Special Branch: Loose Ends
POSTED BY: safeat2nd
UPDATED: Tuesday, July 21, 2009 12:30
VIEWED: 13904
PAGE 4 of 5
OOC: Ok, since it's been a while since I posted, here's a bit more. I actually just re-read all of this thread and it's shaping up really nicely. Some excellent stuff as usual guys, and I can't wait to see how it all pans out 
"Hey" Maxine called out in surprise as she caught sight of a familiar form sitting in that old wooden chair in Julie's quarters.
Liam slowly tore his eyes away from the photograph he'd been staring at and looked up.
As Maxine entered the room she immediately realised he was not alone. As expected, an exhausted Julie slept peacefully in her own bed, whilst the young girl Linda used the girl's bicep as a pillow, a furrowed brow on her face.
Interesting dream no doubt
"What are you doing here?" Maxine asked, quite surprised to see the captain here after storming out so dramatically not so long ago.
Still holding the old photograph tightly he spoke softly so as not to wake his family. "What? I'm making sure it all goes down okay"
Maxine bobbed her head and slowly made her way over to him. "You okay?"
"Yeah, it's just been..." he started "Well, you know how it's been"
"Yeah, I know" she expressed herself sympathetically.
"And I'm sorry for snapping earlier, I just... things haven't really gone to plan have they?"
"No, they haven't" she answered "But we'll be okay, you know that right? This crew... as hard as it may be to see it, they are a good one. And they're willing to help"
The announcement caused Liam's facial expression to change to that of one of hope.
"I mean, they've given us a headstart" she clarified "A list of contacts, transmission codes. Even secured us a ride. Got us some solid back-up to make sure we make it planetside without... well, as few a hitch as possible"
"Right" Liam said, his head lowering again as he gazed once more at the photograph. "I guess Colm didn't need to head out after all"
"I'm sorry?" Maxine responded, not quite understanding. "Where is he?"
"He's looking out for me. Like he always does" Liam shakes his head, still transfixed by the photo "Said he was gonna find us some help."
"Oh, captain" she sighed heavily.
"Don't worry he'll be back soon enough. He was just trying to help."
Maxine, now standing close to the man, peered over and glimpsed at the photograph that seemed to hold so much interest.
It was a picture of happier times. Of Liam and his wife Ciaran posing together on a bright summers day. It was instantly recognisable as being taken at the famous Bella Gardens on Sihnon, probably before the couple were married. As far as Liam was concerned, it was the last time he could remember being truly happy, being free from worry. Only now he couldn't even say whether that was real. Or if it had all been a lie from the beginning.
"I'm sorry" she said without thinking.
"No need to apologise" he said, shaking his head. But that was all he could bring himself to say, the memories coming back to him of their time together were too present now. He couldn't speak and not break down. So he kept it inside like he had always done. His love, his anger, heis need for retribution. He silenced them until the time came when those feelings would be of some use.
"We'll get it done." she said in the hope that it might comfort him "And things will be better. It'll all be better. We've just got to get there. Set things in motion"
Maxine raised a smile though it seemed to be for her own benefit than his, for he refused to look up again. Instead he pondered on his future. Not just his, but his daughter's. And his daughter's daughter. It was true, the verse had become a terrible place to live in. He only hoped that they were doing the right thing. That it would be a change for the better.
As a man passed by them in the corridor, Maxine took one more look at the two girls, and took her leave. She had to check out how their secret Weapon was coping, if he was still up for the task. The time for it was near.
-----
Needy. Male Companion: Chosen One?
-----
http://needsalt.livejournal.com/
ww
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Seryn jerked upright at the sound of Safe's voice over the comm. She shot a glance at Wisp but his face was too obscured by the rain on the windshield. Popping the hatch she gestured and he shrugged.
She'd seen Needy as she passed through the ship, just minutes before. Or had she? she could envision it but... she couldn't even remember clearly what Kyra looked like, which said a lot for her recent observational skills.
By the time the both of them were back in the ship they were soaked through. Wisp shoved a cloth in her hands but she barely bothered trying to get dry before she got to the infirmary.
