Special Branch: The Chasing of Wild Geese.
POSTED BY: seryn
UPDATED: Tuesday, August 22, 2006 13:25
VIEWED: 17628
PAGE 1 of 9
Ok, so, the second thread. (Boy, I didn't think this would last!)
This Summary is a work in progress, just a rough outline for now, if someone wants to help me out I would kiss them. (where I not on the other side of the Atlantic)
We join our valiant crew of boy-whores, theives and ne'erdowells as they strive to make some sense out of the Giant Space Hiccup that took them from their lives of recently enforced Joy and spat them out into Peril. Most rubbed their hands and giggled with glee. But only inwardly. Stoic and manly facades maintained, the jumped through subspace, a mighty feat especially as no one actually used a definite term for what they did. That this narrator can remember. She'll check.
Safe's ship, The Dagger with her stalwart and muscly crew of Safe, Grunt, Bear and Jennings made the jump, towing the ISSCsomething behind it, which contained Needy (who was in the process of discovering his uncanny self healing powers and suffering visions of a bieng who looked like Serenity - the winged girl, not the ship - and kept threatening him with destiny).
Atatched to the side of the ISSVCsomesuch, was The Nandi, a small prowler type fighter that contained the bickering Seryn and Wisp. (And her rabbits, and their babies. Lots of them).
Entering the orbit of the planet Boros a short time later, Seryn and Wisp fall foul of the ISCSVwotsit's holographic alarm system, and discovered that Citizen was also on board the ICyesyoucan. After a short but enlightening lesson in transport ship anatomy, all attempted to land in a remote area of the planet.
Wisp learned that its really good fun to go tear-arsing down as if crashing, before landing in a big pile of goo. Seryn, Citizen and Needy learned that the Nandi does NOT, repeat NOT seat three comfortably.
Safe, Grunt, Bear and Jennings learned that Seryn makes damn good bbq sauce when she's in the mood.
During a night of moderate to heavy drinking, and possible spiking of the hot sauce with hallucinagenics, Rosie the Tree lady joined the group. Rosie proved to be absolutely invaluable in the events to come. Though Safe could possibly be facing an ant problem in the near future.
Nursing hangovers, the next morning Wisp implements a plan to get spare parts. Seryn and Citizen went shopping, and Citizen proved absolutly invaluable when it come to procuring goods and services for minus money. Even when drunker than a pirate called Sparrow. During a salvage attempt in a near by scrap dump, Wisp is attacked by Vixen, a girl who has a few issues. And then some.
She also appears to have already met Little Wisp. Which is a problem as as soon as they get back to camp, Needy takes a bit of a shine to her. Apparently despite her tendency to damage folk. Men!
Back up in space, a Firefly class ship crewed by the confused and previously elswhare (and, um, in some cases, previously dead) Soul, 'Tash, --- --- --- and ---, appears over Boros, they are pulled toward the planet and eventually land near the Dagger et al. After lots of nervous pointing of guns, each crew realise who the others are, and there is general hugging and manly back slapping.
During the work to fix up the ships, including the Issc... which has now been renamed The Epsilon (much to Seryns relief) many different little things are done, and Needy takes Vixen off for a walk and an attempted grope (Hey, spade a spade) Or something like that. Anyhoo, Wisp and Vixen end up fighting, and rolling about a bit, and eventually fall off the edge of the cliff. Careless.
In the meantime, back at base camp, Grunt? picks up the approach of ships. The Epsilons previous owner (the Jerk responsible for calling it all those random letters instead of giving it a proper name, honestly, calls himself a proud owner...) Has detected a beacon onboard the Epsilon, and is rushing, along with a few purple bellies, to reclaim his property. Safe and Soul decide, very quickly, to get off planet and hide for awhile, But Seryn, after Needy returns with news of Wisp fate, decides to go fin
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Just reposting Kyra's last post, to get us all started again.
Quote:
As Kyra exited the cell, closing the door behind her, she discovers the guard that had let her in was sitting unnervingly close to the door.
