Special Branch: The Living Dead
POSTED BY: NEEDY
UPDATED: Thursday, January 18, 2007 15:39
VIEWED: 32184
PAGE 7 of 16
Quote:
"Capt'n, yer pardon,"
"Yes?"
"Yonder urchin there looks in need of a snack." He said indicating with a tilt of his head towards Ghost. He handed Seryn the bundle and the canteen. "I hope she's not allergic to nuts. You'll have to peel the oranges for her, she's only got one good arm."
Seryn looked to where Ghost sat, folorn and scared looking, and gasped - "Oh gods, how could i have forgotten about her? How did her arm get broken?"
Will SR swift behind she stood up and moved towards the little girl, squatting, as best she could around the bump, infront of her.
Ghost looked on the verge of tears, but Seryn just smiled, tucked hair behind her ears and nodded back to where she had been sitting.
Ghost brightened slightly, and nodded.
Seated back down, Seryn got to sharing the food out into portions, the lions share to Ghost, as well as pouring the little girl a small cup of the tea she had been drinking. Ghost wrinkled her nose, but started to sip away.
"Wouldn't it just be better to give her a pain killer?"
"No, she's just had the most traumatic hospital visit its possible to have, the tea will take the edge of the pain off, then when she calmer you can look at the arm... SR, will you please stop looming? Sit, eat something, and after i've got Ghosts life story, you can tell us how you got here - its a neat trick"
Ghost looked up at her name, but Seryn was still smiling at her, she knew she'd have to explain herself, but it didn't seem to be a bad thing "So, sweet pea, where have you come from? where is your Shadow?"
Ghost blinked How did she know about Shadow? Did she know about Truth as well? "At the Carsons farm."
"The Carsons? They are?"
It took a while to coax the full answers out of her, but eventually the whole sorry tale came out, at the conclusion, Seryn looked grim, but she gathered Ghost up and hugged her, so she didn't think it was because of her.Full up and finally warm, Ghost started to fall asleep.
"SR, can you talk to Safe up front? let him know that we have a change of plan? we have to go back to wherever he hired his mule from and pay a visit" SR looked at her and nodded, she noticed his impulse to salute, and smiled "SR, did we ever get round to that conversation about how i'm not running a ship anymore, and you don't have to call me captain, or take orders, and i'd like to be friends? Can you pretend that we did? Cheers, ok, go tell Safe."
Isn't sanity really a one trick pony, anyway? I mean all you get is one trick, rational thinking! But when you're good and crazy...ooh hoo hoo hoo... the skys the limit!
http://www.myspace.com/seryndippyt
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Quote:
"SR, can you talk to Safe up front? let him know that we have a change of plan? we have to go back to wherever he hired his mule from and pay a visit" SR looked at her and nodded, she noticed his impulse to salute, and smiled "SR, did we ever get round to that conversation about how i'm not running a ship anymore, and you don't have to call me captain, or take orders, and i'd like to be friends? Can you pretend that we did? Cheers, ok, go tell Safe."
"Can do, remind me, what did we agree to call each other now you're not captain?"
"We are still working on that."
"Okay"
SR found Safe.
Hey SR! What's the story?" said Safe offering SR his hand to shake.
"Long and mighty confusing, bet on that, if nothing else." replied SR as he produced a beer from out of one of his coat pockets and placed it in Safe's open hand.
"Nice trick," Said Safe as he quickly divested the bottle of it's top and took a long swallow. "Ooh that hit's the spot. You'll be asking a favor now, no doubt, that's your style SR. You rarely come asking empty handed."
"You are one cynical individual you know that? Well if you are expecting me to ask for something then I will have to consult the spirits." SR closed his eyes and collected himself in the manner of pseudo-psychic meditation. He began to speak in the stilted speech of a medium, "I see you returning to a place where you once aquired surface transport on a mission of mercy for dark and dangerous woman who is not without beauty and charms."
"You do, do you, you saw all that? Well this beautiful, dark, dangerous, woman," said Safe as he left the sentence hanging.
"That would be Seryn." SR replied filling in the blank.
"Wants to go back to,.."
"Where you got the mule." Said SR finishing the sentence.
Safe took another long pull on the beer.
"And we are doing this because?"
"Cause,"
"Cause why?"
"Cause it's her that's asking and she's beautiful, dark, dangerous."
"And charming."
"And that, and that, and because it's the right thing to do." finished SR suddenly rather serious.
"No money in it, is there?"
"None."
"And it will be dangerous?"
'Might be, might be, I guarantee it might cause you to have your heart broken, but you'll be a big damn hero tomorrow, and feel better about yourself later."
"And?"
"I'll give you another beer."
Safe picked up the microphone for the PA system.
"Folks we have a minor detour shouldn't take long at all."
OOC: apologies any and all, if I took too many liberties with your characters.
Scorpion Regent
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Quote:
Originally posted by NEEDY:
"Finally," Janus thought to himself "these rebels will face the consequences of their actions." With that, he armed himself and exited the back doors of the vehicle.
