the job for her. In his side compartment he could still feel the bit of metal and fabric that made up her father’s medal.

He wasn’t leaving her behind. Period.

“What about the missiles?” Elderis, ever the pragmatist, asked. “Will they work?”

Rothan honestly didn’t know the answer to the question. The brief amount of research he was able to do seemed promising, but there was no inclination as to if it would really work. He quickly pulled out an OSD and encoded the information he had to it. “Here,” he said as he handed it to Arkeer. “This is all I got. If I don’t meet you at the rendezvous point by the time you need to fire, uplink this to the missiles. It’s a firing sequence for something close.”

Arkeer grunted approvingly. “I guess you really have made up your mind.”

Rothan gave a terse nod. “Get the missiles there safe.”

Then he felt a small tug at his side: Mia pulling on one of his compartments. She looked curious, hopeful… maybe even a little sad as her green eyes attempted to pierce the fog of Rothan’s visor. Slowly she took his hand and slipped her small stuffed toy, a tattered hand-stitched small animal with big floppy ears, into his hand.

“He always keeps me safe,” She said. “I think you need him more than I do.”

Rothan was nearly overcome by the gesture of kindness from this small girl. “Thank you,” he said trying not to let his vocal cords tighten up. He gingerly tucked the girl’s prized possession into his compartment.

“Great!” Hugh sighed. “That’s just great! Have fun on your little death trip!”

“Hugh!” A.Q. snapped.

“What!? We all know it!” He said to everyone. “He knows it. What’s the point of denying it?”

Trev jutted forward. “You wouldn’t talk about one of us that way!”

“Yeah? Well he ain’t a one of us,” He countered. “And sad to so, neither was Blue.”

“No one said you had to come with us,” Arkeer snarled.

Elderis shot a look back to the commotion. “Quiet.”

“Maybe we shouldn’t,” Hugh continued as if he did not hear. “What good have you guys done for us?”

“Hugh, stop being such an ass,” Trev shouted. “They’re fightin’ for us!”

“Shut up!”

“You’re just scared,” A.Q. jeered.

“I ain’t!”

“I said quiet!” Elderis snapped. His voice resounded through the room somehow rising above the din. Immediately, Hugh and the others fell silent. Meanwhile Elderis peered out the door into the darkness.

“Anybody else hear that?” He asked.

“Hear what?” Hylar shuddered.

The sound came faint at first. A small muffled pop, it was distant like the sounds of the fighting echoing from above periodically but distinct. The sound slowly became less and less muffled, becoming clearer as a short fizzling sound preceded each pop. Fizzzzzpop. Fizzzzzzpop. The noise was coming closer.

“Myrtle,” A.Q. gasped.

“Run!” Hugh shouted.

It only took seconds. Elderis and Hylar quickly picked up the rig as Hugh and the other Misfits rushed for the door. The pop turned to a rushing bang. The sound was coming from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

Rothan quickly shoved himself and Mia to the ground. A second later the room exploded with blue light. It was impossible to tell where exactly she was, but then Rothan looked up. Trev was suspended above him, five blade-like claws impaled clear through his chest. Then a bang filled the room once again, as the banshee dematerialized. The small puddle of blood on the floor was the only evidence that someone had been taken.

Modifié par Khambilo, 27 juillet 2013 - 03:57 .

[Redbelle]

Count Berger sweapt Naomi into his arms and carried her downstair’s as Humpfrey followed behind him. He gripped her tightly. So tightly, she gave a faint moan. He looked down at her face. Even vhile she sleep’s. He thought to himself. she has the face of an angel.

They arrived at the Elevator and Humpfrey called it to the floor. As he stepped inside The Count passed Naomi to him. “Be careful with this one”. He said as Humpfrey struggled to hold on to her. “I vish to be present when you begin”.

Humpfrey gasped under the weight “You are certain this is what you want”?

“Doctor”. The edge in the Count’s voice was unmistakable. “You have had your tea this evening”?

“I....”. Humprey caught the Count’s eye and lowered his head in defeat. “I have sir”.

“Then you know that vhen I tell you to do what I vant, I expect it to be done vithout delay”.

The doors closed and The Count went to the elevator next door. Before he could press the button the however, the marines appeared through the dining room door’s and spotted him.

“Yo Count”!

Berger rolled his eye’s and turned to address them. “Gentlemen. I trust this evening’s entertainment has been to your liking”?

“Sure has”. Said Tector. “Thanks for everything man. We were wondering though. Could we maybe get a goods night sleep sometime? We really need to get back out there. You know? Fighting Reapers”?

“An excellent suggestion to be sure meine kleine gesinnten Narr”. Said the Count coldly. “Though perhaps you could stand on one leg for me first”? Tector looked quizzically at the Count. Then shrugged and stood on one leg. “Now the rest of you”. As one, the remaining four raised a foot off the ground. “As you were. You”. He said pointing. “Vhat is your name”?

“Lewis”. Said the man.

“Lewis? Vould you kindly choke your commander if I asked you to”?

“Ummm”. Lewis held a hand to his temple as if in pain. “Well..... sure. I mean.... I don’t really see the point but I guess....”.

“Hey c’mon man”. Tector said slapping him on the back. “It’s not like he’s asking for the moon y’know? Plus he asked nicely. All the cake and drink he’s been giving us”. Tector glanced over at The Count. “We owe the man”.

Lewis looked apoligectically at his commanding officer. “Well.... If you, want me to choke you, and he tells me too. Then I guess it’s fine”. Lewis turned to Berger who was smiling. “You want me to do it now”? He said, jerking his thumb back at Tector.

“No. Perhaps later”. The count said. “For now, I believe you are all ready to have the sleep you have been promised”. The excitement of the group was plain to see. “Take the stair’s to the next floor and find a room that is unlocked”. The Count said pointing to the stairwell. “And please. Do not disturb the other guests”.

The marines disappeared through the door marked ‘Stair’s’, as The Count turned to see the elevator floor lights rising to his floor. I did not tell the doctor to return! The Count thought with annoyance. Perhaps he lied about taking his tea?

It would be unfortunate to lose him now. And with everything else going on. There were to many pests in the building, he decided. If he couldn’t control them. He’d have to exterminate them.

The lift arrived and the doors opened.

The Count found himself standing face to face with Wyld.

Modifié par Redbelle, 27 juillet 2013 - 02:52 .

[Kel Riever]

Rea tumbled out of control, at first bumping against what ever was left of the cavern wall, and then her body was cast away, into open space. Her pistol was gone, her rebreather was shoved to the side of her face, and she flailed her arms to catch hold of whatever she could. Below, Rea caught a passing glimpse of the detritus, purple in hue, and then the world spun around her again. Reflexes took over. Rea pushed out with her biotics, to form not only a shield, but create resistance that could slow her descent. It wasn’t perfect; asari couldn’t fly. But the effect would be as if her body was lighter, and it might save her.

The first impact was into something soft, which parted immediately, plunging Rea into water. The second impact was into the hard ground under the water. She had the wind knocked out of her, and instinctively she tried to breath. Metallic tasting fluid rushed into her nose and mouth. Panicked, thinking she would drown, the asari whipped around in frenzy. Her feet found the bottom and she stood herself up, breaking through the soft, floating detritus again. With her head clear, Rea heaved the tainted liquid out of her system. She felt as if her lungs, throat and sinuses were blazing. Her left hand found a rigid structure to grab onto for stability. She stood up, shoulders deep in whatever immersion she had plunged into. Blue, ghostly lights emanated from small points on the structure, enough for her to finally see her surroundings.

A butchery of innards spread out from Rea in all directions. Strings and swirls of things that were meant to be inside a body were squashed together in clumps, floating on the water’s surface as far as the eye could see. Rea gasped and she put both her hands to her mouth. A hundred meters away, Dragon’s Teeth broke through the gore, raising new bodies and letting their loose parts drop off.

Rea’s normal sensations had left her, but she kept her wits about her enough to search for a way out. The structure she had steadied herself on was an alloy wall, crisscrossed by pipes and grooves, and covered in multitudes of the blue lights. It wrapped around in an arc, like some sort of large alcove. High above, the alloy gave way to clay again, but she could see nothing of where she had been. The technology of the wall was bizarre, enigmatic. It didn’t seem to make any sense.

Beneath her feet, the ground shuddered. Ripples passed through the wet, glistening carnage. Quickly, Rea placed the rebreather over her mouth and nose, and fixed the emergency settings to act like a miniature regulator and air tank. The shuddering became rhythmic, and stronger. She closed her eyes, before lowering herself back under the surface. Rea knew what the footfalls of a Brute felt like. Each shudder grew in strength. A thumping noise, amplified under water, accompanied the vibrations. She begged to the spirits, the Goddess, anything, that somehow she couldn’t be found. If the Reapers could see everything, Rea, you’d be dead already, she thought to herself.

The footfalls paused. Rea could feel as if the beast was searching, smelling, listening. Then the footfalls began again, but receded. In its emergency mode, Rea knew the rebreather would only provide five minutes of air before needing a recharge. She just needed to last long enough for the Brute to pass. By the time it became difficult to breath, the vibrations of the Brute’s footfalls was much more subdued. Rea pushed here face above the surface, and reset the rebreather for normal filtration. She could see the Brute, by the Dragon’s Teeth, lumbering away. It was lost, eventually, among the tall spikes.

Rea stood up again, and leaned against the alloy wall. She kept quiet, but inside her mind, she was screaming.

Modifié par Kel Riever, 29 juillet 2013 - 11:15 .

[Redbelle]

Wyld found herself standing nearly toe to toe with Count Berger as the lift door’s opened. She looked up while he looked down looking each other in the eyes.

“Hello again, halb Frau”. Said the Count. “I vas just thinking about you”.

Wyld’s eye’s narrowed at his comment. “Steck 's dir in den Arsch, Herr Berger”. She replied acidly.

The Count’s eye’s widened in surprise. Then narrowed. “Such language does not suit you, soldier”.

“Yeah”? Wyld’s pistol clacked as the handle expanded to be gripped as she thrust it forward into The count’s stomach. “Calling someone a half woman doesn’t make them very good company, Berger”.

The Count looked down as the pistol clicked into it’s firing mode against the lower half of his shirt. “So I see”.

“I have question’s”.

“I have answer’s”.

“Let’s trade”. Wyld said with a feral grin.

“It vould not be an even exchange”. The count noted. Wyld pressed the muzzle of the pistol harder into his stomach. “But you make a convincing argument”. He allowed.

“Who are you”?

“Cerberus”.

Jan’s stomach clenched. The Count noticed her loss for words.

“This, frightens you”. He cocked his head as he ran his eye’s up her. “You have been somevhere you should not have perhaps”? The slight narrowing of her eye’s gave her away. “Yes. I think perhaps you have been creeping about my domain. Who do you spy for I vonder”?

“Where’s Zia”?

“Oh, that voman again”? The Count tilted his head up. “She is above us now. On the next floor”.

“And Naomi”?

“She is beneath us”.

Jan’s stomach turned itself into a knot as she thought of that room and Naomi being in the same proximity.

“Which one will you choose to go after first I vonder”. The Count said with a smile. “I cannot help but feel a certain tension for one over the other. The one above?” He indicated up. “Or vill you perhaps go after the one below. Who do you care more for?”

“Shut up”! Wyld was torn. It surprised her that she was. Naomi was the obvious choice given what she knew of the basement area. But despite that. She wanted to go after Zia. Both had their reasons. One on purely practical grounds. The other for, what was she admitted, a fairly lousy reason, devoid of any tactical reasoning she could think of at present.

“Perhap’s it vould ease your mind to know that my associate with my Naomi vill not harm her”.

“Why should I believe that”.

“She vill be mine before long”. Said The Count. Before Wyld could ask what he meant he kept talking. “But the one above us. This Zia. She is sleeping now I think. If you do not wake her soon, perhaps she never will”.

Wyld’s grip on the butt of her pistol tightened. She made her choice. “Cloak. Off. Rapier. Off”. She ordered. “Keep your hands where I can see them”.

The Count smirked, but did as ordered. Then stepped inside the elevator while Wyld stood behind him. The gun at his back. “Vhich vay”? He asked, finger hovering over the floor buttons.

“Up”! Wyld didn’t believe anything The Count had said. But knew that whatever he had planned, she’d need her strongest fighter. And without our gear. She thought to herself. That’s Zia.

The Count chuckled to himself and hit the button for the next floor up. “Ve vill see what has become of your friend”. He laughed. “But, more than a friend though? Jah”?

Wyld shoved him and he went quiet. She breathed. Needing to stay clear headed. Just like she’d told Zia before.

She was forgetting something.

Information!

“What’s that grey goo you have downstairs”?

“Oh, you saw that did you”? The Count said. “It is a little project we are looking into”.

“What, Is It”?

“It is the stuff that ve are made of. Vhat the Reapers want to make of us before they transform it into one of their own”. He looked over his shoulder. “Ve acquired it from one of the Reaper processing facilities vhere they take humans. Does that answer your question”?

Wyld’s felt her throat tighten. “Broken down..... people”. The Count’s look of satisfaction confirmed her fears. “Why”!

“The process verks both vay’s you know”.

“No it doesn’t”. Wyld managed to keep her gun hand from shaking from rage. “You cannot put someone together again once you’ve pulled them apart”.

“Broken down would be a more accurate description”. The Count casually pointed out. “The Reaper’s do not destroy the very building blocks of life. They simply remove the binding’s that give life it’s shape”.

“Your talking about turning people into goo”!

“I’m saying that despite our difference’s. Ve are all fundamentally the same, you and I. And that the grey matter left behind from the Reaper process, is the perfect starting point to reassemble the next step in vhat ve choose humanity to be. To improve ourselves in generation's to come. Beyond what life's meager offering's has provided for our people. But before that. Ve must save our species from the Reapers”.

The door's pinged open and The Count strode out ahead of Wyld before she had a chance to order him. “Stop”!

The Count stopped and turned with a sly smile perched on his lips.

Wyld grit her teeth. Still forgetting something. “What is this place. It used to be a hotel but you did something to it”.