Suddenly a worrying thought crosses her mind. Did he hear our conversation?
“Everything sorted?” the guard asks her, interrupting the thought before it had time to set in.
“Sorry?” she asked softly, desperate to conceal her guilt.
“Your brother - You said what you need to say?”
“Oh, yeah.” She replies, careful to disguise the relief that had just passed over her. “It’s just… brothers, they can be so stubborn sometimes”
“I bet”
After thanking the guard for his help, she quickly makes her way towards the exit – Payne’s announcement to her had made everything more urgent. They had been given a window of opportunity, and it was doubtful the window would remain open for long.
First though, she needed to get Milton out. And she knew exactly who to turn to for help.
*****
1 year ago:
“You’re out!” Carl Perry’s voice boomed.
“What?” Kyra gasped
“You heard! I’ve covered your back one too many times but this…” he holds up the news article in question, “you’ve gone too far this time”
“It’s the truth”
“It’s fei-oo”
“Well, we’ll let the readers decide”
“No, we won’t, because this isn’t going out there. I told you to leave the stories of aliens, ghosts and reavers at home; that if you wanna stay a reporter, you give me a real news stories. But you can’t do that can you”
“Carl…”
“Don’t Carl me. What about the job I assigned you?”
“I can’t do that”
“You’re a reporter; you’re supposed to get your hands dirty. You’re not here to make friends, you’re here to tell the stories people wanna hear. Expose the truth.”
“This is the truth!” Kyra shouted, grabbing the article he had thrown down.
“But people don’t wanna hear that sort of news. They want to read of crooked politicians and sordid affairs, not about children being raped to death by Reavers”
Kyra breathed heavily through her nose as she tried to contain her frustration and anger. “What do you want me to say Carl?”
“Well that depends. You’ve run out of lives. Are you going to do the story I assigned you or not?”
“I can’t…”
“Then there’s the door, it’s been nice knowing you”
Carl may have been a no-nonsense boss but, even so, the ultimatum still came as a shock to her. She had gotten used to being under his wing of protection. She was a good reporter – this much he had told her plenty of times - but it didn’t seem enough now. IT seemed his hand was being forced
“What’s the story again?” she surrendered.
*****
Now:
“Kyra?” Carl responded upon accepting the call on his mobile cortex
“Hey, Carl”. Kyra replied on the video screen.
“What is it?”
“Remember the story I did for you?”
“The story? Of course. Why? What is this about?”
“Remember what you promised me?”
“I…”
“Carl…” she interrupted him before he could answer. “I need to cash in that favour.”
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OOC: Absolutely LOVED the summary!! I laughed my butt off. Well done Seryn! Very... tactful..
From what I can tell, you've pretty much summed it all up nicely.
Nice to hear from Wisp again. Needy, excellent storyline!! Welcome aboard April!
Now if TRM and Citizen would check in (Please?) I have two options for my post. Different endings so to speak. One gives them an opening to be absent for a while if need be, the other continues on no changes.
Plus I'd like to explore Soul's story too at some point.
I'll post tomorrow.
Safeat2nd, lovin' this story! Was going into withdrawal without it.
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OOC Sorry I haven't posted in awhile, I'm just not sure where I'm supposed to be, what's going on, nor any ideas for storylines. I'll try and get a post done soon.
More insane ramblings by the people who brought you beeeer milkshakes!
And as you know, these are open forums, you're able to come and listen to what I have to say.
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Quote:
Somewhere on the planet, on the banks of the river into which Vixen and Wisp fell, three girls, Truth Ghost and Shadow, have been hiding out for thrree years of so. Their past sound decidedly unhealthy, but they seem to have made good in their riverside caves. As they go about their normal day, one of them shout out, and they rush to pull her find, an unconcious man, from the waters.