Jack looks down suddenly. Snatching a pager like object from his belt, he stared at the red blinking light on it. "Crap, I liked that base." Turning to Flechette, "Looks like we're movin' again, sweets. You sure Versa's virus will erase everything?"
"Yes I'm sure. I helped her set up the fail safe system mineownself. You questionin' our ablities?" Flechette glares at Jack.
"Oh, nononono. Nothing like that..." Casting about desperately for something to change the subject, Jack sees Safe "Safe!! We can't go back to our “office”, it's been compromised."
Needy overhears the conversation and glares at Milton.
Jack flips open the cover of the pager exposing a single finger print pad. Pressing his thumb to the pad, Jack then throws the unit out the window. It bounces along the side of the road finally coming to a rest. The blinking red light flashes faster until it looks like it is not blinking at all. Smoke starts rising from the unit and it melts into an unrecognizable glob of plastic. At the same moment, in the offices of the Chung industry building, all the computers start smoking.
“Impressive.” Both SR and Safe say in unison.
“Looks like you’re coming off planet with us.” Safe says, slapping Jack on the back, then leans into the back of the transport, “Hey Doc? You got any place in particular you need to be?”
OOC:Nope, that was fine SR.
_______________________________________________________________
"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."
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Never one known for her patience, Seryn stood and wandered towards the cockpit, Safe and SR were stood clutching beers, laughing at something, she guessed, by the look on the other girls face, that it was something Jack had done.
"Hey. So did you tell them?"
SR looked over "I did, they don't seem that eager"
"Not eager? When theres a chance to play hero's and go about rescuing mini-damsels in distress?
Turns out the little girl, Ghost, has a brother and a sister. And they live in that peice of crap house Safe got the mule from. 'Cept there ain't much living there - they are in no way fond of the folk that barely look after them.
In anycase, we have to get the girl back to her siblings, but I was wondering if anyone had a better idea?
Jack looked around, cynicism in his voice "we can hardly take them with us - what are we supposed to do? We don't even have anywhere to go"
"Just so happens we do" Sykes had followed her over and grinned "In answer to the other question, yup, i'm all up for a space adventure, but, wont last long." He stopped, looked over at her, but it took her a while to realise that meant ot was her cue.
"Oh! Right. We were doing some breaking and entering... " SR raised one eyebrow "Going through files held on the cortex, one that might give us clue as to where some science type guys may be hiding out now" she caught the confused looks "...extra-curricular project - something he's got going on. And we found something interesting amongst some records of an old uncles. Payments, for delivery's made to an old moon - god awful place, no-one goes there unless they haven't got a choice."
The confused look hadn't gone, but she decided not to enlighten them any time soon "See when I was about six one of my cousins was telling us about how he knew of a secret house, and how he was going there as soon as he could and as long as we didn't expect to eat we could go with him to fly the ship.
I mean we told him it was crap, and beat him with sofa cushions, but several years later, I was eavesdropping on our mothers - his was saying how her accountant was an incompetant, recording expenses twice, detailing things they didn't even purchase, almost like he was budgeting two different estates.
And now we find this, I think its true. Somewhere on that moon up there is an entire housing complex - somewhere between a subterranean hideout and an oversized love nest - my family ain't known for tender feelings of fidelity.
I'm betting thats its almost entirely self sufficient and virtually undetectable. So i'm thinking we go take a look for it.
Anyone else interested?"
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Soul chose that moment to emerge once again from the shadows.
"I say we get off this rock as soon as we can."
He looked over to where Ghost sat, rocking slowly with her arms wrapped around her legs.
"She needs her family, and they need to come with us. Let's go."
Soul turned and stepped away from the group for a moment, staring back up the tunnel. The long, dark passage stretched away in front of him, and Soul once again felt the crushing weight of the life he had lived. If only any of them knew. If only--
A figure...in the darkness...Soul stood still, straining his eyes, staring...he saw a flash of brown hair, green eyes, and a smile that haunted him in his dreams...and he opened his mouth to cry out--
He blinked. She was gone.
Ciaran.
Soul squared his shoulders and took a moment to compose himself. She wasn't real. She couldn't be. There was no way.
Ciaran had died nearly 100 years earlier. 300 years after Soul had woken up and found himself far from home, cold, and alone.
Feeling the effects of the centuries he had lived, ageless as it seemed he was, Soul turned back to the group as they prepared to leave. From behind him, though, almost as imperceptible as the smallest breeze, came a voice wafting across time...
I'll wait for you...
***
OOC: Sorry I've been away. I figured I could reveal a big part of Soul's backstory there.
______________________
Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree, Captain of Destiny.
Mantichorus: "So is there a reason they call you 'Soul'?"
Soul (after a long pause): "Yeah. Because I have one."
http://havenofsouls.livejournal.com/
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“Wait a minute.” Safe looks at SR. “This place you wanted us to go, is it the Carson’s place?”
Seryn nods her head. “Yes, that’s the name Ghost said.”
“Well, that changes things.”
“How so?” SR asks.
“I had the distinct displeasure of dealing with that... pile of Go-se.” Safe’s eyes narrow. “I think I need to pay him a visit.”