“Perceptive”. The Count brought his hands up in mock applause. “It vas not long ago that your own Shepard, who you people threw to wolves, emerged from the Omega 4 relay. The information he gathered vas invaluble. Both before and after he traveled to the galctic core”. The Count's face set. “Vhen he returned we of Cerberus knew that the Reaper invasion would be imminent. Ve also knew how they vould attack us. Ve set up facilities like this one, after ve bought them. Ve hid them from the Reaper's. In a manner similar to that of Shepard's precious Normandy. Only ve do not fool them into thinking ve are one of them”. His eye's glinted in dark satisfaction. “To them, ve are not here at all”.

“How”?

“I could not tell you even if I vished. The engineer's who built the device came and installed it here on the roof of this building. Perhap's there is some trick to it. Perhaps it is some dark science? It verks, and I do not ask why. And, it keep's us safe. Even your friend now”. He gestured at a door. “Perhap's she is in here? Jah”?

Wylds eye's remained rooted on the Count. “Open it”.

Count Berger walked over. Grabbed the handle and pushed himself through the door. Wyld waited outside until he heard his voice call from inside. “I appear to have made a mistake. She is not here”.

Wyld approached the door and peered through. The Count stood in the centre of the room looking about. Then he snapped his fingers. “Perhaps she is hiding under the bed. Shall I check for you meine halb Frau”?

“I told you not to call me that”.

“Ah yes. I remember something about your wishes in that regard. Does this Zia hold you in such esteem”?

"Where is she"? Wyld growled as she began to think The Count had a trick up his sleeve. He's too cocky.

“Perhaps she has become part of our army? Who knows”.

“What army”? Wyld crossed the threshold.

The moment she did she wobbled. Her leg's nearly gave out as she put a hand to head. Managing to stay upright as The Count crossed the distance between them.

“Allow me halb Frau”. He said gently taking the gun. Holding it between his finger's in front of Wyld. She made to grab it. With a flick of his wrist The Count sent it flying towards to door. “Oh”. He said in a condenscending tone. “Clumsy me”.

Wyld spun towards the door. As she did the room spun with her and she fell. Her eye's were to heavy as she saw the gun in front of her. She reached out a hand that felt made of lead and tried to claw her way to it. Her body though was utterly incapacitated. Her mind was going the same way too. She saw The Count's boots in front of her but hadn't the strength to look up. “Wh-at....... ar-my”? She managed to get out.

“Still with us halb Frau”? The count knealt and took a fistful of her hair to drag her face up to look at him. “It is an army made to steal a greater army. To bring the greatest force of destruction under our control. A pity you are not more like me”. He said, tapping a spot on his temple behind the monocle. “I vould love to tell you, though I doubt you have enough time to hear all there is to say. Instead I choose a more selfish indulgence”. He said taking her head in both hands. “And know that vhile this vill hurt you”. He said baring his teeth as he raised Wyld higher off the floor. “It's going to be a fun memory for me”.

He slammed Wyld's head down onto the floor.

She felt a sharp pain, softened somewhat by the darkness that was already pulling the edge's of her into their embrace.

And as the dark stretched out to envelop her.

She thought.

Just maybe.

She thought she heard a voice, calling her name.

Zia?

*Edit


The Count looked down at Wylds prone form and resisted the urge to kick her for good measure.

The woman just aggravated him by her very presence. The Count just couldn't put his finger on it. Baldurjack was obviously the clear danger. But this woman had confronted him knowing more than he was comfortable with. The other's had been dealt with easily enough. But this one?

No. Maybe it was the prosethetic legs she wore. He looked at the and reviled them attached to her. It was not natural.

Or maybe it was her arrogance that she felt she could meet him as an equal. He shook his head. She was out of the picture now. No longer important

He left the room. Not bothering to close the door and arrived in the hall just as the soldier's emerged from the stairwell. "Gentlemen". He gestured down the corridor. "I trust your rest will be fruitful".

"Thanks". Said Tector, as he walked by. "Didn't know we'd see you up here".

"Another guest had to be tucked in". The Count said deadpan.

"Oh, right. Well, we'll be off".

"Vait". The Count pointed at Lewis. "I have changed my mind vith one of you. You vill accompany me downstairs".

"What"? Lewis said confused. "Why"?

The Count grunted in dissatisfaction at being asked. "Because I find myself being continually disrupted from my agenda. And I have one more guest who is being disruptive". He saw confusion still plastered on Lewis's face. "He may try to wake the guest's. It could be useful to have another pair of hands around". He explained and Lewis's face cleared up.

"Well, if you need a bouncer, then I'm your man. Guess I'll see you guys later". Lewis waved goodbye to his team as they all found unlocked doors and entered. Only to be followed by three thuds. Tector paused. "Hey, Count? There's a woman in there, I saw". He pointed to Wylds door. "She's kinda just laying around".

"She fell out of bed".

"Oh".

"The MediMech vill come soon and tuck her back in".

Tector gave The Count a thumbs up and disappeared into the room. Followed by a thud.

The Count and Lewis returned to the elevator and at The Count bequest, Lewis hit the button for the basement.

Modifié par Redbelle, 29 juillet 2013 - 06:44 .

[Redbelle]

The first thing Zia noticed, as she opened her eye's, was that she was in bed. Draped in sheet's that lay tangled at her feet. Looking down at them she saw large windows beyond. Through which she saw the Omega skyline rising up to greet her.

The second thing she noticed was that she was not alone. There were another pair of purple feet tangled amoungst the sheet with hers. Her groggy, sleep filled brain suddenly made her aware that someone was pressing against her. Skin on skin with a purple arm thrown over her. She was naked, in bed, she realised as her realisation gave way to contented bliss.

She took the arm and found the hand which she wrapped in her free one.She brought that hand to her lip's before snuggling back into the person she lay with.

“G'morning”. Came a sleepy voice from behind her.

Zia smiled. “Aria”. She wiggled into her. Relishing the feel of her against herself.

“Someone's obviously not pulling their weight”. Came the grumpy reply to Zia's efforts. “If your still wanting more the morning after”.

“Hmmm”. Despite her words, Zia remained where she was, as the heat between them, built to wrap her in a sleeve of contentment. “I could lay here, like this, all day”. Aria's hand slipped out of her's and slithered it's way over the draped sheet's to her hip. Zia had to bite her lip to stifle her reaction to Aria's ticklish exploration's.

“You have work”. Aria said. Zia felt her pull closer till her breath was now tickling her ear. “Your sister's need putting in their place and today, you'll show them who the top sister is”.

“Can't it wait till later”? Zia felt the hand on her hip disappear. And then yelped, as a sharp crack came down on her from behind.

“Is that backtalk I hear”?

Zia breathed hard. Now fully awake as the sting set in. “No, Aria”.

Aria let her hand trail up Zia's body and under her chin. Her touch delicate and tender. Before that too disappeared. Zia heard Aria roll over onto the other side of the bed. “Last night was great”. She said matter of factly. “Go shower”.

Zia let the sheet's fall away from her as she sat up and stretched. She looked back at Aria for the first time that morning. Only to see the back of her head and the slope of her shoulder disappearing under the sheet that covered her. Making her want to lean over and plant a kiss on that shoulder.

The sting of Aria's touch reminded her that Aria rarely asked for anything three times. Though as she rubbed the painful area as she wandered to the bathroom, she thought to herself that, parhaps one day, she might be curious enough to find out.

She'd probably need a cold pack on standby the day that happened.

Zia stepped through into the bathroom, feeling a chill as she passed through the door. Turning on the shower she stepped to the mirror above a basin as she allowed the shower water to heat up. Her face was a mess, she decided as she ran the tap, closed her eye's and splashed her face with water to ready herself for the day ahead of her. She ran her wet hands over her head and across her hair.

Something was wrong.

She opened her eye's as she brought her hands into view and gasped.

Where the water had touched them, her hands had turned Purple. In her hands lay strands of hair. Hair that was her colour. She reached up to run a hand through to check what was happening and as she felt her hand slide over her scalp, she felt something long and tipped at the end of her travels.

She looked up as the shower began to hiss steamy water and saw rivlut's of water, running across her skin, turning it from pink to purple as some Asari. Her hair was largely gone and as she ran her hands through what remained, to have it fall out on her, it's removal revealed elongated head tentacle's that curved behind her skull.

What the hell. Zia thought as she tried to flick off the water from her hands. Her face disappeared as the mirror misted.

What The....... HELP ME!!!

“Help me”. The sound came out as Zia's vision began to cloud. “Help me”. Only she wasn't the one crying out. She was sure.

“Please Help”! The sound was coming from in front of her as she drew and hand across the mirror, clearing the steam away, and stepped back, as as her vision cleared, to see her own face pressing against the mirror. “Please help me”!

Zia/Aria felt as if she were looking at two people at once from entirely different perspectives. One looked at the mirror and saw a trapped girl encased in it's frame.

The other saw her standing naked in the bathroom as water dripped down her body turning it a dark shade of purple. She, they, held a hand up to her chin as an even more intense shade of what was possessing her body appeared. Drawing a line down as more appeared on her face.

Her face.

It was not her face. She knew this face to well to not know who this woman was that she looking at.

“Zia”.

The angry growl froze her, even inside the mirror, as her other self urned and regarded a new presence in the room with a haughty glance. Zia pressed against the glass of the mirror. Trying to see towards the door. And was shocked by what she saw.

Aria stood there. Wrapped in bed sheet's.

Her face was gone. A simple flattened surface where her features used to be. “Zia”. The figure didn't. Couldn't say anything. The voice was coming from her body that was streaked with purple, where the water she had touched had turned her skin from it's usual pink.

She pressed against the glass. Trying to shout a warning. Trying to tell Aria that it was not her and to keep away from the water when she realised she was trying to warn the wrong person.

The one saying her name, was both herself and Aria

Zia watched as the faceless Aria crossed over to her transforming body. “Zia”. She heard Zia/Aria's body say as rage simmered in her voice. “I never promised that you could take this much from me”. The faceless Aria stopped in front of what Zia now realised was the essential essence of Aria. “When you take what isn't your's”. Zia/Aria said as the faceless drew an arm back. “You should be prepared to suffer the consequences”.

The Faceless Arai drove her fingers forward and they disappeared in the Zia/Aria's forhead as her thumb came down into the cheekbone. Zia felt sharp stabs of pain where those finger's delved and cried out in agony as she leaned against' the mirror's glass. Bracing herself against the pain. It did little good however as the faceless Aria drew back her hand. Drawing her face off Zia's body. Zia could see Aria's face gimacing in pain as she bit her lip so hard blood came forth. She never uttered a sound however as with one final wrench the Faceless Aria tore her face from Zia's pink and purple streaked body.

Zia's head was swimming as tears poured down her face. A shadow came before her and she loked up to see the faceless Aria standing in front of the mirror. She held aloft her face in the palm of her fist, who glared at Zia's in the mirror. “How many more time's must we go through this? Until you learn”! Her disembodied face snarled. Then Aria's body drew back her other fist and smashed it into the mirror.

Zia saw the glass crack from within and realised that it was her only window to the world. She pushed and clawed at the surface as piece's of mirror began to fall away. Taking the world with them. Until finally, she was engulfed in darkness................

...................The first thing Zia noticed, as she opened her eye's, was that she was in bed. Draped in sheet's that lay tangled at her feet. Looking down at them she saw large windows. Though which she saw the Omega skyline rising up to greet her.

The second thing she noticed was that she was not alone. There were another pair of purple feet tangled amoungst the sheet with hers. Her groggy, sleep filled brain suddenly made her aware that someone was pressing against her. Skin on skin with a purple arm thrown over her. She was naked, in bed, she realised as her realisation gave way to contented bliss.

She took the arm and found the hand which she wrapped in her free one.She brought that hand to her lip's before snuggling back into the person she lay with.

“G'morning”. Came a sleepy voice from behind her.

Zia smiled. “Aria”. She wiggled into her. Relishing the feel of her against herself.

“Someone's obviously not pulling their weight”. Came the grumpy reply to Zia's efforts. “If your still wanting more the morning after”................

Modifié par Redbelle, 28 juillet 2013 - 09:54 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Shayrana looked around the room at the glum faces. She stood up and walked down the steps and sat down with the rest of the squad.

"How's the sarge?" Erikka asked.

"She's doing okay. No pain at the moment, that's for sure." Shayrana said. "But I'm wondering more about how the rest of you are doing."

"Well I sure as f*** don't plan on rotting in this room." T said.

"Neither do I. We've got to get the sarge back to that hospital." Shayrana replied. "And we need more ammo."

"Shayrana probably needs another Marine." Ranassa said.

"Knock it off!" Ereba said.

"It's alright." Shayrana intervened trying to calm her. "Yes, there was an Alliance Marine in that building, and you did see him. I tried to render aid, but he was too far gone. He begged me to shoot him but with us being so low on thermal clips I guided him onward. He was in a state of bliss. There. Are you happy now?"

"And that's why that banshee's head went flying?" Erikka said. "You absorbed what energy he had?"

"What would you have had me do? Waste it?" Shayrana replied. "Are you afraid of me now? I can't harm you, and I wouldn't do that to you unless you were dying, and you asked. I'm not that powerful. Damned bunch of pansies in here." She stood up completely disgusted with the group and walked over to the door where Ereba was holding the barrier.

"Hey." Shayrana said to her and slapped her on the ass.

"Hey yourself, kid." Ereba replied. "So what's the plan?"

"You can drop the barrier. We're moving out." Shayrana said. "Erikka, you help Sarge. T you take point. Ranassa you take rear. Ereba you're with me. We'll go as a group. We're going back the way we came. Let's go people!" The sarge gave her a thumbs up.

T opened the door and looked around outside. The street looked clear, and she motioned for them to move out. They stayed close to the side of the street and in the shadows so as not to make themselves targets. T raised her fist to stop. They had reached the open place where the reaper troops were coming through. She waved Ranassa through first; then the sarge and Erikka; then Shayrana and Ereba; then T made the dash, and they resumed the march.

"You know if we survive this battle I'm going back on my meds. And if we survive this war I'm going to finish the gene therapy." Shayrana told Ereba.

"I figured you were, but why bring that up now?" Ereba asked.

"Just wanted you to know." Shayrana said and smiled at her.