OOC: Good summary, just a few things with my characters you can add to the list later (and some ideas if people want to hear them)
Truth is a boy
Shadow and Ghost have lived with the Carson's for 3 years
They were kicked out to the woods a day before the post starts with a loaf of bread and told to fend for themselves because the Carson's had "company". The cave is somewhere Truth found that no one except them ever come to due to the rough terrain and river. The Carson's don't know about it. All three are expected back in two days.
Shadow was fishing for dinner (a loaf of bread will only get you so far after all), and caught a human (i was thinking it was Wisp but if there is an objection i can change it)
I was thinking the carson's are involved in some criminal element
In other news I leave tomorrow for Florida. I'll be mostly out of touch tomorrow but I will have some internet acess while i'm down there (unless for some reason my aunt's computer isn't working).
I'll be working on some profiles for my characters that will give some basic information on them as well as some personality and background information. I'll also try to work on a new post on the way to Florida (when i'm not sleeping or watchin firefly).
Glad the site is back on and nice to see everyone again. Any questions on my characters just ask.
April
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OOC: Nothing really to add story-wise, but I've created a run down of the characters so far.
Some need elaborating on (the main ones mostly - Safe and crew, Seryn, Soul etc - there's so much information that I didn't know which was pertinent) but I thought the best people to do that are the people behind the characters, namely you folks, so feel free to do that (please).
Also I've got to say thanks for that summary Seryn, not only was it informative but funny. Must have been a headache trying to sort through it all 
...
Ships and Characters:
The Dagger (Spaceship, similar in size to Millennium Falcon):
Bear: “pilot and muscle”
Grunt:“electronics and long range weapons specialist”
Jennings: “co-pilot and street fighter”
Safe: Pilot and former Alliance officer.
Destiny’s Shadow (Firefly class spaceship):
Elise Dyan: Beautiful yet tough Elise has quite a few skills, and uses them to fill quite a few roles on the ship – cook, medic, gunman (or would that be gunwoman?). It’s possible she’s also had an intimate relationship with “Spooky” Tark.
Ellington "Spooky" Tark: Captain Soul’s right hand man is the intimidating sort of fellow: Tall, silent and deadly. Certainly not the sort of man you’d want to be on the wrong side of.
Soul: Captain of the ship, Soul has recently been separated (due to a certain Giant Space Hiccup) from his fiance, the mother-to-be Serenity. He might not mind, he’s got a lot in his past that needs dealing with.
(Head of) Succatash: Pilot of Destiny’s Shadow. What his story is and why he now exists solely as a head in a jar is unknown… but he does make some small conversation and the odd quip, and that’s all that matters. Right?
Togan Hamrick: Engineer of Destiny’s Shadow and yet, despite what you would think is a grubby job, somehow he always manages to stay clean… which is probably for the best considering he’s an obsessive “neat freak”.
Epsilon/ISSCV (Interstellar Space Cargo Vehicle):
Citizen: Business man, and possibly weapons dealer, not much of a pilot, but that might be because of his weakness for alcohol – can’t exactly have a pilot DUI now can we?
Needy – Former companion who is haunted by an unearthly being that only he can see. Disguised as Serenity – an old friend – he is told that he must embrace his destiny if he is to save the verse. Cue mental instability.
The Nandi (fighter ship, similar in size to X Wing – seats no more than 2):
Seryn:“…a fighter pilot and general handywoman. Watch out for her rabbits…”. Currently is leading a search with Needy for the missing Wisp and Vixen.
Wisp: An “Ex military brat” that learned to fend for himself on the streets. Since his time as a teenager he’s got into scrapes as well as provided expertise to shady characters (being the electronics wizard that he is) but now he seems to have put that behind him in favour of thrilling heroics. Well, until an encounter with an old flame didn’t end so well. Currently, the two of them are missing, presumed dead.
Boros:
Carl Perry: News Editor, boss of and father-figure to Kyra McTaggert.
Ghost: Shy six-year old girl, practically raised (and protected) by her older brother, Truth. She’s four years younger than her sister Shadow.