"What happened? Where are they?" She asked, Sadly Safes expression held no answers.
She crossed to the bed where Needy had so recently lain, pulling up the monitor and tracing back through the records. But it wasn't right surely..?
"He's dead?" at her exclamation Wisp marched accross the room as Soul rounded the corner and stopped still "How is he dead? " She whacked the side of the monitor, as was always the case acheiving nothing but a sting in her plam - no answers spilled forth.
She swore, accusatory tone gone " If he's dead then where is his body? What has she done with it?"
Wisp looked up "You're saying Needy kicked it and Kyra just threw him over her shoulder and scampered on out of here?"
"Well what would you suggest, sweetie?" the endearment didn't come out in a very endearing manner "that he upped and walked by himself?"
"No, he could have.." Wisp scanned the readout - "no, this thing is recording a full event, not just a sudden lack of data.. christ, whereever he is, I don't think its under his own steam"
Safe looked toward Soul" So what do you think? Would she have done this? And where would she be going?"
"Where could she go? I can only think of one place - that benighted little hole out there"
"Aw now Seryn - you don't know it's a hole - i'm sure theres some great real estate out there.. great sand.. and rock..."
"Wisp?"
"Yes?"
"Focus"
Safe coughed "We'll search here first, but i think the town is likely - I suggest we get there soon"
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
and now for the double take - if any of this doesn't suit what people wanted to do just let me know!
Seryn moved towards the doors with the others just as a cry rang out from the crew quarters. She pulled up sharply.
" Crap! I can't go, i'll stay here, keep me up to date"
They turned, perplexed, Safe made to talk but another cry interrupted him "oh"
Collecting Fin from the crew quarters and smiled slightly at Sykes sleeping almost upright in the cramped little bunks. She moved towards the cock pit, sadness at Needys loss mixed with a gut feeling that she had no idea how to identify.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
The Epsilon had once been the home for Needy, giving him shelter whilst his crewmates discussed their future plans in the meeting room of The Dwarf. Now things had changed. Everything had changed.
As the crew desperately sought to discover where Needy had disappeared to, the man himself stalked the corridors of the Dwarf. His heart prepared for events that would soon transpire.
The Master Quarters had once belonged to Liam and his wife, the treacherous Ciaran. Now it played house for four young children, watched over by Citzen, whilst their loyal guardian Mr Sykes, got some much needed rest.
"Needy?" Citizen says as he caught a glimpse of the figure in the doorway, scarcely believing his eyes. "Needy" he says with a smile, standing up and walking towards him, his hand held out in greeting.
Needy takes the man's hand and shakes it whilst barely looking the man in the eye. Instead his focus is on the children, for their well-being.
"Are you okay?" the man asks. "You don't look okay" he says, taking note of the man's pale complexion. He was one to talk, Citizen had spent most of his life drunk and incapacitated. It was only now, with a healthy dose of Caffeine in his system, that he was able to put himself to use.
"I'm fine" Needy answers coldly. "I could do with some water though, perhaps"
Slowly the man starts to sit down on the floor. He was exhausted, and looked it. It had felt like lifetimes since he had walked on his own two feet, and the journey had taken a lot out of him.
"Okay stay here, I'll get you some" Citizen replied rushing out of the room.
Needy looked up at the four children that faced him, some of their faces looking on in awe, others in fear.
"What's wrong with him?" Ghost whispered to her older sister.
Shadow hesitated in her reply, not entirely sure whether he was "fine" as he had stated.
"Don't worry" Needy uttered softly "I'm just very tired."
Ghost nodded in acceptance and Shadow acknowledged it too, but Truth and Spider were a little bit more wary.
"What happened to you?" Spider spoke up without trepidation.
Needy raised a slight smile "I'm afraid the answer to that is more complicated than I could go into right now"
"You can tell us" Spider said standing up, her gutsiness unnerving Truth like it always had. he hated her for it - it had always landed her in trouble before. "We're not kids" she insisted.