Ereba got a smug look on her face. Shayrana was very attractive. Ereba smiled, but she felt something in the air at that moment. She tapped T on the shoulder and told her to hold position. T raised her fist. "Cover me." Ereba said. and she went ahead about twenty meters to get a better look. Her specialty was infiltration. She cloaked and flipped on the infrared. They weren't reaper troops. She scanned UV. Then motioned for everyone to move up.

"Well?" T asked.

"Human. I don't know if they're refugees, resistance, or Alliance. They only have small arms, so probably not Alliance." Ereba said.

"We should be careful not to spook them." Shayrana said. "Everyone, no noise. Let's go around them. How are you doing, sarge?"

"I could use another pain killer." She replied.

Shayrana got the kit out of Erikka's backpack. There were some pre-loaded injectables. One of those would be the best remedy at this time. She gave her a shot of demerol. "Let me know if that helps."

"Yeah. That really did. Now I just hope i can walk without... falling." Soniri said.

"I can handle him." Erikka said.

"Good. We've got to cross up ahead. We should do that as a group." Shayrana told them. "The building we were in is right up there on the left not 35 meters away. This is a store next to us. There might be some food in here. It's probably all gone, but we could get lucky if the looters missed anything. We might want to grab some before we move on. Throw it in Ranassa's pack."

"Hey why mine? Why not T's or yours?" Ranassa whined.

"Because I said yours." Shayrana replied. "Now stop your whining."

"Good idea." The sarge said. "We'll need food if this thing drags out longer than they said. A 24 hour operation. If we're not out in 24 hours the operation was a failure. Then it becomes every unit for themselves."

They went into the store and started grabbing stuff off the shelves like energy bars, nutritional bars, water which they drank right on the spot.

"I intend for us to survive this damned war." Shayrana said. "I still intend to go to art school."

Ranassa was sitting on one of the counters. "Well **** me! Now that's what I call motivation!" Ranassa busted out laughing.

"What the hell difference does it make if it helps us survive, ****?" T replied.

"Yeah, what are you going to do after the war? Try to get into Sederis' panties again?" Erikka said.

T busted out laughing.

"Get your ass of the counter and do something besides ****, moan, and complain!" Shayrana said.

"Yes, Corporal!" Ranassa said.

While they were conversing the humans had moved, and walked right into the store.

"You guys are making enough f****** noise to attract every f****** reaper in this area!" the leader said quietly. "Now quiet the f*** down!"

Ranassa slid off the counter and pointed her LMG at the leader. "Who the f*** are you to come in here like that? Come in nice and slow and no one gets hurt."

Shayrana stepped forward and asked. "Who are you?"

"Tell your friends to lower their weapons. You're surrounded." The leader said then stepped into the dim light.

Shayrana motioned for them to lower their weapons.

"We're on the same side. Name is Jack. Alliance Grissom Academy. We've been supplying biotic support for units on this flank." Jack said. "But now we're out of units, and we're way down on energy."

"Corporal Shayrana, Artemis Commando Platoon. We're taking the sarge back to the hospital. We're all that's left and we're low on ammo as in one more small attack and we're throwing rocks."

"S***." Jack said. "Hey, maybe we can... help each other out?"

"How?" Shayrana asked.

"If you can spare like two clips, I'll send Rodriguez and Bellarmine back to the hospital with your sarge. Those two are really fatigued. There's a crashed shuttle not too far from here. We'll escort you over to it. I saw several containers of thermal clips in it, and you might find some grenades." Jack said. "They're yours."

"We're listening." Ereba said.

"I wasn't talking to you." Jack said. "Then I've heard they set up a staging area up ahead somewhere. My com has been giving me some problems. Maybe there's a different on the shuttle and I can find out some more info on it, and you can help us get there." Jack continued. "Deal?"

Shayrana looked around at the other four. "What do you guys think? Better than hanging around waiting to get turned into slush. We have an extra AR. Can any of your people use one?"

"I'll take it. Single shot Mattock? Nice." Jack said. "I'm nearly out of shotgun rounds, myself. This might come in handy, thanks." She extended her hand.

"Since we're going to be getting this escort, share the food." Shayrana ordered. The unit started passing out energy bars to the Grissom Academy kids.

"But...." Ranassa complained.

"Now." Shayrana ordered then to Jack. "Don't mind her. She used to be a commander in Eclipse before Sederis got thrown in prison."

"Thanks. You guys are alright." Jack said to her. "What happened to the rest of your unit?"

"Wiped out in an artillery strike from some ravagers, and a harvester passing overhead supplying air support." Shayrana told her. "I thought the sarge and I were the only ones left, but we were separated from these guys. We couldn't find our lieutenant. She had a... medical condition."

"Careful. She does, too." Ranassa said.

Jack backed away. "What kind of medical condition?"

"Stowe it, Ranassa!" Shayrana ordered. "I saved your ass, remember? Goddess, I hate this war."
 
"What kind of medical condition?" Jack asked.

"It's more of a disability. It's a genetic disorder that comes in three different types. The lieutenant was and I am type 1. This is very treatable. We just take meds for it and undergo gene therapy. Once the gene therapy is done we're off our meds and can lead normal lives.

"Type 2 is extremely rare, and requires extensive gene therapy and a life time on meds, but otherwise can lead normal lives. If they do not want to undergo the gene therapy they can live in a monastery. Type 2 can be dangerous to species without biotic abilities. They are essentially energy vampires. Type 3, is exceedingly rare, and this is the most dangerous of them all, is untreatable. They are given a choice of life in a monastery or death. They are called Ardat Yakshi. Types 1 and 2 are called Ardat Yakshi Syndrome.

"Type 1 affects 1% of the Asari population. Type 2 about one in 100,000. Type 3? There were rumors of one on Illium a year ago. That's out of the entire Asari population."

Jack relaxed. "I remember that last one. So you couldn't do anything to me is what you're saying."

Shayrana sighed. "Finally someone who understands. Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying." Then turned and stuck her tongue out at Ranassa. "The reapers are using AYS type 1s to make banshees. That's why there are so many of them. I'll tell you this, they are not taking me alive."

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 28 juillet 2013 - 08:14 .

[Kel Riever]

If they could see everything, I’d be dead already. I would be dead. They’re already dead. Rea clung to that last thought with every shred of her will. They are already dead. They are gone. This is just what is left of the body…the bodies. So many bodies.

The asari knew the taste left in her mouth from swallowing the water must have been at least part human blood. Her lungs still hurt, and as what must have been an adrenaline rush subsided, the aches of her body became noticeable. Rea’s entire right side had been unnaturally stretched, and on that side, her strained muscles were stiffening. She moved along the wall to the left, her good hand still using it for stability, keeping her head just above the floating remains. At the edge of the alcove, she stopped and peeked out into the greater cavern. Though Rea must have been below wherever she fell from, it was impossible for her to find the crumbled ledge where she had been, or any point of familiarity for that matter. The alloy wall continued along, though it lowered, eventually meeting the surface and disappearing several hundreds of meters away. The Dragon’s Teeth varied in their distance to the wall, but never came close to it, always staying at least as far as they were currently.

They are already dead. There is nothing I can do for them. These are just the bodies. Rea focused again. Shadows could infrequently be seen moving; some frail, some hulking, and sometimes she heard sounds besides the operating Dragon’s Teeth. I gave my word to Rothan. I said I would be back. What have I seen?

None of the stories that soldiers shared with Rea had helped her. None of the pictures shown, the concepts anyone had come up with, nor anything she had even experienced herself in all of her prior conflicts. Nothing could capture the scope of what was happening like the cavern did.  I know I can do this, Rea said to herself, but the foundation she always returned to had been cracked. She was alone. There was no one to focus on now but her. I’ve never been good at being alone. I need someone. Ali…

~~~~

Rea relaxed in the bath of her apartment. She had been flying her contragravity racing cycle with her sisters and her mother that day. The family had spent hours off the main skyways, stressing the cycles by pulling high G turns, challenging one another, and generally making a bunch of fools of themselves. Rea had to come home early to meet Ali, though. Her lover said she wanted to talk over dinner. They were going to go out, maybe to Elegant, or Sannia, or one of the other high-end restaurants they liked to treat themselves to. She knew Ali had been quiet lately. That was sometimes her way. Maybe something bothered her, but the nice thing about Ali was that she was older, and didn’t waste a lot of time before she would tell what was going on with her. Or maybe, she finally wanted to ask Rea the big question. Rea grinned and sung softly to herself.

It was getting late. Outside it rained heavily. The thunder had always soothed Rea, rumbling like a giant parent, cooing to her while cradling her in its arms. Maybe Ali wanted to just skip dinner and they could have the evening to themselves. Rea let herself drift off to sleep.

The door chime woke her. Rea started, wondering how much time had passed. The rain droned on. She got out of the bath, put on a robe, and headed for the door. Did Ali forget her key code? “I’m coming,” she called out. Rea hit the panel to open the door and smiled momentarily, before she realized the person standing in the doorway wasn’t Ali.

It was Ben, their mutual friend. The human stood in the doorway, drenched from the rain. Ben was a soft-spoken, blonde haired man they had met over a year ago at a bar. One of the few non-asari on Thessia, he had a unique skill in architectural programming that landed him his dream job working on the asari home world. Ben looked nervous.

Rea burst out, “Someone hurt?”

“No, I mean…no. No accidents or people dead, or whatever. I…”

“Never mind. Come in.” Without giving Ben pause to speak, Rea continued, “Ali should be here soon. Actually, I was expecting her already. Probably got tied up.’ Rea headed to the bedroom and out of sight, but talked loudly enough to be heard. She snatched up the nearest apparel at hand, her riding suit left on the edge of the bed, and put it on. "Sit down and grab a drink. Sorry, you caught me waiting. The family and I went cycling today...furiously! I was just cooling off. Its too late for Ali and me to go out, so if you want to hang around for a bit, that’s fine.” When Rea came out of the bedroom, Ben had stepped in, but the door was still open, and he was still standing, looking nervous.

“Rea, Ali left.”

At first, Rea hesitated. Then in disbelief, she chuckled, “What do you mean left? Left for where?”

There was no sign of humor in Ben’s face. “Rea, she left. For good. Ali’s not even going to be on Thessia anymore.”

Rea felt her stomach drop out from her. She searched Ben’s expression for any sign of insincerity. Not wanting to hear what he was saying, she choked, “No. You can’t be serious. There has to be some misunderstanding.”

Ben looked to his feet, but then straight back at her. “No. You’re a good friend, Rea. I came to tell you because she wasn’t going to.” He watched as Rea’s eyes moistened. “Ali lost it. I was at Rel’s bar. She came in upset, ordered a drink, and told me she was getting a new life. I asked her what she was talking about and she said she didn’t want to be tied down to this planet of…I wont say it…this planet forever.”

“Say it, Ben. Don’t come up short with me.” Rea folded her arms.

“Pureblood.” Ben sighed, “Ali said she didn’t want to be tied down to this pureblood planet. I think she took something her mother said too far, Rea. You know she never cared about what her mother said when it came to you. She loves you…”

Rea couldn’t stop her tears.

“…come on,” Ben implored. “Come on, she...Don’t make me…because I know she has to love you.” Rea waited for him to finish. “Okay, because you deserve to know. Ali said you were never good at being alone. And how would she get anywhere tied down to you, and Thessia? I tried to talk her out of it. But she wouldn’t listen. I asked her where she was going and she wouldn’t tell me. Ali just said she might as well be already dead if she stayed, and she had to catch an off planet shuttle in an hour. Then she said goodbye and stormed out.”

“I’m calling her.” Rea activated the computer display on her wrist.

“Ali won’t answer.”

Fragile, impossible hope ignited in Rea, “Then I’ll go get her! When did she leave?”

“Um, maybe forty minutes ago.” Suddenly, he became enthusiastic. “I’m so stupid, I should have said right away. Maybe we can still catch her! I can get us an X3M. We can both talk some sense into her!”

“Too slow, Ben.” Rea felt her spirit leap. “I can get her on the cycle.” Rea snatched her helmet off a side table and put her hand on Ben’s shoulder, “You’re not stupid. You’re my hero for getting yourself up here and telling me.” With that, she ran out the door.

The thunderstorm had subsided, but the rain persisted. When the cycle’s VI tried to enact protocols to stop Rea from violating the local traffic laws, she overrode them. Pushing the cycle to its limits, she flew low to the ground, to avoid detectors meant to pick up speeders at normal heights. It was dangerous but the thrill of stopping Ali had Rea throw caution to the wind. The engine screamed.

Over a rise, the starport came into view. Rea would skim down the gently rolling side of the geographic basin it was in, and be there in minutes. She checked her chronometer, trying to judge how much time it would take to find Ali’s departure zone, get through security, and stop her. A warning light flashed and she ignored it, holding the throttle to its maximum. You can break after I get there, she told the cycle as if it could hear her.

The cycle jolted. Her display lit up in red lights. The VI began to audibly list her dangers, “Stabilizer fractured, engine overheated, stall warning,” Not now!  “Descend. Descend. Descend.” Rea tried to keep the nose up as the cycle took a hard dip towards the ground below.

When it hit, Rea was held fast by the harness straps. The cycle was designed to be secure in a collision, holding itself upright, as well as enveloping its exposed rider with a safety shield. But the cycle was tearing itself apart as it skidded across the paved surface she had crashed onto. No one was around, and buildings that rose on either side of her were out of the way. When the cycle finally stopped, half disintegrated from its landing, Rea was in one piece, and she stepped out of its wreckage.

Rea looked to the sky and checked her chronometer once more. There was no chance of her making it, even if she could find some other way to get to the starport. Desperately, she called Ali again from her hand computer. There was an answer.

“I knew Ben would tell you, Rea.”

“Don’t go,” Rea sobbed, “I’m almost there. We’re going to work this out.”

“No, we’re not.” Ali’s normally song-like alto voice was wracked. “We’re young. Especially you. One-hundred seventy eight years old? There’s too much out there to do. We can’t be holding each other back.”

“You’ve got my word. I’ll wait,” Rea pleaded.

“Wait with Ben, then. He’s a good guy. When you’re three-hundred seventy eight, he’ll be long gone and you can move on. Besides, you know how it is; your mother would kill my mother. Do you want me to stay hear on Thessia, like some already dead husk, if I stayed?”

“We’ll go together, Ali. I’ll leave it all behind.”

Don’t follow me, Rea. I love you. But I need to leave now. There’s nothing you can do for me.”

“Please…I, we can. I know I’m not good at being alone.”

“You never were, Rea. We had great times together. All is one. Farewell.” The call disconnected.

Rea watched the shuttles from the starport lift off, the glimpse of their lights rising high before they faded. Ali was on one of them...