Kyra McTaggert: News reporter with a history with Needy. Determined to make amends for the past, she is currently doing whatever she can to find the missing companion who, she believes, was kidnapped by strangers from another world.
Milton Reeve: Was a protégé of Needy at the companion house until Alliance officers arrested him, charging him with being a traitor. Currently locked up at Helo Holding Facility
Payne: Associate of Kyra. He also shares a keen interest in mysterious phenomenon.
Rosie Walker: One of seven plant people, specially grown during a drunken stupor by Wisp. Being a newly formed sentient being, she at times struggles to understand humans.
Shadow: Ten-year old runaway. She is a bi
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Needy that Feckin' brilliant! Thank you! You just saved me tonights work, and did it better than i ever could! Ok, I'm saving that and we'll post it at the start of each thread. Thats so well done. And the ships! The pretty ships.
Ok, so on with the story!
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OOC: Oops, should have said that the pictures of the ships come courtesy of Safe - I just resized them and put them on one pic so that you dont have to scan across the page to see them.
-----
Needy. Male Companion:
First Boy Whore of Destiny
Incredibly Confused Companion of SereniTree
-----
www.myspace.com/needsalt
http://needsalt.livejournal.com/
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Seryn watched the companion nervously, twisted in her seat as she was, his face, the suddenly cold and lifeless eyes seemed to large, to close.
She turned again. Watching him in the reflections on the windows. He continued his calm observation. Stillness that was completely unnnatural took over the cramped interior.
She broke it. Turning with speed that surprised even her, she threw out an arm and caught his head, thumb and forfinger pressing either side of his jaw, forcing his head back against the wall. Hard enough to hopefully get his undivided attention. She pushed down her remorse for treating nim that way, and forced herself to look directly into his eyes.
"Get. A. Grip." A flicker of concern crossed her features. "I don't know what is happening to you... But you need to block it out! Its changing you, and thats frightening me! I don't know who or what it is thats haunting you, but right now our priority is Wisp! He could be hurt down there! he could be drowning as we speak! Control It, banish it. Even if it can't last, right now Needy we need you here!"
The vacant expression continued, eyes staring at things that didn't exist. then the gaze shifted, and a hint of allarm entered his expression.
She could have sang with the relief. But his face took on a look of absolute horror.
"Seryn...."
"Oh thank the gods Needy, your back with me, jeeze I could...."
"SERYN! Waterfall!"
She turned, just in time to see the water ahead disapppear, and feel the bottom drop out of the fighter. OH... I hate that bit.
Twisting back in her seat she found the controls and took the Nandi out of auto-pilot. She pulled up hard, skimming the mist at the base of the fall and levelling them out a few meters above ground again.ok, no big deal...
"So I can sit and emote my little heart out, but it takes a plunge over the edge to snap you out of it?" She looked at him over her shoulder "Typical, adrenaline junky."
She smiled.
No, I heard you, and I was... you've no idea whats happening to me... I keep seeing her..."
He stopped and leaned forward, fingers white around a side handle.
A few meters away, clinging to brush thrown out by the river, was a dark shape, human sized and wet through.
Pulling the Nandi over to a sand bar, she popped the hatch and both of them where out in moments.
It wasn't Wisp. Even in torn and misshapen clothing, the small frame and rounded curves were evident. Needy knelt and smoothed Vixens hair away from her face. She was pale, dark bruises showed all over her arms and stomach, a large one decorating her forhead and disappearing under her hairline. One blue lip bled slighly, bright red, fresh, a good sign, in a manner of speaking. He checked her pulse, but Seryn could already tell from the rise and fall of her chest that she was alive.
She moved to retriev the med kit and her coat from the Nandi, they hadn't even bought blankets.
"Has she broken anything? "
"Apart from possibly her arm, no." She looks beat up, but whole." He pulled a brace from the kit and secured it around her neck, then carefully splinted and bandaged the swollen arm.
"I think its just a case of getting hersomewhere warm and dry"
He picked her up and between them they got her into the Nandi, curled up and wedged between them.
