Special Branch: Overdue Reunions
POSTED BY: WashsYoungerSexierBr
UPDATED: Thursday, December 23, 2010 16:16
VIEWED: 23940
PAGE 7 of 8
Seryn-oops, posted the same time as you. oh yeah i gotcha on there now. and dont worry, i think thats what facebook's all about 
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My brand new writer's blog! http://dicksquinty.wordpress.com
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Nate groans as he comes too from the hit Kurren gave him earlier.
"Oh good, you're awake."
Kurren is standing roughly five feet away but Nate can barely see him. The bounty hunter was a mess of fuzzy and distinct lines. Nate noticed the hunter was carrying some long object but could not make it out.
"Yeah, I didn't stop at just the one hit."Kurren admits, "Your vision should clear up eventually. But in the meantime let me tell you something."
As Kurren came closer his outline became clear, so too did the object in his hand. It was a stick roughly 2 feet long with a menacing blade attached to it. Kurren smiled, "Ah, I see you've noticed my crude Pudao." He places a hand on the flat of the blade. "In ancient times it was used in battle to cut the legs from under the horses."
The smile faded and his tone was grim. "Now, you made me relive some past failings which was none too pleasant. So, to make up for it I'm going to cut off your limbs until I feel better."
Nate's eyes went wide as saucers when he saw Kurren ready the weapon. Before Kurren took a swing he blurted out, "Wait, wait! I can help you get stuff."
"I know you can." Kurren replied, "And I tracked you down for just that purpose. But first, I want you to know the price of failure."
The blade's whistle as it cuts through the air mingles with Nate's screams.
ooc: when I saw the pic Wisp came up with it kind of inspired me to make Kurren a bit darker.
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Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree 
Navigator on Destiny 
Kurren, Bounty Hunter 
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Wisp sat in a briefing room with about 50 other Alliance soldiers listening to a very tedious Major explain the plans for the next day. Vixen was going to be landing today and being transferred to a secure facility on the edge of the city. She was going to be in biostasis and security was going to be very tight. Transfer will take place in a ground vehicle convoy that looked very vulnerable to an ambush; this of course looked like a set-up so Wisp ruled out an attack till the execution. She would be transferred to the square the next day by a similarly obvious trap then straight to the gallows. The event had been publicised heavily so a crowd was expected, there was a brief lecture on controlling the throngs of people with a strict policy on no live fire. He then went on to mention several exceptions to this rule; he then passed the floor over to agent from Crimson Squad to cover this in detail. It was at this point Wisp bucked up and started paying more attention.
“Good morning soldiers. As stated by the good Major this will be a very public affair and we don’t want any unfortunate mistakes. However what the public don’t know is that this execution is a bait and snare for several members of a terrorist cell known as ‘Special Branch’. Firstly former Military Captain Seth Franklin aka ‘SAFE’ .” A picture of Safe was projected onto the wall. “Next Seryn Antares first lieutenant. Flew as a fighter pilot, we have air cover on this operation but be prepared anyway. William Spacer aka ‘WISP’ former Ariel Youth Military Academy private. Extensive technical skill and sniper training. This gentleman is only known as ‘SOUL’, his file is classified but he is an extremely dangerous individual. That’s it for those with military training there are several more individuals who are involved and their details are in the files you have been given. If you see any of these people do not engage, we have extensive sniper coverage of the area. Simply report their location and track them. Only if absolutely necessary to preserve life should you open fire. If anyone jeopardises this mission they will be personally dealt with by a member of my department. That is all for the briefing, there will be an orientation to the operational area this afternoon and I recommend you all become very familiar with the files in front of you.”
As everyone streamed out of the hall Wisp began processing the information that had been given. Snipers? Air support? This was turning into one very well planned trap, and Wisp had placed himself slap bang in the middle of it.
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OOC: Quick question, how do you set the picture as your sig Wisp?
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"You do realize that not only is this drawing us unwanted attention, it's also very creepy."
Soul loped through the croud in one of Ariel's markets, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his trenchcoat, a scowl on his face. Behind him, a second Soul skipped through the crowd, wearing a flower behind one ear and an extremely goofy grin.
"Why so serious?" the second Soul asked in a sing song voice.
"You know, the option to turn you in to the authorities is still on the table."
The second Soul jumped in front of the first Soul and planted a big kiss right on his lips. "You just need to relax, you big fuddy duddy."
With a yell, one Soul grabbed the other by the arm and pulled him behind a market stall. A brief but loud argument ensued and one Soul emerged, followed by a pouting redhead with striking green eyes.
"You are no fun anymore," Ciaran complained.
"Years of thinking that the love of your life was murdered only to find out that she's actually still alive and a murderer in her own right will do that to you."
Ciaran began to argue but Soul cut her off. "Later, if the others even let you live. Now tell me what you found out."
With a sigh, Ciaran relayed what she had heard at the briefing. Soul's eyes narrowed at every detail, and then widened at the mention of Wisp, but Ciaran was quick to point out that she wasn't even positive it had been him.
"Trap after trap after trap. What about the square? How did the recon go there?"