~~~~

I gave my word. We could have done it. Wading through the water, Rea tried to breathe steadily through her pain as she moved. The carnage lapped against her neck. Above her, she knew the wall was getting lower, but it still rose up, its lights continuing upward. They are already dead. They are gone. This is just what is left of the bodies. All the bodies.

Modifié par Kel Riever, 29 juillet 2013 - 03:29 .

[sH0tgUn jUliA]

Everyone was stuffing their faces with the food, and replenishing their fluids. The fighting had taken more out of them than they had realized. Shayrana went over to have a talk with Ranassa about privacy, and Erikka checked on the sarge.

"Hey, Erikka. How you doing?" the Sarge asked.

"Not bad considering. I'm just worried about you." Errika said. "I hope those two kids know what they're doing."

"I'm not worried. You saw that b****? I wouldn't mess with her." Soniri laughed. "I even think a matriarch would give pause before messing with her. But you see the way the kids look at her?"

"Yeah, they look at her like she's some kind of badass goddess. And all that ink." Erikka said.

"Erikka get our supplies together. I need to talk to our new friend." the sarge said.

"Sure sarge." Erikka said and left and used her biotics to get stuff off the top shelves.

"Hey, Jack?" The sarge said. "Can I talk to you for a minute."

"Yeah, sure." Jack said and she walked over. "You're not worried about Reilly and Rodriguez being capable are you? And you're not going to ask me about my ink? Everyone usually does."

"No, not at all." Soniri replied. "I've been a commmando for 10 years. I was noticing how the kids look at you. They have a hell of a lot of respect for you. I don't see that much shown to COs very often. Treasure it. So what's your story anyway?"

"I took out the Collectors with Shepard and company on the Normandy SR-2. Beyond that is ancient history, and I don't want to talk about it." Jack said.

"Noted. I've got stuff in my past, too, I don't want to talk about." Soniri said. "Hey, can you flip up the leathers hanging around my cast, please?"

"Sure." Jack said. "Damn, that leg is swollen around the cast, and your foot. Someone check around for some cold packs. Do we have any in our med kit? Who put this f****** cast on?"

"I did." Shayrana said. "She got run over by a brute."

"It looks nice, but you put it on a little too tight." Jack said. "Let's cool it down, then we're going to have to move. Sarge, they'll have to remove this cast when you get to the hospital, but we have to move and pretty soon so you don't lose this leg."

"And here I was looking forward to going back to stripping again." Soniri laughed, and Jack tried to stifle a smile, but couldn't. Gallows humor always got her.

"Sorry sarge. I didn't mean to do that." Shayrana said.

"Don't worry about it. I know you did your best." Soniri said to her. "I hate this damned war."

"You and me both, sis. You and me both." Jack said while holding the cold pack. "Does that feel any better?"

"Yes, thanks. If there's anything I can do for you later, if we survive this, you let me know." Soniri said "I have friends who owe me. Good people, if they're still alive."

"Damn it. I'm not good at this soft stuff." Jack said to her. "You wouldn't understand..., but thanks." Then she turned to Rodriguez. "Hey, you two. Make sure you stop every now and then, sit down and make sure the sarge elevates the leg for a few minutes. Have you got that?"

"Yeah yeah.." Reilly said.

"Don't 'yeah yeah' me you f... You better f***ing remember to do it." Jack said emphatically. "She makes to the hospital, or it's your ass."

"Okay okay." Reilly said.

"Reilly's just dense. We've got it covered." Rodriguez said.

"You f***ing better." Jack said.

"They like hearing you swear at them." Soniri said. "I'm alright. Let's get the f*** out of here."

Modifié par sH0tgUn jUliA, 29 juillet 2013 - 05:46 .

[Kel Riever]

Rea’s right side was cramping. She kept moving along the alloy wall as it lowered to her level and gave way to natural clay. The first opening that she would be able to reach wasn’t far ahead, an opening not much larger than the crawlway she had come from. I gave my word.

A brute had passed by again, forcing Rea to hide under water momentarily. It wasn’t as close as the first she encountered in the cavern, and likewise seemed unable or uninterested to find her. The Dragon’s teeth were farther away, and the shadows at the edge of her vision were less frequent. Remotely, along the course that the cavern travelled, a barely audible humming reached Rea’s ears. She didn’t like the sound of it. I don’t want to go there. They are already dead.

It only took a bit longer for Rea to reach the opening. Waiting until she thought it was clear, Rea pulled herself up and inside. She stumbled, crumbling a bit of the clay away at the edge, before she regained herself and crawled onward. The earth hewn corridor was taller than the crawlway, and Rea soon got to her feet, though she needed to remain crouched. The corridor was also not as long, ending in twenty or thirty meters. It terminated in a brick wall that had been broken through. Past the wall was some sort of ancient vault. Masonry held up the ceiling with numerous archways, and it seemed as if the chamber was an untended part of the historically preserved railway system. There were no tracks, nor equipment. Just one visible staircase leading up and away. Rea clambered into the chamber, examining its interior to make sure it was empty. She moved to the stairs, but as she put her foot on the first step, she stopped. The muscles in her neck and sides cramped severely. Rea bent down to rest on her knees at the foot of the staircase and leaned on one of the steps with her left arm. I don’t want to go. I gave my word. Think this through…

~~~~

“Tizzy can’t catch me! She’s as slow as an elcor,” Rea shouted at her only younger sister.

“I am not!” Tizzy giggled, knowing Rea was teasing as she chased her, down a grass covered hill.

“With much slowness, Tizdanau Iallis can’t catch super fast Rea.” Rea looked over her shoulder, and slowed down so Tizzy could close the gap between them.

Tizzy breathed heavily, “I’m gonna so get you…oops!” She tripped just as she was about to reach Rea, tumbling into her. Both the asari children fell over and rolled down the hill.

When at last they came to a stop at the bottom of the hill, Rea sat up and looked down at Tizzy, “You okay?” Tizzy nodded, and then Rea started to tickle her.

Howling in laughter, neither sister heard their names called until Layl, one of their older siblings, yelled out to them for the third time, “Hey! You two rock heads! Mom wants to see you!”

Rea peeped up at Layl, who looked very serious. Rea sassed, “At least we have rocks in our heads. You have nothing. Just poof! Open air.” Tizzy then tackled Rea again.

Layl became a deep shade of purple. “I don’t need you two brats talking back to me. I’m going to tell mom that you didn’t listen. And she’s going to attend to you for a really long time!”

The two youngest sisters stopped. They knew what ‘attended to’ meant in their family. Tizzy and Rea stood up, and ran past Layl. As they passed their older sister, Rea mocked, “You’re still a nothing head.” Layl fumed and scrambled after them.

Over the next grassy hill, the three sisters saw the rest of their family. Their father was corralling the younger siblings into either of the two X2M aircars, while Rea’s three oldest sisters waited impatiently on their racing cycles. “Picnic is over, kids,” the father directed, “Everybody in.” Rea spotted her mom standing in front of her own, white, two-seat cycle. She didn’t look happy.

“You two! Rea, Tizzy, get over here.’ Rea felt shame and complied, as did Tizzy. She looked up at her mother, powerful and beautiful, even in her anger. Her orange facial markings were like embers on her cerulean skin. Though Rea never inherited the markings, she did have the same bright eyes of her mother. Eyes that now commanded attention.

“Mom, I told them to come right away!’ Layl had followed, “They didn’t listen.”

“Go get in the car, Layl.”

The wind taken out of her sails, Layl slouched and headed for an X2M.

“Now, you two. When I send one of your sisters to get you, you come. Rea, Tizzy is the youngest so you are the one in charge when it comes to you two doing what I tell you. Do I make myself clear?”

Rea gulped, “Clear as glass, mom.”

“Well, we’ll see about that. Tizzy, go with your dad.” Tizzy sniffed, but took off immediately. Rea’s mom studied her for a moment, and then turned back. “Rea, get a helmet on. You are riding with me.”

Normally, Rea would be thrilled to be the one to ride with her mother. But she felt like a punishment was about to be administered. “Please,” she begged, “Mom. I’ll do it next time. I don’t want to be attended to.”

Her mother pointed to the cycle. Rea donned her helmet and got in the back seat. Mom mounted up after her, fired the engine, and called her father through the com. “Dear, take the kids without me. I’m going to have a talk with Rea.” She then launched, banked the cycle away from the rest of the family, and headed out to fly along the coast.

Some time passed where they rode quietly. Rea watched the birds, and the glistening light of Parnitha reflecting off the water. Eventually, her mother began to talk.

“You are going to be eight years old next week, Rea. You are going to have to learn more about doing things you don’t want to do. Like come when you are told to and set a better example for Tizzy.”

“Yes, mom.”

“I scheduled your Exploratory Biotic Exam for tomorrow.”

“But mom,” Rea bellyached, “I don’t want to go there. I want to be a fighter pilot. They don’t need biotic training.”

“Rea, you’re going to do it like all your sisters before you did. And if you are proficient, you are going to train like they did, regardless of what you end up doing for the rest of your life.”

“But…”

Rea’s mother became grave, “I didn’t spend my last two centuries hauling myself from one end of the Relay corridors to the other as a merc to have you questioning me, young girl. We do certain things in this family so you are ready to become whatever you need to be. I’m not getting myself shot at right now and I’m raising all you kids with your father because I can do whatever I need to whenever the need arises. You are taking your EBE, and that is that.”

“Yes, mom.” Rea knew when to stop fighting.

“Good.” Rea’s mother contemplated, and added, “Besides, if you promise to perform as best you can, maybe I’ll get you the gift you’ve been asking me to get you for your birthday.”

Rea’s mood changed completely. She burst out, “Do you mean the Regional?”

“Mmm hmm.”

Rea squealed, “The Regional Cycle Races? You mean with Terminatrix, and Silver Specter, and Afterburner, and, and, and Eccentric?!”

“All your favorite racers.”

“Yes! I promise to do the best I can!”

“Think this through, Rea,” her mother said, cooling her voice. “You are giving me your word. You do your best. You give it your all. And if that’s what I see at your EBE, then we go to the Regional.”

“Mom,” Rea said in her most stern voice, “I give you my word.”

The young asari watched as her mother leaned her head, weighing the commitment that had been made. “All right,” she responded, “I accept.” She began to bank the cycle inland. “Let’s go home.”

Rea pushed forward in her seat, against the straps. “Let’s go fast, mom. Like racers!”

~~~~

On the floor of the chamber, Rea pulled up her omni-tool display. She opened a text communication screen, not wanting to make any sound. Rea typed the words, “Rothan, I’m still alive,” before pausing. Then she placed her head against the wall, wondering whether she should put down the next thought in her mind. Her fingers continued on their own accord, “I’m terrified.” Rea sent the message and closed her eyes.

Modifié par Kel Riever, 29 juillet 2013 - 11:20 .

[Redbelle]

Baldurjack emerged on top of the roof with Dougal and looked at at the smoke filled sky. He didn't know what to expect. It was still as overcast as it had been before. In the distance he could hear the sounds of his war fought.

He had to hurry. Gather his robot army. And make his way to the front line to lead the charge. To show all the ones who he had to protect how to bally well fight a bally war in time for supper. And tea.

He squared his shoulder's. He was most certainly going to be quick. He was due to have tea. With a Count no less. What The Count's credentials were he had no idea. But he sounded important and had a mech army he could borrow. That was enough that Baldurjack knew he had to sit down and impress the man.

Dougal pointed to a small structure ahead. It's roof top contained many an antenna and several dishes.

It's door was also guarded by a red force field.

“Master. I believe you will find what you seek in there”.

Baldurjack walked up to the ramshackle door, looked to have been hastily and sloppily constructed. “Just not up for it”. He muttered, and reached forward. The tip of his finger touched the forcefield and the smell of burnt flesh hit him just as he felt a tingling in his backside as the forcefield parted. At the same time Baldurjack jerked his finger back and howled. “It burnt me” He shook his finger a few times as he hopped around the roof. “It bloody burnt me”! He popped the finger in his mouth as Dougal walked up and inspected the forcefield.

“This is new”. He said at last. “We have never seen something like this before”.

“I'll say we haven't”. Baldurjack yelled out of the corner of his mouth as he kept his finger tucked into the other side. “This is a disaster! How am I supposed to get my army if that thing's in the way”?

“Jump”.

Baldurjack starred at Dougal who looked back in all seriousness. “Jump through and it will not touch you”.

“Ere now lad....”. Baldurjack began.

Dougal scrunched his face up as his eye's clenched closed before opening them again.“It is like fire master”. He explained. “Move fast enough and you will be protected. It will not touch you”.

“Er”. Baldurjack looked at the door. “Er, you do it Dougal”.

“I am a dog master. I am covered in hair”. Dougal pointed out. “If I caught fire I would burn through my uniform”.

“Yes”. Baldurjack nodded in understanding. “Yes, that would be awkward wouldn't it. You running around with no clothes on. Couldn't meet the count then, what”? He looked at the door. “Well, must show em how it's done I suppose. Tip of the spear and all that”. He backed up from the door. Then he backed up a little more before rubbing his hands together. Then he took another step back.

“Master”?

“Just getting a good run up”!

“Your running out of roof to back up on”.

Baldurjack looked over his shoulder and saw he was a step away from the edge of the building. He looked at the glowing red door, far away. “Ok. Count me down”. Dougal raised an eyebrow but did as he was told. Starting from ten he watched as Baldurjack steeled himself. Then steeled himself some more. Then again. Then finally when he got to one Baldurjack let out a cry and tore towards the door. A dash that lasted about five metres.

“No no no”. He said. “That was to long. To much time to think about it. Let's start from five this time eh”?