Seryn bit her lip. "We're loosing the light, we can't go near the campsite yet. We sweep the rest down stream, look for Wisp Until we can't see anything. Then we head for town and find her some medical attention. We return at first light to find Wisp."
She met his look in the reflection on the window. Then started the engines and resumed the search.
(ooc - oooooh, moody or what! Ok, I tried to write more of what was going on in your head Needy, but everything iwrote just sounded wrong. So if you what to do your own take on those events, feel free. I wanted to bring Vixen back in, but we'll leave Wisp lost until we get the go ahead to find him. April can make her mind up as to whether the girls (and Truth) have found him, or if there were just l
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OOC: Not been following this as well as I should have but I'll do my best.
His eyes jerked open to be assaulted by the brilliant dim lights emanating from the cockpit control board. His ears rang with the deafening roar of the soft electronic hum of the air recyc units.
His eyes clamped shut again and he fell off the chair and hit his head on the central control column before passing out again.
Sometime later his eyes jerked open and he realised he had a hangover. He had the mother, father, brother, sister and drunken aunt of all hangovers.
What had he been up to last night? He tried to cast his mind back to the last thing he could remember, some bastard cutting his umbilical cord. He decided to take stock, despite his last memory being his birth he was fairly certain he wasn't a baby, though he may, indeed, need a nappy.
He decided that the best way to start to find out where he'd been was to find out where he was, and where he was, was hanging upside down with his left foot tangled in a pilot seat restraint and his face pressed against a scanner screen. He deduced that he was in a spaceships cockpit; A spaceship that was careening across interplanetary space with zero expertise at the helm.
He had the strange feeling that his life was beginning to take a turn for the better.
He struggled for a moment before one of his flailing limbs hit the restraint release and he was ejected out of his precarious position into a slightly more stable, if less comfortable, heap on the floor. ‘So’ He thought to himself, ‘where am I now?’
He rested a moment before attempting to answer the questions that had plagued man-kind since the moment they had crawled out of the primeval ooze and invented the filofax: Who am I? Where am I? Where am I going? and how much did I have to drink last night?
No Idea, No Idea, No Idea and a lot.
He crawled back into the seat, this time managing to heave himself up onto the chair the right way up this time. He scanned the controls and readouts and lamented that the company had built in some major design flaws when they made all the controls and readouts too blurry to read.
Or maybe it was his eyes? He rubbed them to make sure and noticed with some satisfaction that the controls came into focus.
So where he was, was in the cockpit of a spaceship in the middle of nowhere, and judging by the flight path they were going nowhere. Why they’d be travelling with such urgency to get from nowhere to nowhere completely eluded him, but for the moment he decided it would probably be best to concentrate on the matter at hand, who the hell he was. He decided to take stock again. What did he know? He knew that he’d been born and the prospect of having his hitherto only life line cut had, at the time, filled him with unbridled rage. He knew he was on a fuzzy spaceship that was careening with great urgency at great speed to get nowhere in particular. He had to admit that it wasn’t a great deal to go on, but he had managed to work out he had a hangover with nothing more than the pounding in his head to go on.
First he had to try and regain some more of his memory, and for that he did have a starting point. He knew he had got fabulously drunk.
He toyed with the idea of looking for the Policewoman’s hat and suspenders and the traffic cone, if he had gotten drunk enough to wipe his entire memory clean and find his way on to an express ship to nowhere he surely must have gotten drunk enough to have gained an inexplicable pair of Policewoman’s suspenders and a traffic cone. Unfortunatly such a course of action would do little to help him in his current situation, no matter how much fun it may be.
He absent mindedly put his feet up on the control console, hitting a number of buttons; in responce the ship lurched and began to make what, if it was in a planets orbit, would be a dramatic death dive. Of course the ship wasn’t in a planets orbit, so what would have been a dramatic death dive was in fact a sickening lurching zig zagging path to nowhere. All the same such a course wasn’t cogent for keeping one
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