The transport pulls up in front of Rube’s hanger.
“Jack, our ships inside. Load the passengers, I’ll be back shortly.” Safe turns and helps Ghost down out of the transport, mindful of the sling Sikes had put on her arm.
“When I get back we have one more job, we have to pick-up Seryn’s ship.”
Jack shares a conspiratory grin with Flechtte. “No you don’t”
“Ok, what are you two damn fools grinning at?” Safe was getting a little annoyed.
“Safe, we’re the underground, the intelligence.”
“Jack, in all the years I’ve known you, you have never been accused of that.”
“Cut me some slack, Safe.” Jack gave him a pained look. “Ok,ok. Versa and Flechette are the intelligence. When we realized it was you we had our people bring the ship here.”
“Don’t tell me Rube is part of the underground…”
“No, he’s just a really good mechanic what doesn’t keep any records.” Jack says with a grin.
“Well… good then.” Safe hunkers down in front of Ghost. “Ok, little one. I need you to trust me. Do you think you can do that?”
Ghost looks at the ground, refusing to make eye contact.
“Ok, let’s see how I can put this... Where I come from, little ones are a precious gift. Now I never had little ones of mine own, my wife died at the start of the war, but I did want them, so did she. And nuthin’ makes this old soldier's heart break more that a sad and lonely little girl.”
Safe cups the little girls chin gently bring her eyes up to meet his. “From now on, I would consider it a great kindness if when we talked; you’d look me right in the eyes. Now let’s see if we can go and get your kin.”
Safe stands and offers Ghost his hand.
_______________________________________________________________
"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."
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As safe and Ghost approach the outer hatch SR waits with a suitably wicked looking combat shotgun.
"Do you need someone to watch your back?"
Scorpion Regent
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Waking from his slumber Wisp hears the discussion about destination and the new issues a things he stands up and joins the conversation.
"does that mean the Epsilon is here as well?? Cos ive got some stuff id like to pick up. And I havent changed in ooohh a month or so?? And ive been drowned, tortured, in firefights, and generally done over."
www.myspace.com/didxl
sexier.younger.brother@hotmail.co.uk
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The work of altruistic men and women striving to strip the Alliance of their power by any means necessary had taken place for years. The resistance.
"Whatever it takes" was their motto, their mission statement.
The resistance had operatives everywhere. You may not know it, but they were in the marketplace, in offices, had seats on the Alliance Board. They had infiltrated every part of the verse, or at least were well on their way to achieving that goal.
Unfortunately, the method works both ways.
Alliance had also infiltrated parts of The Resistance. They too, wanted to take down the enemy, by any means necessary.
Sometimes though, they don't even need an operative. Just one person to make a mistake, and place their trust, or mistrust, on the wrong side...
Chung Industries, Thordom Business Park
The silent alarm beeped as Janus and his men entered the Resistance-fronted stronghold.
The offices of Chung Industries did not house soldiers though, but ordinary people volunteering their services any way they could, to make a difference.
They had been victimised in the past, and once again they were about to become the victims
The lights went out in the building, and as the computers started to fry - a precautionary measure to protect information, carried out by one of their own - the members of Special Branch 1138, a faction of The Resistance knew what was happening.
Their location had been compromised and it was only a matter of time before they were arrested, if not killed.
Quickly they all moved as one to a hidden exit as they had been instructed to do in such an emergency.
Unfortunately for them, they were not the only ones who knew of it.
As Faisal, a timid computer hacker, lead the way to the exit and slid the door open, he was met with an unfriendly face.
"Don't even think about it" Janus instructed, pointing his firearmat Faisal's head.
The potential escapees remained motionless as Janus' men entered from all corners of the room through various entrances.
They were surrounded. No escape.
"On your knees" Janus growled at them.
As they complied, he muttered to himself "Rebel scum"
-----
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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"The consoles are fried sir" an agent called to Janus.
"Great" he mumbled sarcastically. "All of them?"
"Looks like it."
"Well, there's gotta be something here. These guys have paper right. Look for a hard copy. Find me something. Anything"
Janus paced the room as the lights were switched back on by one of his agents.
"You look upset" Phelps called on the comm.
Janus turned suddenly and looked out the window across to the adjacent building. Then, speaking into his comm he replied "They fried the drives"
"You'll find something. They don't clean up after themselves that well"
"Maybe" Janus said, sounding defeated already
"They fried the computers? So be it. You can't find any hard copies? Fair enough. But you got suspects, right? That's all you need. Assuming you're willing to go that far." Phelps smiled a wicked grin.
"I've come this far Phelps" Janus resolved "There's nothing I won't do to see these rebels buried once and for all"
---
Clayton hid behind a wall as he witnessed the lights go out in the offices, then come back on minutes later. He'd spotted the unmarked van, parked suspiciously upfront, and he knew one thing.
The Alliance had found them.
There was nothing he could do. Even if he was one of them, he had no power to help those inside. They were on their own.
Hopefully, they had taken precautions for such an emergency so that information wouldn't fall into enemy hands.
Clayton backed away slowly, and quickly vacated the area.
"What now? he wondered.
-----
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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