Dougal sighed as Baldurjack went back to his starting position. Dougal counted down, this time from five and Baldurjack again roared as he sprinted for the door.

This time he pulled up five metres from the door. Dougal winced but encouraged the Brigadier. “I believe you made progress that time master”.

“To much”. Baldurjack said. “It's to much still. To much time to think about it. Maybe if we shorten the distance"! He said half turning. "Let's go with two this time. And maybe not so far away to run , eh”?

“Perhaps if master would only think of the army he would gain on the other sid.....”.

“ARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHH”! Baldurjack roared once more as without warning he spun towards the door without a countdown and flung himself through it.

As he passed through he felt immense heat that dissipated as soon as he felt it come on him. The tingling in his backside also returned. A hundred time worse than before. The ramshackle door on the other the forcefield gave one pathetic effort to resist him. Then gave up as his shoulder barged on through and he was tumbling across the floor of the roof building. He staggered up to sit and looked down to see his uniform smoking slightly. He reached up and with relief, felt his moustache still in place, having not been burned away.

Dougal walked up to him. “Throwing an arm over your face was an inspired decision master”. He said blandly. “Though I fear you eye brows did not enjoy the same protection”.

Baldurjack reached up and true enough, felt nothing but skin as his eyebrows had been seared away. He looked up at Dougal who looked down at him as he sat on the floor. “Blessed saint's boy! How did you get in here? If there was another way you could have mentioned......”.

Dougal interrupted by pointing a finger to the far wall. “I believe we have found what you seek master”.

Baldurjack looked over and saw the room as filled with machines and equipment. The room was filled with the hum of machine's as they went about what ever purpose they were designed for. Where Dougal pointed was a terminal standing up against the wall.

Baldurjack stood with some difficulty and waddled over to the terminal. Dougal behind him looking at how Baldurjack was moving.

“Why are you walking so funny, master”?

“Shuddup”. Baldurjack reached the terminal and leant against it. Happy to have some relief from supporting himself as he activated the holographic displays. The system booted up. Ready for access.

Baldurjack had no idea what to do.

“Allow me master”. Dougal said as he reached forward off to the side.

“Yes, thank you Sargent”. Said Baldurjack as his hand mirrored Dougal's action's. He looked over at Dougal while his hand went about it's work. “I say boy. What's wrong with you? You look all, droopy”!

Dougal said nothing, but his skin did seem to sag slightly as his hand worked quickly. His breath seemed just a bit to fast. His eye's just a bit to wide.

As Dougal withdrew his hand Baldurjack withdrew his and turned on him. “Dammit it Douga!l when I ask a question I expect an answer”!

“Yes sir”. Said Dougal as he turned to face the Brigadier. His features once again smart and composed. “Sorry sir. I was distracted”.

Baldurjack looked around the spartan room filled with machines that seemed to have stopped humming. “Distracted by what”?

“I was...... thinking about a stick sir”.

“We don't have time to play fetch. Now let's get's going. We have a Count to meet”.

Dougal let him get a few meter's before saying with a low growl. “That's not what I'd use the stick on you for”. Then followed Baldurjack who came to the door.

The red glow was gone.

“Well I'll be damned”. Said Baldurjack running his hand along where the field had been. “Your doing”?

“Yes sir. I also took the liberty of shutting down other systems that were an inconvenience. I am glad to say we should have no trouble dealing with the Count now”.

“And the mechs”.

Dougal paused. “I'm sorry to say that they are all defective sir. The Count's army is past it's warranty and they have been rendered non functional”.

“Eh”? Said Baldurjack, confused. “But I saw the blessed things working”!

“Perhaps if you spoke to him about it over tea”?

Baldurjack could have slapped himself. Tea! “Come”. He ordered as he strode back towards where they had come. “No time to dawdle! I'm bally well going to get a cup of tea in this place if it kills me”!

“Perish the thought, sir”. Said Dougal as they made their way back to the lift. Upon entering Baldurjack worked the collar of his uniform. “Sargent. How do I look”?

Dougal ran an eye over his crisped uniform. His skin looked like he had suffered sunburn and his face, devoid of eyelashes, only seemed more ridiculous by the absence of hair that had been exposed from under his beret. He nodded. “One cannot dismiss the presence you project sir”. He said. Then sighed as Baldurjack's expression became all the more pleading. “You look great”.

The Elevator pinged and Baldurjack hurried out at a determined pace. “Mustn't be late”. He muttered to himself over and over when Dougal called him back.

“Master. Perhaps these would help you invoke the image you seek”.

Baldurjack looked over his shoulder at where Dougal stood next to the elevator doors. Next to his feet lay a Rapier and a white off the shoulder cloak. “Good Boy”! Baldurjack bellowed as he swooped down on them. He quickly latched the sword around his waist. Threw on the cloak. Then with a flourish, whipped the Rapier out through the air and stood with it raised above his head. “Now how do I look”?

At that moment the other elevator pinged and The Count strode out. He looked at Baldurjack. At Dougal. Back at Baldurjack.

“Meine Gott”. He exclaimed. “Vhat is vith you people today”!

Modifié par Redbelle, 29 juillet 2013 - 07:00 .

[Redbelle]

The Count had not been having a very good day since the arrival of his extra guests. They had taken time away from his duties and mission. A mission whose final stages were nearly ready when the pests had entered into his domain. It had been an opportunity at first. A chance to swell the numbers of his ranks by a few more. The entire hotel had been purposed for attracting strays and refugee's after all.

Then the guests had started talking about teeth and The Count knew. They were no ordinary guests. His implant had worked to discover their purpose and discovered the Brigadier's thrall to the Reaper's. A thrall that did not seem to be working out as one might have expected.

They were talking of the miniaturised nano injectors that had been implanted in the latest husk design that Cerberus had developed. Ingenious. Designed to blend in with existing Reaper forces and bite them. Injecting them with the nanites that would alter their ability to perceive the Reaper signals. Cerberus had studied those signals. Found out how they worked. And while they could not override them. They could make husks that responded to a modified Cerberus signal. A signal that allowed the husk to receive the one the Reapers used while remaining true to their cerberus masters. As such, the Reapers would be unaware of cerberus forces taking control of their forces.

And then the Reapers.

Cerberus had seen Reaper forces entering and leaving the large Reapers that had descended on their worlds. It would be a simple matter to have the turned Reaper husk force enter into them and discover their secrets. A small matter for their own forces to pull them apart from the inside where not even a Reaper could defend itself without it's armies. Who would be in the hands of Cerberus.

Perhaps even to turn the Reaper's themselves into Cerberus's own personal attack dogs.

And if the Reaper's did latch on to the plan, then what?

They still would not know which Husk was loyal and which one false.

The Reapers might purge all their husks. Or abandon their plans to conquer the galaxy when they learned that they could no longer count on their ground forces to quell a galaxy of trillion's with the admittedly impressive number of capital ships at their command.

Cerberus would successfully counter the Reaper threat by using their own tactics against them.

And after.

That was the question that he had been tasked to solve once the army had been built out of the refugee's who had swarmed this island of safety in a sea of carnage. How to best direct the future of mankind once the threat of the Reapers had been neutralised.

Riding the elevator to the basement with Lewis beside him. He was about to find out that question.

[Redbelle]

Naomi felt nauseous

She was floating somewhere. The ground was refusing to stop moving. Or maybe she was floating.

She opened her eye's and saw bright lights glaring from a ceiling. She was lying down she noticed and tried to rise. Her arms only got so far before they found themselves tugging at restraint's. She tilted her head over even as the world swam before her eye's. Like seeing the world on the reflection of a clear pool of water.

She heard a noise and looked over to see Humphrey working next to a tank of grey liquid. She made a noise and he looked up. Only to look back down again.

“I'm sorry my dear”. She heard his voice echo through the room. “There's no choice. Not for me anymore”. He turned and through her rippling gaze, she thought she saw a look of profound sadness cross his face. “I promise”. His voice said. “You will feel no pain. I've made sure of that at least”. She felt something against her arm and a small hiss and she sank back into a world of disorientated complacent.

Another noise. Further away. The sound of footsteps.

“Is she ready Herr Doctor”.

“....Yes”.

“Then take your sample”.

Naomi saw the doctor again. Saw something in his hands that suddenly buzzed to life. Metal teeth blurring. It came down and she felt a sharp bite as her vision faded to black.

Time didn't seem to matter as she became aware again. Her head lolled to one side as she saw Humphrey and The Count and Lewis standing before the container of grey goo.

“You are sure ve vill see results soon”?

“Yes sir”. Came the reply. “The body is already prepared. Now it merely require's the template to lock it into the form we have selected”.

“And the eezo”?

“The blank has been subjected to it since the moment it cells began to divide”. Humphrey said. “The simple fact is that the blank has a higher tolerance to eezo than we do because it does not have the same reaction to it's effect's. That mean's higher doses. And the DNA mapping is slated towards high biotic potential”. Humphrey turned and Naomi saw him looking at her. Frankly, I have no idea what we will be dealing with once she wakes up”.

The Count followed Humphrey's gaze. And when Naomi saw him looking in her direction. His gaze turned to one of revulsion. “Ve have no more use for this garbage”. He said. “Instead I have another use for her now”.

From somewhere, shambling footsteps could be heard. The doctor gasped. “Sir. Please. She has suffered.....”.

“Quiet”! The Count snapped. “You vill be silent”. Quiet filled the room as something crossed her field of vision and even Naomi's drugged brain felt rising panic as a husk appeared over her.

“It is alright Doctor”. Said the Count tapping his temple. “It is completely under my control. I have always wanted to see what happens to a person once the nanite's have taken hold. After all.....”. He said sinisterly. “One should see their work through to the end. No”?

Modifié par Redbelle, 29 juillet 2013 - 07:08 .

[Redbelle]

Wyld was up and awake on stage.

Looking over she saw she was in a line. The line consisting of soldier's she felt certain she knew from somewhere.

That made no sense. She was a ballerina.

Why would a ballerina know soldier's?

A clap emanated from the audience seating and she looked to see a lone man sitting there with a leg draped over the other, looking utterly relaxed.

“Thank you for coming”. He said to the assembled group. “You know why your all here. We're looking for those we deem worthy to perform for our opening night. You all know what to do”. He said as Wyld felt panic grip her. She had no idea what she was meant to be doing! “So if we could have some music, we'll begin”.

The hall abruptly filled with the sounds of a classical piece and Wyld, hesitated. Looking down the line. And nearly laughed.

The soldier's in their bulky armours were trying to dance. She saw them raising their arms and stomping their feet. Unsynchronised and out of time to the music. They twisted and tripped and jerked as they sweated on stage. She looked at the man in the audience.

He looked back and made a gesture that said, what's the hold-up?

Wyld looked down at her leg's and for some reason, felt a pang of relief as they appeared ready and able to what? Why wouldn't they be She wondered. Then shrugged it off. She had to perform, she knew, and perform well.

She drew herself up and struck an attitude that had nothing to do with own personality. This was dancing. Her poise and bearing were her attitude now. Drawing her arms back she raised a leg as she stood on point and drew her leg up till it was at ninety degrees to her other. She drew in a breath as her face tilted to the lights above her. Then she flowed into movement as her feet whipped around as her arm's came, loosely around as if to hug herself. Then flung open as she leapt into the air, to land lightly on her feet, which then raised themselves onto the points of her toes.

And then she was gone. The music swelled within her and her body responded to it's rhythm and energy. She blurred as the music became hot and constricted as it cooled. She could feel her muscles relax as the sensation of becoming one with her true love filled her every pore and her breathing became deep and rhythmic. She surrendered to the music. Just as the music seemed unable to get enough of her and called to her for more.

Nothing could last forever. She sensed the notes winding down as if they could no longer keep up with her steps and she pushed harder. Wishing they could play on. If only for a beat longer than when she knew they would leave her forever.

At last. It stopped and she stood panting. A feeling of elation surging through her core that wanted to burst out and manifest.

She choked it back and looked at the man in audience who was regarding her with an unfamiliar expression. He pointed to the other soldier's who were either holding onto their knees. Gasping for air. Or just lay collapsed on the stage, crying softly. “I want all of you out now”. He said as Wyld's heart did a double flip. Only to come crashing down as he then went on. “Your all part of the show”.

The soldier’s who were able, saluted and moved off stage. Dragging the one's who couldn't move away as well.

The man in the audience sighed and stood to move to the stage.

Maybe he wants to single me out. Thought Wyld, as he climbed up onto the stage. Hope began to peak again. Her dancing had been good. She knew her dancing had been, the best! The man finally stopped in front of her and she looked up. Surprised and taken aback to see who it was. “Admiral....”. She stammered. “Admiral, Hackett”?

Hackett looked sadly down at Wyld with a air of bitter disappointment radiating from him. “Jerry-Ann”. He said using her full first name. “What did you think you were doing up there”?

“I was.....”. She halted as she got the intense feeling that what she was about to say would not go down well. “I was dancing, sir. Like you wanted”?

Silence stretched out between them until Hackett erupted like a volcano blowing it's top. “LIKE I WANTED”? He screamed. “LIKE I WANT A SOLDIER WHO THINKS SHE CAN DANCE THE ENEMY TO DEATH”?

Wyld leaned away as the force of his anger hit her like a hurricane. “Sir, I'm a dancer. I'm here for the try outs”.

“THOSE WERE YESTERDAY”! Spittle flew out of Hackett's mouth as he kept screaming. “YOUR LATE JERRY-ANN. LATE! LATE! LATE”!!! He turned away, disgusted by the sight of her. She'd screwed up she knew. Gotten the times wrong. She'd performed, but had missed when that performance would have counted for something. Hackett spun around to face her again.

“We're here to find soldier's”! He barked. “This try out was to find soldier's the only way that counts”. He stamped up to Wyld and thrust his face into hers. “Soldier's”. He hissed. “Can't dance! You think it's co-incidence that the best soldier humanity has to offer has two left feet? DO YOU”!!! He roared out the last part as his eyes bulged. He tore away again as Wyld felt like bursting into tears.

Don't cry. A voice came unbidden to her mind. You have to see this through. She took a step forward, though she really wanted to stay away from Hackett's wrath. Her face spasming as she fought to hold back the flood.