Ciaran grinned. "Well, besides the fact that people are going to be talking about the occasional sightings of the Governor of Ariel in a dress, that's going to be the best place to free Vixen. It's also going to be the worst."
Shaking his head, Soul paused in his walk and leaned against a wall. "We need to find the others. It's not going to end well if there are a half-dozen rescue operations occuring at the same time." He began to walk again, his neck craning to see above the crowd. "I need to find a Cortex terminal. Let's get the Special Branch back together."
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http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/
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Quote:
Originally posted by NEEDY:
OOC: Quick question, how do you set the picture as your sig Wisp?
OOC: I actually just figured it out myself. Go to the location of the image in the Blue Sun Room, right click on it and select "properties". Copy the address in there and paste that into your signature.
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Mantichorus: "So is there a reason they call you 'Soul'?"
Soul (after a long pause): "Yeah. Because I have one."
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23234&nid=32649
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Quote:
Originally posted by SoulOfSerenity:Quote:
Originally posted by NEEDY:
OOC: Quick question, how do you set the picture as your sig Wisp?
OOC: I actually just figured it out myself. Go to the location of the image in the Blue Sun Room, right click on it and select "properties". Copy the address in there and paste that into your signature.
Ah yes, cheers. And here was me trying to input the right code. Didn't realise a simple link would do it
EDIT: I've altered the pic so that its Marc Blucas as Needy, just to see how it would work. Had to keep the same pic though, it was too perfect. If i can alter other pictures as easily, maybe a comic would work
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“Afternoon Sheppard how are you today?”
“Im good, thanks Officer. Where is the young lady?”
“You mean the condemned? She’s just down the corridor through some security checks.”
“I’d prefer if you didn’t refer to her as the condemned.”
“Sorry Father. If you’ll follow me I’ll show to her” The two of them set off down the corridor through a variety of scanners.
“I have to say Officer I’ve seen this girls file I didn’t expect her to be asking to see a man of the cloth.”
“You and me both Father, but it’s been all she’s been saying since we gave her the antagonist and brought her out of stasis.”
“Do you have any idea what she wants to say?”
“Well my best theory is that she’s gonna try and pull something. I know it’s he who is without sin and all that but just be careful in there”
“I will don’t worry” The Sheppard hesitated for a moment at the door
“There’s two guards sat outside the door, four more behind a mirror and two more watching on camera’s with their fingers on silent alarms.”
“Right. Thank you.” With that he went through the doorway.
She sat curled up in a ball at the edge of the bed. A skinny young woman with a shock of wild hair as black as a raven’s wing. Her skin was pale with a tinge of a sickly green which he had been informed was a common side effect of biostasis. When he entered she looked up at him with expectancy, excitement and a little fear which faded in an instant to depressed disappointment.
“Expecting someone else?” The Sheppard asked.
“I… Well…I was hoping that someone was gonna come to rescue me. But then I thought that I don’t really deserve rescuing.”
“You think you don’t deserve rescue?”
“I overheard the guards talking when I was out. They said they were using me as some sort of bait to catch Wisp and the others.”
“And you think they’re going to rescue you and you don’t deserve it?”
“Please. Those guys were always trying to do good and help others and all that Samaritan Gosa. I’m bad news. Before I met them I was running a gang on Boros smuggling drugs out in recycled parts, and then after Wisp was healed after Santos I bailed and did over a few transport ships and then ended up here.”
“Why did you wait for Wisp to heal?”
“Sorry?”
“You say that your bad news, and that you don’t deserve saving but you took the time to make sure your friend was ok before you left. “
“Well… Wisp always did a lot for me, tried to bring out the best, I couldn’t let him just die”
“I had the chance to look at your file. You’ve been through some bad things and you’ve done some bad things. But it all seems like you’re always doing all these dangerous and violent deeds because people are always expecting you to do them. And then when this Wisp character tries to tell you you’re a good person you act like it. Do you really know who you are?”
“You did see the part in my file where it says I killed my parents?”
“I did see that part yes. I also saw the part where you called a helpline and said that your grandfather was abusing you sexually and then you ended up in hospital with two broken ribs and compound jaw fracture a few days later. The charges were subsequently dropped. I saw the part where you usually saw your parents once every few months and were raised by a string of nannies. I saw the police reports of domestic disturbances when you father got angry and hit your mother. You may have come from a well off family but it wasn’t a good family. You’ve spent your whole life in the shadow of this terrible childhood never being tempted to be anything better.”
“Well it’s a little late for redemption now Father. By this time tomorrow whether I was a saint or a sinner I’ll be just as cold.”
“It’s never too late for redemption my child. God works in mysterious ways. You seem to think your friends are going to rescue you. And that this is a punishment for your transgressions. So apologise. Not to any high power or omnipotent being. Apologise to yourself, accept that you got handed a bad hand and played it badly. Maybe next time round you can do bett
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Kyra didn't sleep that night. She wondered whether she ever would again. She supposed it depended on whatever happened next.
Luthor had been there when she'd come home. And he was there now, lying beside her in bed. She rested her head on his outstretched arm.