"No, you're not" Needy said, his smile widening "You're the children of Chaos. You're the future."
Truth and Spider looked at each other, their faces scrunched trying to make sense of what the man was going on about. The old man's lost it "Don't get all funny on us" Spider spoke boldly, prompting a nudge in the side from her friend.
Needy shook his head, still grinning. "Wouldn't dream of it"
***
OOC: Okay I've just slightly edited the post. Don't ask me how I missed Seryn's comment about Sykes sleeping, but I completely contradicted it before. Oh well at least Citizen's doing something now (
) and with him running around, it's only a matter of time before the rest of the crew discover where Needy is
Aprilise, hope that fits your characters okay. Let me know if it doesn't and I can change it
-----
Needy. Male Companion: Chosen One?
-----
http://needsalt.livejournal.com/
www.myspace.com/dicksquinty The World's Greatest Detective?
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Earlier
As Colm exited the Flying Hut, he was overwhelmed by the noise of the crowds. In the past half hour, it seemed the population had doubled in size. He had never been a fan of large crowds, it had bothered him to say the least. Staying alert required one to be aware of one's surroundings, but at times like these, it was impossible. People paced around, disappeared and reappeared again in seconds. If there was a federal officer amongst the crowd, Colm didn't know it. For all he knew, he was surrounded by them and they could take him down in any minute, scuppering any plans that the crew had.
He folded the piece of paper that he had in his hand and placed it in his pocket. The Flying Hut was known for being a reststop for pilots, and if there was anyone that could help them get to where they were going, under the radar, then they could be found there. Colm had taken details and prices from a handful of pilots, making notes of the pros and cons of each. But it was Liam that had to make the final decision, decide which one, if any, could be trusted to help them.
As a result, Colm kept to the outskirts of the crowds, squeezing through the gaps between people and market stalls - it seemed the best option to him. He wasn't interested in the sights, he just needed to get to the ship and the rest of his crew as quickly as possible.
But then he stopped and turned.
Just as he suspected, he had caught in his peripheral vision the sight of a familar face.
"Kyra" he muttered under his breath, he thinks that is her name.
Crowds pass in front of his line of sight, but its undobutedly her. Standing outside of a mysterious tent. A teller's tent. A part of him wonders whether that other crew were right - he knew they didn't trust her almost as much as they didn't trust him and Liam - was she in fact a danger to them.
But the thought soon passed as the woman he had been watching suddenly disappeared.
Colm, bobbed his head up and down, seeking her out, even making his way back to where she had been standing. The priority he had of getting back to the ship was now slipping out of focus, but it was not all for nought.
Just then, he caught sight of her, amongst the crowds, moving further away from him.
She wasn't alone - her body was pressed up tight against a masked man, the two of them seemingly dancing through the procession. Any other would assume he was protecting her from the chaos, but Colm saw something else. The masked man was no part of the parade, in fact he was certain that whilst Kyra seemed to move along with him, her body was in fact limp in the man's arms.
Colm instantly, and with no concern for his own mission, quickly took up the pursuit, weaving through men, women, children in the process. He didn't know if the man knew he was being followed, but he sure was moving quick.
Then Colm stopped as he reached the end.
He was sure he had followed them both here - to the Tyre Docks. But there was no sign of them, either of them. Again Colm looked back, scanning the crowds. But it was no good. He had lost them.
***
Kyra slipped in and out of consciousness.
All she could focus on was her own feet, skipping over the dusty ground as the man carried her; the man's mask, which resembled a mythological bird, obscuring her kidnappers identity; and the musky smell that emanated from his body - it was overpowering, and reminded her of the workhouse that her ex-husband had once taken her to.
But that was all insignificant now. She was under his control, and no amount of sketchy details could give her the power to escape. She was at his mercy.
And with that thought in mind, she succumbed to the deep sleep again.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
OOC: I have good news and bad news. Starting tonight, I am on a yearlong quest to write a book. I've taken a Novel writing workshop whose sole goal is to provide a small group of novelists the guidance and support they need to write their books. We meet every two weeks and I will be expected to produce 8 to 12 pages of manuscript for every meeting. The end result will be, by this time next year I will have a finished draft to submit to publishers.