“I'm a dancer you relic”! She shouted back at him. “I can dance and fight if I have to! You don't tell me what I can be”!

Hackett's shoulder's slumped as her words hit his back. He shook his head sadly. “I blame myself”. He said to thin air. “I really do”. He then turned and looked square at Wyld who saw hurt, bitterness and disappointment there. All levelled at her. “If I'd only gotten to you sooner. You wouldn't have these dreams. You'd be magnificent with no distraction's to hold you back”. He raised a hand and made a fist. “I only wish I'd been kinder to you sooner”.

He pulled his fist down and as he did Wyld heard the screech of metal coming from above. She looked up in time to see a stage lighting rig begin to fall towards her. Her eye's went wide as terror gripped her.

You know this. The voice said again. You know what happens next.

The voice jarred her out it and she flung herself to the side even as the rig came down with a crash. Pain flared through her as the rig caught her legs and trapped them. Her scream filled the hall.

Where are the people? Her mind asked. Their supposed to help me!

“Let me help you Jerry-Ann”. Hackett walked around and Wyld saw he carried an axe over his shoulder. “Let me help you become someone can make a difference. Someone who really matters. You have to cut your dreams away”. He pulled the axe off his shoulder and the handle slipped through his finger's where the head thudded to the ground in front of Wyld. “I can help you”.

It's wrong. The voice screamed. It's all wrong! Did it happen like this? DID IT???

“I....”. Wyld voice caught in her throat as Hackett raised the axe.

“You just have to say yes”. Hackett smiled down at her. “One little word. And you can begin a new life”.

“No”.

Hackett and Wyld both looked around. Hackett frowned. “Who ever said that better come out”.

“Ok”. Said the voice. “But your the one who asked for it”.

A fist burst out of Hackett's chest and grabbed ahold of the axe in his grasp. Hacket''s eye's went wide in disbelief and he choked as blood welled up in his throat. The arm poking out of his chest pulled on the axe and a figure began to emerge from the hole that grew wider as a small gnarled, woman appeared and stared back into Hackett's eye's.

They both fell to floor and Hackett managed a word. “Who”?

“Shhh”. Said the crone. “Just fade away now. I was born on this stage. Not you”.

Hackett's head thudded to the floor and the crone pulled the rest of herself free. Her hair was stringy and matted. Her limbs, warped and twisted, so that she had to drag herself along the ground. And her face.

In spite of the wart's and scars. Jan knew who this woman was. She had indeed been born on stage. The day her legs had been crushed.

The day she had her dreams taken away from her.

Jerry-Ann Wyld, Alliance Corpsman stared into the face of Jerry-Ann Wyld, the sad and pathetic creature she had once believed herself to be.

The Crone grinned revealing crooked and yellow teeth. “Ello love”. She said. “Ready to pick up where we left off”.

Jan shuddered. “I'm over you”. Her voice was tinged with desperation. “I got over losing my legs a long time ago”.

“Yesssssss”. The crone hissed. “And all it took was reliving it through a Cerberus constuct to bring it all up and out again”. She cackled as she picked up the axe and handed it to Wyld. “Feel's real doesn't it. Oh don't look at me like that”. She said at Jan's crumpled face. “Just see past the illusion”. She drew her face up close to Wyld's. Hitting her with rancid breath. “A bit of that spunk you like to dish out to other's wouldn't go amiss right now. Not unless this whole being in charge thing has whipped it outta yah. C'mon girl. We're not this pathetic”!

Just then the the building seemed to shudder and cracks appeared in the walls. “What's happening”? Wyld cried.

“Call me crazy love, or aren't we calling it CAT6 these days”. The crone cackled. “But I think your about to be let out on parole. And I'm coming with yah”! She finshed in a sing song voice.

“No”. Jan uttered as she tried to pull herself free.

“Hush deary”. She put a gnarled hand on her shouler. “You'll be free of the sight of me soon enough. Maybe you'll never feel me again. So if that's the case let me leave you with something I've alway's wanted you to know”. She drew up close to Wyld's ear and whispered. “You are an unlovable human being, who will never find happiness and if you don't believe that now. This Zia will make you believe it in the future”. Her voice started to rise in pitch. “Because deep down you know you don't deserve her and the only person who will ever love you. IS ME”!

She rose back and laughed as the stage around them crumbled to peices. Wyld felt white hot anger surge through her as the axe came back, and down on the crone who simply kept laughing as Wyld struck her over and over with increasing rage and desperation. Even as her world fell apart.

Modifié par Redbelle, 29 juillet 2013 - 11:29 .

[Redbelle]

Naomi awoke once more to a feeling of burning in her arm. Her face was hot and puffy.

Have I been crying?

She tried to get up and again found herself tied down.

Her arm was on fire.

She looked down and saw the armour of her arm pocked with holes. But that was of secondary interest as the looked down yet further and saw, or rather didn't see, what was not there.

Her hand was gone. In it's place. A bloody bandaged stump.

Naomi chest caved in on itself. She coudn't breath even as she fought to draw a gasp of breath. Then her need to breath opened her lungs. And she screamed! She screamed! She didn't know how long for. She looked down her body and saw section's of her armour had been cut away and more bloody gauze covering blood covered section's of skin. She jerked backwards and sobbed as she struggled against the restraint's till her body was to exausted to move anymore.

Help me.

She willed her thought's out to anyone as her voice failed her. She drew in a breath.

Help me someone.

Racking sobs hit her again. And she managed to choke out three words. “Please help me”!

“Hush now. You'll be good. That's what The Count says”.

Naomi opened her eye's as she realised she was't alone. She tilted her head.

Lewis stood swaying, standing next to the grey goo. He had a look of utter realxation about him and Naomi noticed a device pumping something into his arm. Lewis noticed where her gaze was resting and held it out. “You like it? Count say's I don't have to drink Tea anymore. I can just have it pumped straight into me”.

“Lewis. Help me”.

“Hmmm”. Naomi took the moment to look into Lewis's eye's and she saw they were glazed over. “Don't worry. Count'll be back soon. Said there was some problem on the roof? I don't know. He was going to get his sword”. Lewis laughed. “What kinda guy bring's a sword to a gunfight”?

“Lewis....”. Lewis just stood there swaying as something in the grey goo moved. Naomi swallowed and tried again. “L.L”? Lewis seemed to stop swaying for a moment. As if listening for something? “L.L. It's me. It's E.E”.

Lewis tilted his head slightly. “E.E”? He sounded like he was testing the initials. As if he barely remembered them.

“You have our ring”. Naomi tried. “You kept it all this time”. She wished she knew what the inital's E.E stood for as Lewis pulled the ring out from his uniform and stared as if seeing it for the first time.

“E.E”. He said again. Sounding more confident as he spoke.

“Lewis”. Naomi felt another shudder in her chest but pushed ahead. “Give me the ring. It's my turn to keep it for you”. Lewis took a faltering step. “Please. Let me. Do it for.....”. She stopped. Suddenly realising she didn't know him well enough to know what he would hand over the ring for.

Luckily she didn't need to. “For our son”. Lewis stepped forward. Took another. “Our poor son. Wanted to fly around the world”. His hands grasped the ring tighter as he stopped at where Naomi lay. “E.E. Took him with her. Eileen took our boy and they went flying and....”. He stopped and drew in a breath.

“Lewis. Please let me go”.

Lewis looked down at Naomi and his face grew dark. “Eileen. That was her name Eileen Spencer. That was her name”. He glared at Naomi. “Your not them”. Naomi held her breath as Lewis's face grew more stern. “Our boy's name was Ethan Spencer. She was Eileen”. They escaped Earth together. Flew out in the evacuation”. His eye's cleared and when he looked down she saw them full of rage. “You are not E.E”.

“Who am I”? The question caught Lewis off guard and she saw his eye's begin to glaze over again. “I'm Naomi and I'm looking for my Zee”.

“Zia”? Lewis asked.

“Yes. I'm looking for Zia. I never found her. I need to find her now”. Her stump arm burned hotter and she stifled a groan. “Lewis. Help me find her”.

“Find Zia? Why”?

“Because. Naomi sobbed. “Because I'm not afraid anymore. I can tell her how I feel now. Because I know. If I don't tell her. She'll never know”.

“Never know, how you feel”. Lewis finished for her as he reached over and pulled her binding's loose. When he was done he looked at her with eye's that seemed as if the life was drained out of them. “I'll never know if they escaped. They could be anywhere. Dead. This war's taken it all and if we don't tell each other before we never see each other again......”.

Naomi reached out and yanked the device on his arm away. It fell to the floor discharging a brown liquid onto the floor. She cradled her stump as she put her feet on the floor and tried standing. She was wobbly. But managed to stay upright. But the burn in her arm was spreading.

“We have to leave”. She told Lewis and managed to get him out into the corridor depsite his and her condition. The grey goo swirled behind them as they left the room and Naomi hobbled to the elevator before calling Lewis to come to her.

That was when she saw the door's along the corridor open. And her worst nightmare came to life.

Husk's. To many to count, began shambling out of the room's. The husks poured out of door's between her and Lewis and soon Lewis and her were cut off. She cried out his name as the husks turned and noticed him. The door's behind her pinged open.

Lewis smiled. “Maybe I'll see her. Maybe I won't”. He said as they closed in from all sides. “If I don't. Give her this”. He threw the ring through the air and it landed in the lift. “And tell her I love the real her. Always”.

Naomi staggered backwards and the doors closed as the husks descended on him. Dragon fangs extending out of their mouths. Then the door's closed and the lift demanded she choose a floor. She stooped. Picked up the ring. Looked at the inscription.

Her arm burned like it was on fire.

She chose the lobby

Modifié par Redbelle, 29 juillet 2013 - 10:27 .

[Redbelle]

Wyld awoke feeling like Deaths reheated leftovers. Her head seemed to have a hammer banging away in her skull too.

She looked up.

A Medimech loomed over her, reaching out with a syringe filled with a brown liquid.

Wyld grabbed the arm. Pushing it away even as she grabbed at it with her other hand.

The MediMech began to pull away dragging her along towards the door. “Cease struggling”. It said in a mechanised voice. “You must be processed”.

Jan was dragged all the way to the door where she saw her gun, lying where The Count had tossed it. She snatched it up as she was dragged past the door into the hallway. Her body starting to feel stronger.

“You are not responding to the treatment as expected”. The MediMech stated in a voice that almost sounded like it was pleading. “Desist from this activity at once”.

Jan pulled herself up and jammed the gun against the mechs cranial covering. She pulled the trigger and corridor lit up three times before the Mech fell over with her atop it. Groaning she rolled off it and onto the floor as she moved the gun to other hand and pinched the bridge of her nose.

It was like waking up with the worlds worst hangover, she knew from experience. Something at the back of her mind prodded her. Demanding her attention. Her eye's opened with a jolt.

“Zia”!

A nearby door suddenly exploded as a figure flew out of it in a burst of released biotic energy. She charged through the exploding splinters, causing Wyld to throw up an arm to shield her face. The figure hit the wall beyond the shattered door, and bounced off onto the floor, just managing to get her feet under her as she staggered upright.

“I'm fine”. Zia said groggily as she spun around looking away from Wyld to address the far wall. “I'm all fine now here, now. Thank you”.

She remained fine until she backpedeled into Wyld. Whereupon she lost her footing and fell over, backwards, on top of Wyld who made an oomph as she landed on her. Zia tilted her head backwards to see what she had landed on and Hmmpfed. “Well. Look who's back on top”.

Wyld raised an arm and brushed Zia's hair. The action was exhausting, but it felt good. The whole idea of Zia felt so good right now as she curled herself and reached for her.

“Hey”? Zia protested as Wyld coiled her arms around her and held her close.

“Cuddling. No talk now”. Wyld's reply was muffled as her mouth was pressed against Zia's shoulder. Zia looked down at Wyld and saw a mixture of relief and contentment. Then as Wyld looked up she saw her eye's look at her through half lids. Her eye's were thick and heavy with lust. Her gaze caused her breath to catch in her throat. It excited her. Excited..... and slightly frightened.

Wyld put her arms around Zia's neck and raised herself up. “Now”. She breathed. “Let's rethink this whole kissing thing”.

At that moment a shriek eminated from the stairwell down the hall. Wyld and Zia both looked at each with wide eye's as they rolled away from each other. Wyld was as livid as her disorientated state would allow. “Worst! Timing! EVER!........ CRAP......”!!! She exclaimed as she raised herself to one knee. “.....Naomi! Zee, we have to go down and find......”.

Wyld turned her head to look at Zia who had a hand round the back of her neck, pushing into a patch of skin. She grunted and Wyld saw her biotics flare as she suddenly jerked upright. Her hand fell away as she pulled her head from side to side, causing vertebrate to pop. “AAAAAWWWW YEAH”! She called out as the door to the stairwell began to open. “I was hoping that would work. Overcharged my amp”. She said as Wyld looked up questioningly. “Kills a hangover dead. Handy when you wake from.....What the hell happened to us”? She asked.

Wyld's response was halted as three banchee's began to emerge from the stairwell. They moved slowly and deiberately. As if controlled by someone else who hadn't yet seen them.

“I'm pretty sure Berger tried to indoctrinate us”. Wyld said quickly. “He's playing with Reaper signals. He must be behind the teeth in the husks too”. She slapped her head. “Of course”! She exclaimed. “Build an army that responds to your signal that look and act's like their own. Then turn them right under the Reaper noses! Tha's what he meant by stealing an army! He's going to try and usurp the Reaper's”! She staggered to her feet. “I hate Cerberus and Reapers. I do . I do”. As Wyld and Zia backed away from the banchees towards the lift door Zia threw Wyld a look.

“What are you doing”?

“I don't know. But if we were indoctrinated would we be able to say that? You try”.

“I really do hate Reapers. I do. I do”.

“And”?

“What”? Zia said as they backed into the door as the banchee's turned their head's towards them. “I don't hate Cerberus. I'm going to positively murder every last one of them in this place. Hate's too loose a term”.

The elevator call button went red as they summoned it and Wyld checked her pistol. “Ok, we hammer them and hope we can hold them off till....”.

“These one's are mine”.

Wyld turned and saw Zia with a slightly insane grin on her face. “You find Naomi. If the Count did this to us. I want to know she's safe”.