He barely made a noise when he slept, just laid on his back, silent and peaceful. It was very Zen of him. But that was him all over - she'd never known him to so much as lose his temper in all the time she had known him.
He'd once asked her to marry him, but she'd declined. It was the most frustrated she had seen him. He had certainly hinted at the proposal enough times and she had never indicated she would say no. But it was only in the moment that she realised she couldn't. She was still hiding too much. Not to mention the fact that she worried that the false ID she had been given might not hold up when scrutinised under the eye of a legal registrar.
She had wanted to tell him everything there and then, the reasons why she couldn't marry him. But she was too weak. And by the time they had patched things up, she didn't want to tell him because she feared losing him again. It seemed easier to keep quiet. In that moment she told herself she could never tell him the truth. He would never speak to her again. She would lose him like she'd lost everybody else.
Now, in the early hours of morning, she got up from the bed, careful not to disturb him, and made her way to the window.
The White Sun was rising in the west, casting the mountains in a beautiful silhouette.
She didn't want to leave this place. She hoped that she would not. But he would find her. Sooner or later, he would come for her, she knew it. And then what?
Luthor was going to find out, sooner or later. This was one secret she could not take to the grave.
She'd been here before. Same situation, only back then it was on Boros. She left Bernie because she couldn't face telling him who she really was. And it cost them both their time together. She couldn't let history repeat itself.
She had a choice. A second chance. The opportunity to do things right this time.
When Luthor woke up, she'd tell him the truth.
Then maybe they could figure this out, they could come to a decision, together.
They could put all of this behind them, finally.
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Seven Years Ago
A light fog rolled through the tree line under an otherwise cloudless night. Millions of stars twinkled incandescently beside the two moons of white and grey light. In a break from the forest a roughly square compound sat fenced off, poorly constructed wooden guard towers stood manned at its corners. Lighting in the base was minimal as the archaic generator was already struggling keeping basic functions operational. Freezing guards leant in each tower kept awake by dreams of fires and warm beds, rifles stood lazily beside them. Again to save power there were no radios, the guards communicated by sonic cabling running between the towers. Occasionally brief snippets of conversation or dirty jokes would spread between them but overall they stood in silence.
In the centre of the garrison stood an old abandoned church with a new concrete bunker hastily attached to the side. The classic earth-that-was gothic architecture juxtaposed with an ugly block of shapeless grey rock. A series of radar dishes and antenna littered the roof of the newer building rotating lazily in the twilight.
Unbeknownst to the entire base a group of shadows skulked through the trees.
A hand was held up in the Mist and three men huddled to a stop beside a lumbering oak. “Stand by here for Rendezvous with Spacers team”
“Up here boss” Came a whisper from above. All three men swung their rifle skyward as they jumped of shock.
“Jesus Spacer! Do you want me to shoot your ass off? Christ you’re like a Wisp of smoke up there. Where’s the rest of your squad?”
Spacer tapped a log against the tree trunk and two more men dropped from neighbouring trees and joined the group. “All present Sir” Snapping off a perfect geometrical salute.
“The Snipers in your team isn’t he?” the group leader asked Spacer, a clear tone of disdain in his voice.
“That would be me sir. Hence the tree.” He replied with a boyish grin.
“Well Mr Wisp. We’re going to head to the edge of the tree line, when we get there we’ll give you the signal. How many guards have you spotted and how long will it take you to remove em?”
“The only guards we’ve spotted are in the towers. Four of em. I've been taking ranges and I can take em all out in eight seconds.”
“Spacer I've got no time for macho shit. Its Night they’re at least 400 yards away not backlit with a separation of 200 yards between each target. You can’t take em out in eight seconds.”
“Oh well if you say so Sir I’ll make it last a minute”
“Fine whatever Signal when you’re done. And this is going in my debriefing report. Ok team move out” As the group moved out a distinct mutter was heard insinuating very unpleasant things about Wisp.
A brief time passed as the squad stalked through the woodland. Wisp took up his Rifle and practised his four shots at the guard towers. The range was great, and the elevation was uneven, and it was dark, and his four targets were spread out. But Wisp was the best damn infiltration agent in the whole Ariel Youth Military Academy, this was child’s play. Lining up on his first target his headset muttered the word “Go”. In a lightning succession four pops rang out into the darkness. “You were right sir. It only took six seconds”
A grumble followed over the comm. And Wisp watched through his scope as the group entered the church. The target was a terrorist cell that had been hitting troop transports in the area, however recon reported that civilians were present on the base so an airstrike wasn’t possible. Instead a commando squad was sent in to exterminate the terrorists whilst leaving the civilians unharmed. Very difficult high end mission. Just the way he liked it.
Wisp watched as the team exited the building and checked his chrono. Three minutes. The outline was for at least eight. Was the squad leader getting back at Wisp for his display earlier? Pretty damn risky doing a whole infiltration in three minutes, or pretty sloppy. Wisp dropped from the tree and joined the convoy as it headed past.
“Everything go to plan?” He asked as they headed through the trees.
“S
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