I'm both excited and scared s***less.
Don't get me wrong, I have a solid premise and have done a huge amount of research in order to make my story both relatable and believable, but my inner critic keeps rearing it's ugly head.
"What if my idea doesn't have the 'legs' to be a novel?"
"I've only taken two writing courses, how does that qualify me to be a writer?"
ETC...
BUT, if this works out, believe it or not I have two more ideas in the background waiting on the results of this endeavour. A loose trilogy, but I’m putting the cart before the horse by going there.
If nothing else, this will be a live and learn thing for me.
Sorry to say that as sporadic as I’ve been posting here, it’s gonna get worse.
I’ll keep you all posted. Thanks for inspiring me.
_______________________________________________________________
"Got a headful of lightning
And a heart full of rain
And I know that I said
I'd never do it again
Oh and I love you sweet baby but I always take the long way home."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
OOC: Safe, I'm saddened that you wont be able to post here as often, your contributions were always excellent but I wholeheartedly believe that you have in you to produce a fantastic novel so I wish you the best, all the time hoping you can still pop by when you can to post something
It seems we've all been sporadic in posting of late, but hope we can take this story to the finish line with this thread. Or at the very least, bring some sort of closure, leaving it open to return if and when we get the chance.
In that hope I've just wrote a little recap of current events so that you dont have to reread through this thread just to refresh your memories
Recap:
The crew came to a decision. The Dwarf’s mission was not their own, and they couldn’t get involved, but at the very least they could help them get back on their feet. As the captain’s right-hand man Colm ventured into town looking for aid, our band of heroes provided locations of safe houses and government access codes that might assist them, as well as a new shuttle that would allow them to slip by undetected.
Meanwhile Seryn tells the crew about a secret hideaway that her uncle set up in an underground facility.
Seeing it as the perfect getaway and a chance to regroup, Safe gives the go-ahead - allowing Wisp and Seryn to get to work making the needed preparations.
As Safe bids farewell to his old friend Jack who, along with Flechette and Amy, plans to carry on their work in Santos, dark events are unfolding.
Clayton, the reporter that had been investigating Needy’s mysterious behaviour, finally locates the dangerous bounty hunter Kurren at Santos, but he is not out of peril yet. As he attempts to flee from a no-good pilot who feels he’s been “taken for a ride” by the reporter, Kurren himself has made considerable progress - locating the bait for his prize.
The Dwarf’s missing man Colm witnesses Kyra being kidnapped by the gruff bounty hunter, just as Needy awakens from his coma.
Safe and the rest of the crew strive to comprehend the bizarre events surrounding Needy’s recovery, completely ignorant of the fact that two agents of Project Einstein were watching them with great interest.
-----
Needy. Male Companion: Chosen One?
-----
http://needsalt.livejournal.com/
www.myspace.com/dicksquinty The World's Greatest Detective?
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
The Dwarf had been stripped. One could see that it was once a parliament-owned vessel by its design, but nobody could know what its true purpose had been, only its former crew.
Wisp had used his wizardry skills to hack the registration network - as a far as anyone in authority at Lando’s Bay knew, The Dwarf was now owned by a businessman named Krevlock. An upgrade for the man for sure, his shuttle - a simple Class C people-carrier, roughly half the size of The Dwarf - was now in the possession of Liam and his crew. It had been Safe’s doing. Maybe he was feeling generous, or maybe he just wanted the crew finally out of his hair, either way, they were as good as gone.
If only for one last thing.
“Liam’s worried” Maxine said as she approached Safe “he still hasn’t heard back from Colm”
Colm was not somebody Safe had had much dealings with. It had seemed he had made the wise choice to not get in the man’s way. But now he was seemingly missing, and that frustrated the Epsilon’s captain, not because he feared for the man’s well-being, but because it was further delaying the crews departure. It may have sounded selfish, but in all honesty Safe just wanted things to go back to the way they were. Things had become too complicated of late.