“You against three Banchee's”?

“Yeah”. The doors pinged open and Zia pushed Wyld back inside. “Don't worry. This is just Christmas come early for me”. She said as she hit the button for the lobby for her. “Besides. You look like hell. Find Naomi”.

Then the doors closed and the last she saw of Zia, three Banchee's were closing on her from behind. She thudded her head back against the elevator wall.

Trust her. She thought. She said she can handle it. Besides which, Zia was right. She had to find Naomi.

It was time to put the team back together.

Modifié par Redbelle, 30 juillet 2013 - 06:32 .

[Redbelle]

Zia grinned as she looked over and turned towards the approaching Banchee's.

“That's right ladies”. She said as they approached. “No barrier's up for you huh”? She held her arms out to the side as they kept coming. “And why would you? When the little human is all alone. Not reaching for her gun and looks utterly helpless”.

Deep down she felt that dark bubble of satisfaction rising within as she knew that there was going to be a violent episode. And Wyld was nowhere around to stop it with one of her usual off the wall ideas.

The lead Banchee got within fifteen metres when it raised it's hand. A ball of biotic energy rippling between the talons in it's palm.

Zia felt the bubble inside her stretching. Stretching........

Pop.

One of the Banchee's appeared behind her just as Zia charged herself. At the same time she flicked out her Omni Blade. She pushed off with one foot even as the Banchee behind her ripped it's hand through the space she had just occupied. It was such a close cut thing, as she swore she felt the air move past her neck before she was flying forward.

Her body was wrapped in a biotic cocoon as she covered the distance between her and the one who had been leading the pack. She spun as she flew forward. Turning her movement's from a fight against air's density into the spin of a bullet leaving a gun.

She slashed as she arced to the ground and the Banchee she'd aimed for collapsed. A huge slash appearing in her bloated stomach. Zia meanwhile hit ground and skidded across the floor between the Banchee's legs and past the one behind it. Her hand came up with a grenade that she tossed up, into the face of the one she passed by.

Wasting no time she jumped up and drawing her SMG, she raked a doors hinges and lock, before all but tearing it from it's frame. She whirled around just in time as the grenade exploded in the Banchee's face. Both the force and shrapnel hit the door that protected Zia and she was flung further down the corridor. She saw grenade fragments poke through her make shift protection before she tossed it to one side. She saw one Banchee with no head falling to the ground as the other desperately seemed to be trying to put her intestines back into her body where Zia had cut her open.

That left the sucker punch Banchee where she had been standing. A Fragment of grenade shrapnel buried in it's shoulder. It screamed down the hall at Zia who stared at it without flinching. There was something that Wyld did at moment's like this that she wanted to try.

“Are you trying to tell me something”? She dead panned at the screaming Banchee.

That was awful.

“If you have nothing intelligent to say.....”.

No! Now she sounded like someone's mother.

“Speak up dear I can't hear...”.

No no no! That wasn't it either. She winced. Maybe she should leave the funnies to Wyld.

The Banchee drew forth more of it's biotic energies and flung them at Zia who dodged them as she ran at the towering monster. She drew her own biotics into her left hand. A criss cross of razor like biotics tendrils engulfing it. The Banchee saw what she was doing. Tried to get a barrier up.

To late.

Zia pushed her remaining energies into a charge and jabbed her left arm at the Banchee's throat. The pressure collapsed the airway leaving the Banchee gasping, unable to draw breath. Then Zia's biotics went to work and her hand went straight through the Banchee's neck. They fell together with Zia on top. The Banchee's taloned hands that had been about to grab her, flopped down to the floor as the monster shuddered and lay still.

Zia grimaced as she pulled her hand out of the banshee's throat and looked down to see the hole she had torn. She rubbed her own in sympathy. “Lozenge”? She asked the lifeless corpse and turned away. Only to stop.

That had been it!

It had just rolled off the tongue!

Zia took a deep breath as she tried to wind herself down. Cracking jokes in a fight had never occurred to her when she'd been doing her training as a Fury. Wyld made it look easy.

More shrieks came from the stairwell and Zia's eye's widened in anticipation.

Maybe with practice.......

Modifié par Redbelle, 31 juillet 2013 - 08:07 .

[Redbelle]

Naomi emerged from onto the lobby floor.

Her arm and stump burned like they were on fire. And the creep was spreading. She could feel the burn on her chest and could already feel the hot, needle like pain, approaching her neck.

She staggered and fell to the lobby floor. “Wyld”! She called out in a hoarse voice. No one called back to her. She was alone. But she could hear other sounds.

She looked up at the balcony and heard grunts and clashes of metal on metal. She heard a voices. Baldurjack was one.

The Count was the other.

Sizzling hot rage made her forget the creeping spread of her arm and she reached for her side arm to discover that it had been removed. Probably when they'd strapped her down. Instead her remaining hand emerged with a token.

Her other gun was in the coat room.

It was at that time the elevator door pinged and Wyld came out. She took one look at Naomi. “Holy Crap”! Was all she uttered as she skidded down to where she had fallen. Her Omni tool was already out and scanning. “Who did this”? She asked as she ran the tool over her. She stopped suddenly as it hovered over the bite marks of her armour over her arm. “Oh, no. This is not happening”. She gripped shoulder that thankfully, was not the one on fire. “Listen to me”. She hissed. “I'll save you. I promise I will save you but I need to get you help”.

Naomi shook her head. “Gun. Give me the gun”. She looked up at the balcony. “I'm going to kill him”.

Wyld looked up just in time to see Baldurjack thrown back against the balcony rail with The Count pressing what looked like the shaft of a metal spear against his neck. She raised the pistol. Aimed it at him as he looked up and saw her.

“Scheiße”. He cried, and darted back as Baldurjack rose up from where he was thrown and was gone from sight.

Baldurjack fighting The Count?

Wyld's brain was to frazzled to make sense of that.

Naomi reached over her arm for the gun as Wyld tried to keep her from grabbing it when the stairwells into the lobby suddenly opened and husks emerged. “Definitely the worst day ever”. Wyld said as she threw an arm around Naomi and hoisted her to her feet. “C'mon. We're leaving”. She pushed Naomi who began yelling hysterically. “Let me go! I have to kill him”! Her coat chip fell to the floor and rolled away as Naomi fought back against Wyld with surprising strength as she dragged her to the coat desk. She shoved Naomi against it and pushed her token into her hands. “Get the guns”. She hissed. Then turned back and blew the brains out of a husk who had just made a run at them both.

Naomi pulled herself upright on the desk as the little mech strolled into view and walked up to the counter. “May I take your coat”?

“Here”! Naomi slammed the chip down on the surface and Clerker reached up for it.

“Do you wish to have your coat returned”?

“YES”! Naomi screamed as Clerker disappeared out back. Gunshots rang out as Wyld held back the unceasing number of husks.

“Any time now”. She called back to her as the mech reappeared empty handed.

“Your coat has been classed as illegal weaponry. You are advised to remain here until the appropriate authorities arrive.....”.

Naomi gave a cry and pushed past the mech into the room beyond. She spotted their guns and she grabbed them. She slung them over her shoulder as she tried to heft her own rifle with one hand. She settled for supporting the stock with her forearm. Even that simple act burned where her arm and gun made contact despite the armour in between. Emerging from the coat room she saw the Husks nearly on Wyld who was caught reloading. “Get down”. She shouted and opened fire as Wyld disappeared behind the desk. Husk's staggered back as she tore into them on full auto and the space around Wyld suddenly became clear.

Wyld popped back up and nodded with relief. “Thanks”.

“Reload for me”. Naomi threw Wyld the empty the rifle and pulled another off her back as Wyld replaced the slagged thermal clip.

“We have to go”. Wyld said as more Husks emerged to replace the one's that were slain. “We can't fight this. Who knows how many more are down there”!

“Where's Zia”?

“She said she'd be along. Don't argue with me”. She said as she saw Naomi about to object. “She said she'd catch up so she'll catch up”.

“Wait a minute”.

Wyld nearly asked what for when she saw Naomi turn and face the little mech. He looked up at her.

“May I take your coat”?

Naomi blew Clerker's head off with a burst of fire and turned around before it's nonfunctioning body hit the ground. “Now we can go”.

Wyld nodded and pointed to the door while she stayed back. Shooting down the husks who got to close. She was having trouble concentrating. She was more worried about Naomi whose face was starting to lose it's colour. Please be exaustion. Wyld prayed in her head. Please just be about to pass out. Don't go Husk on me. I can fix this. I know..... somehow.

She blew another another husk away and saw that most of them were not coming after her and Naomi. Instead they seemed to be climbing the stair's to the balcony. She didn't wait. She turned and got her head under Naomi's rifle arm. She supported her through the doors and together they half ran, half staggered through the empty roads away from the building. Wyld expected the Count mech's to start shooting and was relieved as they passed unmolestered. At last, they got away far enough that Wyld let Naomi down. She sank against a piece of debris.

She looked terrible.

Wyld sank down next to her. “Nay”. She shook her and her eye's locked onto hers. Whatever she'd been running on in the hotel seemed to be running low. “Where are the explosives”?

Naomi squeezed her eye's shut in concentration. “I don't know. They took them? They took my gun. They must have taken the pack. In the basement maybe”. She opened her eye's as her face took on a look of worry. “Where's Zia”?

At that point a window on the hotel's middle floor exploded outwards. The tell tale hue of biotic energy told Wyld who, even as she grabbed Naomi and flung them both out the way as two figures, wrapped in biotic barriers, flew over the road and crashed down near where Wyld and Naomi had been resting.

Zia knealt up on the Banchee she'd just landed on. “Miss me”? The Banchee stirred under her and Zia grabbed it's head and snapped it around, making a sickening crunching sound. She let it go and it thudded to the ground. “Sorry". She apoligised, as she got off the Banchee, a little stiff in some area's. “It's really dead now. I really do hate Banchee's. I do I.....”. Then her voice fell away as she saw Naomi. Her own injuries forgotten, she rushed to her side. Grabbed her face. Looked at it with an increasingly dark rage flooding across her own. “Who. Did. This”?

Wyld pulled her away. “A husk. She's bit. I need to get her out of here”.

“Can you help her”?

Wyld looked over her shoulder and Zia sw the prognosis written in her face. That, and a determination to try anyway.

Zia turned away. “I'll be killing the man who did this. Do what you have to do”.

“Zia wait”! Wyld spun around as she rose and caught her arm. “She needs you. She keeps asking for you”.

Zia pulled her arm away. “I can't help her, dammit! She need you. She need's.....”.

Whatever Zia had been about to say was lost as time suddenly seemed to slow to a crawl.

Both Zia and Wyld saw the hotel suddenly heave, as a section of it seemed to crumble as an orb of what look like biotic energy rose out of the ground. The orb was suddenly replaced with fire as a huge explosion from where it eminated ripped out and engulfed part of the building. Shattering what was in the air even as Zia and Wyld were thrown backwards by the concussion.

It was fortunate that they were.

From on high. A beam of red fury lanced through the building. Cutting part of what had been destroyed and slicing into the other half of the building. Raking it with fire and smoke as around the group, they felt the ground underneath them crack and shake.

Then the ground beneath them opened up and swallowed them whole.

The scene went silent as the beam stopped and the cloud's rushed back into the hole the beam had torn in the sky.

Nothing moved.

Until a figure emerged from the rubble. Looked around the scene of destruction, and started walking.

Modifié par Redbelle, 31 juillet 2013 - 08:48 .

[Redbelle]

Shortly before The Count met his untimely demise, he emerged from the elevator onto the lobby. He had intended to pick up the clothing that Wyld woman had forced him to remove. Then he would go to the roof where his Omnitools system monitoring program had told him the buildings extra systems had suddenly stopped working.

He'd tried to shake the notion of who it had been. Not even that man, and his Reaper presence he carried, could hope to pass through shield's that could melt the flesh off bone.

Though he'd give the Brigadier a fair chance to prove him wrong by throwing him through it, should he be captured alive, he'd decided.

That pleasing mental image lasted as long as it took to step out of the lift and see how The Brigadier was now wearing his favourite cloak and sword.

The Brigadier! Standing tall like he was posing for a portrait.

With no eyebrows and what looked like sun burn.

“Meine Gott”. He exclaimed. “Vhat is vith you people today”!

Baldurjack looked over and beamed at the count. “My good man! Marvellous to meet you again at last. Looks rather dashing on me wouldn't you say”.

“You”. The Count levelled a quivering finger. “You are responsible for all this. No”?

“Eh now. Steady on man”. Baldurjack tried to put the sword back into the scabbard and managed it on the third attempt. “I realise my entourage may have caused some offence but well. I'm forced to rely on who I run into out there.....”.

“Silence. The Count screamed. “I vas not talking to you”! He turned his gaze on Dougal who tilted his head. “I vas talking......”. Said The Count deliberately. “......To you”.

Dougal smirked as Baldurjack stepped forward. “Now sir. If you have anything to say about my Sargent....”.

“He's not real you fool”. The Count shouted. “He's a Reaper presence inside your head. A signal your mind has been adapted to receive”!

“How do you see me”. Said Dougal as Baldurjack stuttered.

“Ve have our own signal now”. The Count said tapping his head. “You think yourselves the master of technology? You are mere relics of bygone era's who lack the imagination to wield your power. For example. You think you can stroll into my domain with impunity when your platform is vulnerable”! He turned to Humphrey who stepped miserably out the elevator as the doors closed. “Doctor! Shoot that man”!

Humphrey sighed. “I am so terribly sorry about this Brigadier”. He reached into his jacket and withdrew a small pistol which he fired at Baldurjack.

Baldurjack screamed loudly and tried to throw his arms up. But failed as the tingling that burned erupted once more. Causing him to clutch his backside.

The Count watched in disbelief as the bullet's aimed right at Baldurjack snaked their way around him as a faint shimmer appeared around his body. The whole time Baldurjack hopped like a madman clutching his bottom. The bullet's slammed home in the wall behind where Baldurjack stood, slightly off centre from where he stood. The Count clapped for Dougal's benefit. “Bravo, würdige Wachhund. Bravo”. He put his hands down to his sides as Baldurjack looked up. Saw he was not dead. And darted away. Up the stair's and to the balcony. “You appear to have safeguarded your puppet well. I wonder though”. He crossed to the bottom of the balcony stair's where a flag on a metal pole stood. The Count pulled it from it's holder and tore the flag away. He brought his finger to the pointed tip, testing it's suitability. “Will your ability to save him from more direct methods be as effective”? With that he turned and pursued Baldurjack up the stairs to find him arguing with Dougal.

“Get out of the way”!

“Courage and dignity, sir”.

“Blast all that! Did you see them? Their madman! Their all bloody mad.....”. He turned pointing back down the stairs when he saw The Count coming up them. “Oh, did I say mad”. He back-pedalled. “I meant made, men, what”? He looked for somewhere to retreat. “Now what's say we put all this behind us and talk this out over a cup of tea”?

The Count laughed. “Vould that tea could solve all life's dilemma's. I'm afraid you are one I vill have to put to the sword”.

The sword? Baldurjack remembered the sword at his waist and yanked it out. Or tried to. It got stuck and it took a few more yanks before it cleared the scabbard. It was then he realised.

He'd never held a sword before in his life!

Dougal stepped to hs side. “If you will bear with me master”. He said as he put his right leg forward, tilted his body and put his free hand on his hip. A pose which Baldurjack copied, movement for movement. “I believe this would be best”.

The Count lunged.

Dougal raised his arm.

Baldurjack raised his arm and parried the point of pole away as it tried to spear him.

The Count recovered his balance and brought the tip slashing through the air from where Baldurjack had parried it.

Dougal stepped forward.

Baldurjack took a step forward. Getting inside the arc of the swing as Dougal and Baldurjack brought their arm up to take the blow, even as the sword they held drew back to stab forward. Baldurjack cried out in triumph. “See this Dougal boy! See this! Never knew I had it in me! Tip of the spear boy! Tip of the......”. He stopped as he realised that perhaps now was not the best time to be talking about spears as The Count ducked out of the way and ran at him. His own weapon, to close to be of use, was flung aside as he settled for running into Baldurjack, who in turn grabbed The Count as they both tried to wrestle each other to the floor.

“Imbecile”! The Count screamed as he staggered with Baldurjack trying to keep his footing. “You imbecile! You are under their control! You'll kill us all if I don't stop you”!

“poppycock”. Baldurjack spat back. “Utter c*** and bull man! I'll have my tea.....”. He managed to get his free hand over the Counts face. And Dougal would have clawed his eye's out if The Count hadn't put a boot into Baldurjack's belly and flung himself backwards. “I'll have my tea here...”. Baldurjack gasped as he clutched his stomach as he straightened “.....even if I have to knock some bally sense into you to get it”! He raised his sword and struck the pose again.

Something was wrong.

It didn't feel natural like the last time.

He looked over at his side and saw Dougal, sunk down on the floor clutching his paws over his ears. His skin drooped and his breathing irregular.

“Dougal boy”!

“Why......”. Dougal growled. As he looked up at Baldurjack with burning yellow eye's. “Why”? He groweled louder as he blinked as if a spasm had hit him.

Baldurjack took a step towards him. “Boy”?

Dougal finally erupted in fury. “Why is it so hard to control you”! He roared as he tore himself up from the ground. Which proved to be a mistake.

Dougal's golden fur and uniform, half melted, half ripped itself away from the core of what had been hiding under Dougal's skin . Baldurjack gasped as his loyal golden labradour, the one truest and bestest friend he had ever known, flopped to the floor as nothing more than than a piece of worn and used cloth. He stood in utter shock as an oily shadow, wisps of smoke trailing away from it's body, raised itself to tower over him as Baldurjack felt his bottom lip quiver. From somewhere deep inside, yellow eye's shone. Fixing themselves on Baldurajck with their burning glow.

“Dougal”?

The Count reached for his makeshift spear and pointed to the smoking wrath. “You see now”? He crowed! “You see what has been hiding behind you precious Dougal all this time”? He swung the spear back. “What has he been making you do all this time, eh? Between the two of us! Who will go down in history as the monster! I, who have a plan, to save us all from that which you serve”! He pointed at Baldurjack who stood rooted to the spot, gaping. “Or you Brigadier? The man who vould have us all serving a shadow of smoke and fire”?

Dougal, if that was what he indeed still was, spoke to Baldurjack. It's voice, cold and distant. It chilled Baldurjack to his very core. “KILL THIS MAN FOR ME BALDURJACK”.

“No”.

“KILL THIS MAN BALDURJACK”!!!

Baldurjack shook his head. “No I won't! I won't! I bally won't”! He trembled but stuck out his chin and roared. “I'm in command here and I'll bally well decide who get's to die”!

“It is to late Öl-Schatten”. The Count said moving around where the pair were. “I have summoned my army”! He tapped his temple. “Their is nothing you can do now. Soon! Once I have taken care of you both. I shall scatter them and like a cancer they shall consume your armies and any who would stand in the way of Cerberus”. He stopped moving. Baldurjack was standing between him, the shadow.

And the balcony rails.

He grabbed the spear in both hands. “And in your vords Brigadier. There's not a bally thing you can do about it”!

He charged.

Baldurjack moved slower. His connection to Dougal so stretched that he lacked the grace he had displayed earlier. The length of the spear caught him across the chest and both he and The Count went flying back through Dougal. Baldurjack gasped as he felt the very warmth of his body sapped away and a cold, hungering sickness pressed on him from all sides.

Then they were through and The Count slammed him back against the balcony. Somehow Baldurjack managed not to go flying over the top and keep his grip on his sword. The count though, disappointed not to have sent him over the edge, decide a different approach and brought the shaft up against his throat. With his free hand Baldurjack tried to keep the pressure fro crushing his windpipe as he tilted his head back to avoid just that.

That was when he noticed Wyld and Naomi on the lobby floor, with Wyld pointig a gun at the pair of them.

Apparently The Count saw this too. And knew who the bullet would be aimed for. “Scheiße”. He cried, and jerked backwards. Baldurjack raised himself rubbing his throat as he staggered away from the edge.

Dougal watched on from where his otherworldly appearence had remained. “KILL HIM BALDURJACK”! The voice echoed in his mind. “KILL HIM AND PLEASE ME”! The Count lunged at him again and he scarcely had time to deflect the blow that would have rammed the length through his body. Instead, the the spear skitted along the length of the blade, cut across the edge of his uniform and grazed his side. He felt pain where the blade cut even as instinct caused him to clamp his arm down, trapping the spear between it and himself. The Count grunted as he tried to dislodge it for another strike.

“KILL HIM”!

Baldurjack's eye's bulged as he grit his teeth. Knowing if The Count got the spear free it would be the end of him.

“KILL HIM”!

He's never killed anything in his life. A fact that rang true even as he felt, on the surface, that he had served his country with valour and killed many a thing.

“KILL HIM FOR ME NOW”!!!

“No”! He roared, as he kicked forward and caught The Count in a Space Beret sactioned wedding tackle shot. The Count howled and dropped the spear as he sank to the ground clutching himself while grimacing in pain. Baldurjack allowed the spear to fall and turned on his oily shadow. “You sir.....”! He uttered somewhere between panic and pride. “....Are a bad dog”! And with that retort hanging betwen them, he fled.

Dougal watched as Baldurjack raced down the stairs, somehow avoiding the husks and ran towards the dining area. If Dougal had, what pased for a head, he would have shook it. Then he turned his attention to The Count.

Wincing with pain he had staggered upright as his shoulder's shook from laughter. “How did you come to rely so heavily on that one, I vonder”?

“That is of no concern of yours”.

“Ah yes”. Said Count Berger as he straightened with a grunt. “You think your Reaper arrogance will shield you from the truth? I have beaten you”. He took a step forward as his husk army advanced from behind. “I control these soldiers. I vill be the one to remake the galaxy. Not the Illusive Man. Not the Alliance. Not some cabal of species who only get along when their very lives hang in the balance. It vill be me! And I shall employ you all to see this through to the end! Except you....”. He said as he smiled suddenly. “For daring to challenge me with so ridiculous an agent. I think I shall have you remade in an image I choose for you. A dog I think”. He went on. “I shall turn your body from sea life to a canine and have you beg for me”.

Dougal was silent for awhile before he spoke. “YOU ARE A THREAT TO US”.

“Yes”.

“YOU HAVE THE POWER TO SUBVERT THE HARVEST FOR YOUR OWN AMBITIONS”.

The Count felt his chest swell with pride. “You see now. I am above you in every way that matters”!

“ALL BUT ONE”.

Count Berger paused. One way? Nonsense. “You lie, Reaper”!

“ALL BUT ONE”. Dougal went on. “THE HUSK ARMY YOU HAVE CREATED FOR YOURSELF REQUIRES CONTROL”.

“You cannot control them”!

“THAT IS CORRECT. NOW WE SEE YOU, WE HAVE TRIED TO TAKE CONTROL OF YOU. WITHOUT SUCCESS”. The Count smirked. “BUT THE SIGNAL YOU USE, THOUGH IT IS DIFFERENT, IS STILL ONE OF OUR CREATION. WE CANNOT CONTROL THEM ALL. WE CAN SEIZE CONTROL OF ONE”.
The count heard a gutteral snarl behind him and turned in time to see the ruined form of Leutenent Commander Tector. Arm's listelssly reaching forward. Seize him, put his face where his shoulder and neck were joined.

Tector bit him.

He felt the teeth the Medimech had installed sink into his skin. The pain hit him. Then it lanced all the way through as the teeth sheared out and stabbed him as they peirced hm to emerge out the other side where Tector had bitten him. He shrieked as agony erupted and he felt a burn begin to manifest in his shoulder as Tector's teeth's retracted and he moved away.

The Count sank to the floor clutching his shoulder. He knew he'd been injected. But the pain.......

“This gain's you nothing Reaper”!

“YOU WILL SOON BE ONE OF THEM”. Dougal visage seemed to swell as he closed in around The Count. “AND IF WE CANNOT CONTROL THEM ALL. WE WILL CONTROL YOU. AND THROUGH YOU. WE WILL BRING ALL YOU CREATED BACK TO THIS PLACE”.

Count Berger gasped in incomprehesion. “Vhy”?

Dougal swirled around him and a cold sickness boiled under The Count's skin. “WE MADE OUR CREATION'S PERFECT”. The yellow eye's burned larger and brighter. Berger could not look away froM them. “YOU TURNED OUR CREATION'S INTO ABOMINATIONS. THEY MUST BE DESTROYED FOR YOUR ARROGANCE”. The light burned him. “AND THEN WE WILL TRUELY BEGIN YOUR PUNISHMENT”. He felt as if he were falling into those eye's. Those terrible eyes! "BEG"!

The Count screamed and pulled away from the shadow that engulfed him. He ran down the stairs, bumping into husks who simply looked on, Uncaring. Indifferent. Souless.

Dougal watched as he disappeared from view. His real body was in orbit. Preparing to raze the building to the ground.

However, despite his desire to get on with it.

He supposed he ought to see about Baldurjack first.

Modifié par Redbelle, 31 juillet 2013 - 08:25 .

[Redbelle]

Count Berger staggered into the basement corridor.

The right side of his body felt like it was burning from the inside. He hurried down a corridor towards where he had left the angel. He didn't know why. Pain and desperation fuelled him. He tried to call for his army to disperse. To leave the hotel and begin their mission. Even if he died, his legion would go forth and spread. Perhaps his implant would keep him safe from the Reapers mind jack? Perhaps even if he turned, he would retain his mind and still lead them all to a better future. Or perhaps, he thought with a start, he would remain lucid as a trapped mind inside a body that he could not control as the Reaper's pulled his strings.

It was a terrifying thought.

He had not, after all, been conditioned by tea or the Cerberus signal. His mind had not been conditioned to obey before the conversion to husk. Would he simply be a passenger as his body went about the tasks the Reapers set?

A new wave of agony hit him as he stepped over a body lying in the hall. He fell against the door frame to the lab. He looked inside and saw an empty bed.

She was gone.

Dispear hit him hard as he realised he had come all this way just to see her face. He knew he was going to go away soon. Maybe forever. And to look upon her beauty one last time. He staggered inside as if hoping she was hidden somewhere within. He noticed the grey goo swirling in it's container. Limbs thrashed and he approached with sudden hope. He fell against the container. Held his hands to the glass walls as he peered inside. Looking beyound the grey.

A face appeared at the glass.

The face of an Angel.

It is you. He thought to himself. The final experiment vorked. He felt tears running down his face as relief flooded him. As it did though, another thought intruded on his respite. It is too soon. The vorld is not ready for you to valk on it's soil. The face opened it's eye's. Looked at him. Then comprehension, a flood of terror, hate and an unbridled rage appeared and the figure disappeared back into the grey.

Don't go. Berger pounded on the glass. Let me see you. I vant the last thing I see to be you.

From within the grey swirls a flash of light sparked and was gone again. He pounded harder. Desperate to break through. To reach the one he had come to love in his own twisted way.

Another spark illuminated the grey and the container's own lights went dark. The only light coming from inside now looked like a small thunderstorm brewing.

He banged again and this time the face reappeared and The Count drew back. It was the face of his angel. But her face was now a mask of intent. Of pure unadulterated murder. And it was aimed squarely at him. He withdrew as he saw biotic power arc in waves around her body and he tripped over a pack that spilled out onto the floor. He looked up to see it was a pack full of explosive putty, he knew. He looked up again at the container. As his angel's venomous fury began to manifest.

Don't be angry with me. He pleaded inside his mind. Even as he knew what was about to happen and knew, somewhere deep down.....

He deserved it!

The biotic explosion shattered the glass in all direction's as the goo poured forth. Freeing the figure who remained suspended. Held aloft by her own power, as the explosion continued unabated. In his own mind he saw it creep forward as he too crawled towards her on his hands and knee's and stretched out a hand, to touch her one last time. He was flung backwards and as he opened his eye's he saw the putty fly with him. Saw it being squashed into tight balls as biotic energy arced all around the biotic explosion he had been consumed by. Saw an arc jolt one of the putty balls that fizzled.

And then......

Modifié par Redbelle, 31 juillet 2013 - 08:28 .