“It’s the festival, the broadcast waves can sometimes interfere with our comms.”
“He wants me to go find him” Maxine divulged.
“No” Safe said, “don’t need you running after him and getting yourself lost too”
“I can take care of myself” she said, clearly annoyed with him.
“He’ll be back” Safe said confidently.
The captain didn’t want to say goodbye to Maxine, but he hadn’t wanted to say goodbye to Jack either. But his friend was gone now, along with Flechette and Amy. He didn’t know how the latter would cope, she still seemed distressed over the boy Milton’s death, even suggested that they three should see to his burial. But it wasn’t their job. It hadn’t been Safe’s either, but he had made himself Needy’s keeper now, and Milton was his friend. They would see to it that the boy was buried at the hideaway Seryn had told them about, it would be best. It would be safer.
As soon as they leave Santos, Safe told himself, things would get better.
They had to.
Just then, Safe saw a man in the distance running towards them. It was Colm, right on cue.
OOC: Ok, so consider this setting the wheels in motion to finish up The Dwarf story (will prob send them on their way in my next post), leaving us room to focus on the core characters
-----
Needy. Male Companion: Chosen One?
-----
http://needsalt.livejournal.com/
www.myspace.com/dicksquinty The World's Greatest Detective?
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
OOC *Bump*
Sorry, nothing to add, just was checking in. Excellent stuff Needy! You always write Safe well.
_______________________________________________________________
"Got a headful of lightning
And a heart full of rain
And I know that I said
I'd never do it again
Oh and I love you sweet baby but I always take the long way home."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
"We can help"
Maxine's words still echoed in his mind as Safe watched the crew of The Dwarf leave in the small Carrier vessel. The ship rumbled before slowly but surely lifting itself off of the ground. Seconds later and the craft had elevated itself forty feet into the air and proceeded ventured forward on a steady straight trajectory, before breaking right and climbing towards the heavens above them, eventually disappearing amongst the clouds.
"No." Safe had replied. "You need to go. You need to finish what you've started."
The words pained him slightly. If it had been up to him, he might have welcomed their help, if only to let her stay a little longer. But he had to think of his crew. And they weren't going to be able to move on until the incident with The Dwarf was behind them.
"Seryn" he eventually called out as he snapped himself of his daze. "You all set?"
Antares stood by her ship, her clothes patched with black oil and her gloves greasy to the touch. "Ready when you are"
Safe hadn't yet told her what Colm had told him - that their new passenger Kyra had in fact been taken by a man, likely a bounty hunter hoping to lure her colleagues out into the open. Personally he hadn't seen how interrupting her work would have helped any. He'd already made up his mind what to do about it.
"That's the thing" he answered. "I'm gonna need you to take the lead here."
"Sorry?" she asked
"It's the girl, Kyra. She seems to have got herself in some trouble."
"She's not our responsibility." Seryn replied
"You want to be the one to tell Needy that?" Safe answered back. "Besides, she is. I gave her my word, I wouldn't leave her behind."
"What kind of trouble?" she asked
"It doesn't matter" the cpatain answered, shaking his head.
"You're going out there on your own, and you want me to lead this crew. Any reason you didn't ask Soul?"
"Who's to say I didn't?"
"Truth is, right now, I think you're the safest bet to lead. Soul... he's not been the same." Safe sighed. "Besides, I'm not going alone. It's Needy who wants to do this, I'm just going to make sure he stays safe."
Seryn nodded in acceptance of the assignment, and softly asked, "When do you leave?"
"Now," he answered. "We're going now. Soon as you're ready, I suggest you do the same. Ain't no reason to stay here any longer."
"Okay" she said with much hesitation "I'll send the co-ords to your Nav-com. And I'll see you there. Right?" Seryn said with a hint of concern in her voice.
"Sure," he answered simply. "I'll see you soon"
-----
Needy. Male Companion: Chosen One?
-----
http://needsalt.livejournal.com/
www.myspace.com/dicksquinty The World's Greatest Detective?
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME