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| Resurrection; The Closing of a Saga | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jan 14 2008, 05:23 AM (4,621 Views) | |
| ~Scout~ | May 28 2008, 03:19 PM Post #61 |
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Artificial
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“Commander-General?” “Yes, go ahead.” “A ship has entered the general vicinity of SR388.” Katok Haredni stirred in his seat and stood up. He stretched. He’d been sitting there for ages watching the slow progress on Corsair, and waiting for a report from the ground team they had sent to set up a base on the ground. “Open a secure channel with them,” he yawned. He signaled to Saken Tordel, who went away from the bridge. Saken headed to Arquil’s private chamber and knocked on the door. “Come in,” Arquil said from the inside. Saken opened the door and stood on the threshold. “Your highness, we’ve finally found a ship in the location that Narssek told us to look out for. It’s not Narssek’s ship, but we can easily identify it for you,” Saken said. Arquil got up and walked to Saken. “Thank you. Take me to the bridge.” Saken led Arquil back to the bridge. Katok greeted Arquil with an embrace. “Show me the Federation files on this ship,” she said. Saken quickly brought up a screen with the statistics of the ship. “Samus Aran’s gunship,” Arquil said. “A bounty hunter.” “Important person?” Katok asked. “I don’t know, she could be,” Arquil said. “Let me talk to them now.” Katok let Arquil stand in front of the chair. “Samus Aran, this is Queen Arquil Shorena from the Garling flagship Corsair.” Adam played the message over the intercom the instant he received it. He was, after all, merely a guest in Samus's ship. He was to look out for her welfare, but not interfere with her business or choices. Samus cursed loudly and put her hand on Omega's shoulder as leverage to help her stand. She took long strides to the cockpit, plopped down in her chair, and flicked a couple of switches. "Queen Arquil Shorena," Samus acknowledged, the voice modulation making her sound like a man over the comm, "this is Samus Aran responding to bulletin 5-156. You are in a restricted and dangerous region of space. I respectfully request that you withdraw." Samus was rigid with tension, sure this was a trap. Adam's silence spoke volumes all its own, for she was sure he was busy finding out as much information about the Corsair as possible. Skrolek laughed as he walked into the bridge. "Hold on, Arquil, let me handle this." He walked next to Arquil. "This is Commander Skrolek Menskar of the Garling Military, respectfully reminding Samus Aran that we have all the clearances required to be in the vicinity of SR388, as we are a heavily armed military vessel. In addition, we would like to see your own certificate that allows you to be within this area." "Please be nice; Narssek sent them," Arquil whispered to Skrolek. Samus snorted with the comm off, then schooled her voice once more. "The Garling Military has no authority in this region of space, Commander Skrolek. On behalf of the Federation, I demand that you justify why such a heavily armed, non-Federation vessel is in this area." "We are a member of the Galactic Federation," Arquil said. "We have all the same privileges as any other sovereign nation in the Galactic Federation, and we therefore have access to this area of space. In any case, we have come to investigate the matter of the space pirate presence in this region." "May I remind the good Commander that the Galactic Federation has placed this region under a Class 5 quarantine. Only individuals with a Tier A clearance are permitted to be here," she said sharply. There was a brief pause as she considered her options. As armed as her ship was, there was no realistic way her tiny gunship could stand up to a military flagship. Whether or not they were allowed here, there was nobody around that could really argue with them or make them turn around against their will. Resigned but frustrated that she could do nothing about this additional obstacle, Samus tried to play another hand. "Although you legally aren't allowed here, your presence is useful. My cohorts and I will be making planetfall in 2.5 hours. If you could remain in orbit and watch our backs, we will forget to mention your presence in our submitted reports." Katok smirked. "He obviously doesn't know what this ship was designed for." "I wasn't aware that a bounty hunter had such authority in the Federation–" Skrolek started, but Arquil cut him off. "Regardless, your presence is appreciated. I believe you may know one Admiral Narssek? We have been sent by him as well. We have begun to set up a base of operations on the planet's surface. If you wish to land there, we will send you the coordinates." Samus had no idea who Admiral Narssek was, but she fully intended to find out. "Please send the coordinates. Samus Aran, out," she said, neither confirming or denying that she knew Admiral Narssek, or that she was going to land at the coordinates they gave her. But, now she had some decent cards in her hand, and she was going to use them to her advantage. |
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| ~The Boss~ | May 28 2008, 07:53 PM Post #62 |
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Native Son
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Were Cottonmouth human, he would have raised an eyebrow. His question had been largely rhetorical, and yet Narssek had actually answered it. In detail, no less. "Yes... well there are a number of ways we could go about doing that," the Captain said. "But there is plenty of time to talk strategy." Cottonmouth rose from his seat, crossing the small space to stand directly in front of Narssek, who clearly wanted to discuss practical matters. The Captain, however, was interested in something a bit deeper. Perhaps deeper than the Admiral had been prepared to go. "My, how the mighty have fallen, haven't they?" he said. "I recall a time when the mere mention of the name 'Narssek' was sufficient to strike fear into the hearts of even the most hardened warriors. Now look at you. Little more than an interstellar beggar, using what is left of his tattered reputation to recruit allies for one last hurrah. "Why? Why do this at all? I understand your motivations. Settle old scores, restore your past honor, and perhaps fulfill some long-held ambitions of power. After all, what have you left to lose? No... what I want to know is why we should go along with your plot... we who have everything to lose and little to gain, other than a few extra crates of loot each raid. "Plus... there is that other dilemma." Cottonmouth flicked his wrist, activating his plasma scythe, which he then raised so it was only centimeters from the side of Narssek's face. "What is to stop us from just doing the Pirate thing and kill you and take your freighter?" The threat was only half-serious. Cottonmouth was already leaning towards offering his aid, but he still needed a bit more convincing. It may have been an extreme way to coax a sales pitch out of Narssek, but then again, Cottonmouth had a reputation for going to extremes. Unlike Narssek, who had ascended to his rank the proper way, through glory and honor and promotions, Cottonmouth was a bit more old-fashioned. He had killed his way to the top, most notably by organizing a mutiny to depose (and execute) his former leader. He then promoted himself to the rank of Captain. It was the type of internal violence most Zebeth abhorred, as they valued unity, discipline, and obedience. However, it was commonplace among the Independents, who lived by the Law of the Jungle. Thus, he would have no problem following through with his threat. They'd take Yuur, A'xun, and Rin'tal into their crew if they wished. And if they resisted, they'd kill them too. Narssek knew this. He knew perfectly well how these people worked. "I need a reason, Admiral," Cottonmouth said, lowering his blade but not extinguishing it, just as a reminder of the alternative. Which, in all honesty, the Captain would have preferred. ............................ The shipyard wasn't far, just a few more clicks up ahead. Ravage steered the Dog towards the coordinates he had been given, while his brother Scragg cast a suspicious eye towards A'xun, Rin'tal, and Ensign Yuur, who had joined them in the cockpit. One thing that was true across the galaxy, across all races, was that every scar, every wound, every replacement limb came with a hell of a story. The story of Scragg's left arm and right leg had become legendary in Zebesian circles, and was emblematic of his clan and their ideals. While the Independents as a whole normally shunned any involvement with mainline Armada activities, it was still common practice for individual Pirates to sign up for the elite forces. It was a way for them to learn new skills, something Independents were always looking to do. Not to mention another method by which to placate High Command. Cottonmouth himself had been a Shadow Trooper in his youth, and he'd passed on that training to each and every one of his men. So when the recruiting call came for the newly formed Commando units, Ravage and Scragg answered without hesitation. They had heard of the Huntress, the notorious human warrior whom the Commandos were dedicated to exterminating, and the young brothers were eager to test their mettle against her. So, off they went to planet Aether, where phazon mining operations had been underway for some time. Scragg's platoon had been the first to encounter the Huntress. They'd ambushed her in the bog, and having the element of surprise on their side allowed them score a few hits and actually wound her. But in the end, she had proved too much for them. Scragg was the only survivor, but he couldn't escape the blast range of the power bomb she had thrown in his direction as she fled. When he awoke from his coma, he discovered to his horror that Medical Team had grown him a new arm and leg to replace the ones he had just lost in the blast and attached them to his body. Enraged, he activated his scythe and angrily hacked off the offending limbs right there in the infirmary, declaring that he would not have his body defiled in such a manner. He would have killed the doctors as well, if doing so on one leg hadn't presented such a challenge. Instead, he settled for allowing them to cauterize his wounds as they contacted Engineering Team about some cybernetics. It wasn't long before word of the incident began to spread through the ranks. It was a shock to their sensibilities, but worthy of awe and respect all at the same time. Scragg became an infamous figure in mainstream Zebeth society, as well as something of a folk hero to his own people. Certainly Narssek's men would have heard of him, and it was probably why they were keeping a reasonable distance from him. He took them for wimps anyway. Especially Yuur, who had the look of a lackey. The sooner this mission was over, the better it would be for everyone involved. ............................ Ravage docked the Salty Dog aboard Narssek's freighter. His was not necessarily a large ship, but it was much bigger than their little cargo boat. The two leaders were still having their meeting, so until they finished, the crew would have to sit tight. Most of them didn't even leave their own ship, preferring to wait patiently until their captain gave them orders. Not so with Grace, however. She grew bored easily and often, and saw this as a perfect opportunity to wander. It was an old ship, judging by the wear and tear, but a solid one nonetheless. Plenty of little nooks and crannies for her to hide in, always one of the first things she looked for when she boarded a ship, an instinct long ago hard wired into her system. Not that she thought that she might need to hide out, but it was still nice to know. Living quarters were spacious and plentiful, and might provide a nice change of scenery if Scragg's bunk became too cramped for her. Other than that, the place was pretty much empty. In fact, she was about to head back to the Dog when she noticed noises coming from down the corridor, in the direction of the engine room. Quietly (Grace didn't know any other way), she approached the engine room, the noises becoming clearer and more distinct the closer she got. There was the sound of a welding torch, accompanied by the requisite shower of sparks, a sure sign that there was someone working in there. A little closer and she could hear a tiny voice in there, muttering to itself. Female. Human. She poked her head inside and saw a brown-haired girl in dark goggles and mechanic's coveralls, hunched over some engine part with her torch. The girl didn't seem to notice her. "Hi there," Grace said, her voice perking up. "I didn't know there was another human on board." She stepped into the room as the mechanic finally turned around. "Grace," she said with a smile, sticking her hand out. "Nice to meet you." |
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| +Aiko+ | May 28 2008, 10:17 PM Post #63 |
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Roffel House!
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(OOC: Joint post between me and Jefe.) Aiko was so involved in her work and sure she was safely alone that she had let her guard down. The acrid stench of molten metal assaulted her finely tuned sense of smell, her sight was obscured by her safety helmet, and her hearing was overwhelmed with the hissing of fire. She lured herself into a dangerously false sense of security, but predators such as she rarely felt the cautious urge of lesser creatures. At first the meaning of Grace’s words didn’t reach Aiko’s mind. She was furious with herself for not paying attention. She put down the welding torch and lifted her mask. It wasn’t until she was halfway to her feet that Grace’s words finally registered. Grace. That worthless, backstabbing, illogical, useless sack of biological tissue, useful only for carbon sequestration on some planet suffering from unnatural global warming. This was the woman who trapped Aiko into an impossible situation and, for the first time in Aiko’s short life, had forced the parasite to submit. Oh, she had a promise to uphold to this bitch. With the speed of a striking serpent, Aiko whirled. Before Grace’s eyes could register what happened, the palm of Aiko’s right hand slapped onto the woman’s elbow. Five razor sharp claws pierced Grace’s skin, and as Aiko continued to turn, the claws dug deep. Grace pulled away much faster than Aiko expected possible for a human, but the damage had already been done. As Aiko completed her twist to stand directly face to face with her enemy, Grace had jumped back and out of the way of any other impending attack. Blood flowed freely from her mutilated arm, and crimson drops dripped from the deadly weapons Aiko’s hand had become. The parasite sneered, sensing its wounded prey. The scent of blood was thick in the air, awakening Aiko’s lust for destruction. Her torso lowered as her entire body tensed in preparation for another lunge. Instinct took over before Grace even knew what was going on. She sensed, rather than really saw, the attack coming, and she moved like a cat. Unfortunately, as fast as she was, she wasn't quite fast enough. "What the hell?!?!" Grace exclaimed, as if she had merely been slapped in the back of the head. Immediately her left hand clamped down on her wounded forearm. She clenched her teeth at the biting pain. She's had worse before, much worse. But that didn't mean it still didn't hurt like a bastard. She looked up at Aiko, who looked like she was primed for another attack. "Truce! Truce!" Grace shouted, holding up her hands and then quickly clamping down on her wounds again. "Goddamn girl, you got a weird way of making new friends." Aiko straightened, slightly put off by Grace's unexpected response. Did the human not recognize her? Her sneer grew larger. Claws flashing at her side, she took her time altering her left hand to match her right. Slowly, Aiko circled to the right just out of striking range. She didn't want the gazelle to spook, after all, for it was far more satisfying to land the finishing blow after terror locked the joints and froze the mind. She suspected Grace would never get to quite that level, but Aiko thoroughly enjoyed reminding Grace of her precarious mortality. "Friends? Hardly. Maybe I should slowly pull your intestines out foot by foot and replace them with explosives. I think you'd make a rather good splatter on the windshield in open space, wouldn't you agree? Or maybe..." Aiko paused and leaned forward, sniffing deeply of the metallic taste of injured human. "Maybe I should just eat you, piece by tiny piece, and save your wretched little mind for last." "Oh hey... I remember you now," Grace said, the memory of the seemingly savage, possibly alien girl indeed flooding back to her. "Come on now, you're not really gonna hold that against me, are you? It's just business, sweetie. You should know that. It ain't nothin' personal. Besides, if I held a grudge against everyone who ever tried to kill me... well I'd probably never have sex again. "Look, if you're with Narssek, that means you and me are on the same side, at least for now. So we're gonna have to learn to get along. Or if we can't do that, at least hold off killing one another until the job's done. "Think about it. If I freaked you out so much as an enemy... just imagine the kind of ally I could be." Aiko's eyes narrowed as she considered Grace's suggestion. It was in her best interest to cooperate with Narssek, and if Grace was working with the pirate, then Aiko really had no choice but to work with Grace. As much as it disgusted her, Aiko found herself willing to spare Grace for now. She straightened her shoulders as her hands returned to normal, then licked her bloody fingers clean one by one. Now that she was relatively unarmed and harmless, Aiko crossed her arms and glared. "Next time you cross me, you won't survive. That, I guarantee." "Oh, I can hardly wait," Grace replied, managing a grin despite the pain she was in. This wound was hurting a lot more than an injury of that nature normally should, she thought. "On that note, I guess I'll be seeing you around," she said, turning and heading back down the way she had come. She needed some bandages, and badly. But she didn't suspect that there might be more to her wound than simple flesh damage. |
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| ~beflexor~ | May 29 2008, 12:11 AM Post #64 |
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I just _____ in the _____.
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(OOC: it’s been two months, so I hope you’ll forgive me Nightclaw if I go on ahead) “And that” Ben said “is how a fight between the infamous Grey Fox and my lady Aiko would go.” “The odds of the two women meeting each other, given the number of other species as well as the size of commonly traversed space, is astronomical.” Lorrilal’s hand flew out and snatched Ben’s wrist. “You haven’t been sleeping well.” “Ah, I’m fine” he tried to pull away but found the grip of the Fae child to be stronger than he had expected. “As long as I keep a sharp eye on the controls, and my coffee cup full, I think I’ll survive.” He balled his hands into fists to keep them from shaking from fatigue. Lorrilal slapped his cup away with her free hand, it hit the wall and shattered, raining coffee and porcelain fragments all over. “What the hell!?” Ben yelled, finally managing to draw away from her. “Lori, what is wrong with y-“ “I’m upset, you’re upset. People are prone to do unintelligent things in such a state, such as not sleeping.” The weight of his weariness seemed to come down upon him, but he still had his reasons. “We’re going to arrive in a couple of hours. Who’s going to pilot the ship until then?” “Knock knock!” Squirt popped her head out from around the corner and she cheerily continued “hey you bastard. Lori thought it would be just grand if I tagged along, so she picked me up after you left me behind! You’d better go get some sleep because I’ve been monitoring everyone’s ships and became rather inspired by some events of Adam and company.” Her voice suddenly became harsh and her cheeks flushed “so move your ass!” Ben leapt out of his chair and ran upstairs. Four hours later and they were able to see Samus’s ship, as well as the ominous planet SR388. |
| Someone made the mistake of letting me publish a book, check Dusted Here! | |
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| ~DarkKnightCuron~ | May 30 2008, 04:51 AM Post #65 |
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Starfeather
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((OOC: Joint-Post with CEMP)) As if to chime into Z'Gato's thoughts of loathing like an uncanny subconscious, a voice from the behind that felt cold to hear, but held a gleeful, maniacal tone, replied, "Oh come now Z'Gato, if life weren't exciting, we might as well be rocks. Are you really that much of slave to your own ego that you can't enjoy of never ending possibilities?" When Z'Gato heard the voice, his feathers stood on end, his body moving in fluid motion as he pulled his pistol from his drop-leg holster and pointed it at whoever made the comment. "H-How did you get in here!?" Z'Gato demanded irritation and annoyance filling his voice. Had he gotten complacent? How the hell did a stowaway get on his ship?! In front of Z'Gato was a humanoid crimson being that seemed to have a small glow. In fact, he looked to partially transparent, at least in a manner that you could see blood red electrical energy skittering and jumping all about his interior. He seemed to wear some kind of light armor, which could be described as charcoal black. It did not cover his entire body, and left enough to see this electrical energy, as well as the two bright points on the head that could be identified as eyes. The entity cackled, replying in an amused tone, "Mymymy, there's no reason to be so paranoid about yourself Z'Gato, hahaha. As you'll see..." he disappeared suddenly, his voice now coming from behind Z'Gato again, "I have near-infinite freedom. Mind you, that gun won't solve anything; it would be amusing to see you try to hit - not that hitting me would do anything anyway - but all you'll end up hitting is your own ship's bulkhead, hehehe." He disappeared and re-appeared instantly one of the ship's chairs. "Please, take a seat" he beckoned to one of the other 'seats,' in an unusually polite tone, "although if you'd prefer this chair, I wouldn't mind taking another 'seat.’ Either way, there's only so much to time chat, so make it snappy." Despite what the man said about Z'Gato's pistol, he tightened his grip around it. His beak was cast in a form of a displeased snarl, mirroring the bad feeling he was getting from this...this...thing! Regardless, Z'Gato felt compelled to take a seat, and he did, though Z'Gato's muscles did not relax, and his focus did not waver, ready to pounce when the moment called for it. While he was annoyed by the intrusion of this individual, he was mostly angry at himself for having been bested without even a fight. By the way the man teleported and boasted, it was as if he was ethereal. What WAS he? "Then if you have something to say, then say it." "Ha, ever the impatient one. Short time can be long time, my good friend," he chuckled lightly. "And I have plenty of things to say. Of course, you probably want to know who or what I am. Largely, that is mostly irrelevant, but..." He 'shifted' from the chair and appeared in the air flipping, landing with an uncanny bow, "I am...a specter inside the crevice of conflict, the invisible spectator and director; the leech that feeds on the tension built by between all sides; the son of the Devil's Advocate; the Phantom of the Universal Oprah." "I could be called ghost, an Infinite Geist of Reality, or just a Crimson Geist. You can even call me the ghost of your Chozo past, if you want," he made an amused chuckled at his last phrase. "Either way, there are entities out there who don't fight and that you don't need to fight. I am one of them, and I can easily tell you have too much pride on you. Let some of it go, or it will drag you to Hell; with no Redemption." Unconsciously, Z'Gato's hand only tightened around the grip of his pistol, and the other hand was clenched into a fist, his teeth grinding together. Anger, Embarrassment, Fear...these were only the broad words he could describe as 'feelings' running through his mind, his gut, his heart. Who was this creature to tell Z'Gato what he should or shouldn't do? He was damned anyway...damned for all the crimes he had committed. Z'Gato consistently thought that there was hope for redemption, but it was starting to look like that was not possible. "Then, ghost, why is it you came to tell me this?" "Why..." the Geist repeated, chuckling, "because you are such a flawed character, that's why. Honestly, I'm bored and you’re the perfect guy for me to pester. But as they say, sometimes you can learn the most precious things from the most hated, difficult situations; and you already are on a collision course." "Although," he said with a flutter of his hand, thinking, "there have been thousands of people in a down-to-dirt situation like you have, and yet, some have always come back out of it. Despite the odds against, despite what they once thought was an inedible death, they've succeeded. How they did, well, I'll leave that in the for you to figure out, but honestly, most of them that do succeeded aren't even as strong or skilled as you are in combat. Would it not be pitiful if you died with nothing, while all those mentioned before, weaker than you, have succeeded in life?" "So you came here...to try to teach me a lesson like I'm some hatchling!?" Z'Gato angrily yelled, his grip finally shattering the pistol in hand to pieces underneath the enraged pressure. What nonsense was this?! Flawed...of course he was flawed, he was the offspring of a WEAK race, one that did not measure up to the universe's level: Strength equaled survival. The universe rewarded those that were strong, and despite his flawed origin, Z'Gato was strong, and getting stronger! He would overcome any obstacle in his way, especially the demon, especially the bastard Huntress. "If it is your goal to do nothing but MOCK my existence then leave! I haven't the time nor the patience to listen to you babble on like some school teacher!" The Geist laughed at Z'Gato's rage. "Hahaha, I don't need to read people's mind to know what they always think. You so predictable, and yet fun to mess with. Mind you, I was not pointing out the fact about your past; not your vile hate of who you are physically. Oh nonono, it is a definition that is far more distinct, my dear friend; it is your mind and personality that are significantly flawed, and that's what attracts me to you like a vulture to a dying man. I am like a writer and a reader; I am interested to see how you will...develop." "Oh, and I shall leave, but before I do, I shall bestow on you one last piece of riddling advice. Head it well, Z'Gato, and understand it soon, for if you do not, those that you wish to please the most will be quite infuriated." Then the Geist made another shifting 'dance' and said in a methodical tone, "Anything can be everything; and everything can be anything; and yet all of this can be nothing at all. Thus, for the mind to solve this trickery of illusion, you must assume, and yet never assume at all; and always assume that you are fatally assuming anything or everything." He phased to the top of the starboard controls, methodically putting his hand on top of his head; and taking off the metal helm. All that was shown was, save for the eyes, a near featureless head, "And now I tip of hat off at thee for the wonderful and exuberant performance you have, and will, provide. Au revoir...” And like that, he was gone. When the...THING...disappeared, Z'Gato yelled out, throwing the remains of his pistol at the nearest wall, his teeth still grinding together. What was so flawed about his personality!? The fact that he kept pushing towards the goal of the perfect warrior? To conquer any and all weakness within himself? Or was there something else? The thing kept speaking in circles, riddles that made no sense, whatsoever. Who was he supposed to please? No one! While he agreed to work with Admiral Narssek, that didn't mean he would go out of his way to please him. Z'Gato looked into his reflection in the glass, anger on his face, yet uncertainty in his eyes. ...Right? He was just doing this out of personal gain, right? Was there something else? Something else the Chozo Warrior wasn't seeing? ...Letting some of his pride go? Where others had succeeded, would he fail? What did weaklings like that have that he didn't!? The universe only respected the strong, and that had been something he realized from his childhood and onward. How did that result in a flawed character, a flawed mind? What was so flawed about his anyway? The immediate answer he said to himself was 'nothing! Humph!' but for some reason, something in the back of his mind, in the corner of his heart, in the pit of his stomach, weren't quite satisfied with the answer. Bah. Anything can be everything ...and everything can be anything ...and yet all of this can be nothing at all. ...Thus, for the mind to solve this trickery of illusion, you must assume, and yet never assume at all and always assume that you are fatally assuming anything or everything. The first thing that passed through Z'Gato's mind was someone was deceiving him. Deception. Who was trying to cast a blanket over his eyes, in an attempt to force him to see something else, rather than the truth? So nothing was going to be as it seemed. Z'Gato looked back up at his reflection and narrowed his eyes. Oh yes, this was certainly a bad day indeed... |
Marching to the Black Gates...
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| +CEMP+ | May 30 2008, 10:22 PM Post #66 |
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Clockwork Master
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Jenosa had known that her 'new' sleeping habits would become a problem during the trip if she followed the three day schedule basis. The number "three" being rather uneven, she decided to extend her "daylight" hours during the last bit of the trip. This actually meant no sleep for 5 days, which would look crazy in the face of some. Of course, with Jenosa five days was simply missing sleeps for two whole days now. The whole event was quite troublesome at first, but towards the end, she was finding it easier; in fact, she actually had trouble trying to get sleep. The answer to why became quite obvious: tension. Even Jenosa was feeling a lot of tension as they drew closer, primarily because she knew something big was going to go down. What, she wasn't quite sure, but with how everything was important, and her experience on Inos, she had no doubt a large, metaphorical shadow began looming over her. And maybe everyone else. Thankfully, after a bit of indoor exercise, she was able to get a good long hour of sleep. It had not all been pleasant, however, as she found herself once again reliving her job on Inos in but a brief flash. Much of what she experienced was the same, although the end left her unnerved. She had bolted from her bed like she had so long ago when these weird dreams occurred. Her survival instincts were all fired up, and despite the nightmare that she had, she felt wide awake. In a queer way, she felt that her dream had actually been a blessing in disguise, for it had prepped her for a deadly day. It also reminded her of the reason why she had come with this group in the first place. In fact, the ambiguous answer to why she had followed up to that little rescue had become all clearer to her. People like Commander Kozan, the commander of the Confederation Military, found these organisms that could be possibly used for ideal warfare; quite possibly what this Ridley character wanted to do, or was doing right now. And every time these creatures were used, someone always ends up getting the sharp end of the sword. Either those targeted, the weaponized organisms, or both. Often, it was those innocent, and sometimes it could be friend caught up in the chaos. Jenosa didn't want to be a hero. Hero's were just idle figure heads, statues for people to look at; those that are considered the heroes are just like her and everyone else. Someone who lived like everyone else did; their life was rougher than theirs, but they lived nonetheless. What she wanted to do was stopped a mess from getting messier; to prevent a full blown disaster from occurring. Sure, that could make you a hero, but that wasn't her intent; her intent was to stop a tragedy from happening, a tragedy that she had a chance to stop and was fully aware of it. A tragedy that could leave her emotionally scared, for, like she had mentioned to Omega, there had been people that she had wished she could have saved. She had sympathy as a bounty hunter, something that some would consider a weakness, but that was just a silly cliché for a population to stereo type hunters like her. Quite frankly, she considered it a strength and a gift, as it made her who she was, even now when she could not be considered fully human. Still, she had to complain about all the weirdness; and yet she complained, out loud, in a wiry smile to herself, “Geez, do I always have to have eerie dreams from now on that I'm a woman with an alien virus acting like a simple spinal disease. Can my life get any get any better?" she added. With that, she got walked to the helm of her ship to check her destination, only to find there was a message for her. She expected it to be from her compatriots. It wasn't. An eye rose in surprise at the oddness, despite the fact that she shouldn't be surprised at all. Maybe it was the fact that she had forgot about him during her little trip, but what was odd was the amount of text she saw when she did open it. He normally didn't send this much; just a few lines, like where to meet or her current condition. With much curiosity, anxiety and haste, she read through her "Doctor's" letter:
Jenosa sat in her chair, briefly looking over the letter one more time, pondering. On one, she pretty much accepted what the doc said (She wasn’t a scientist, nor was the “laws of science” her realm, so it wasn’t like she could question much about Beggie’s theory. She decided to just follow along). However, she was largely skeptical of the idea of having some possible conscious influence on the virus inside her. Hell, she couldn’t but help feel skeptical that the virus had been active in her for her entire life. Quite frankly, there could be a lot of things she could be skeptical about, all of which dealt with herself. Of course, it wasn’t like being skeptical did much to solve her predicament, although it did keep her level headed and made sure she didn’t think she had powers beyond imagination. Geez, wouldn’t that be one for the records. That, and she had much bigger fish to fry. Coming to their destination, Jenosa hailed Samus’s ship over an encrypted channel. Barely show much of a ‘hi,’ she said, “So, mind giving me the lay down in what we’re going to do since you guys know more than I about this place? And the fact that’s there some sort of battle ship orbiting the place.” |
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"I believe that the human spirit is indomitable. If you endeavor to achieve, it will happen given enough resolve. It may not be immediate, and often your greater dreams is something you will not achieve within your own lifetime. The effort you put forth to anything transcends yourself, for there is no futility even in death." — Monty Oum | |
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| +transcon+ | May 31 2008, 08:27 AM Post #67 |
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Metroid Specialist
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A defensive mechanism. This is what the Chozo created so long ago in another life. Long ago, SR388 was once a thriving little planet in orbit of the blue sun. Thriving for nothing but the most resilient fauna and flora known to the galaxy. Of all places, this planet simulated so many others, yet this one held life. The question was, why? Through the massive environmental devastation, it was a planetoid that continued to live if only by a thin thread. Tectonic activity still shook it's crust breaking open pockets of toxic gas and creating acidic liquid flows. The atmosphere had little to nil oxygen content, and when it rained, it was of a corrosive liquid that ate at rock and flesh alike. However, through the harsh environments, with the acids, toxins, and even ambient radiations, life still managed to thrive. It wasn't life that could be found anywhere else. It was such an alien phenomenon even amongst Galactic Federation scholars that they, too, called it "alien beyond reproach". For over seven years since the BSL Station disaster, the planetoid had been quarantined. The public had no reason to question why: they already knew of the dangers of that planet. Stories of how Mr. Samus Aran eliminated the Metroid Threat and beat back the Zebethian Pirates from ever using that energy sucking species again didn't change peoples' outlook on SR388. It was not a good vacation point in anyone's travel plans. Nevertheless, activity suddenly resumed as one G-Fed outpost recorded. However, it was not able to communicate anymore. Alone and adrift amongst the outer rings of the solar system, the station was sent off line since initial contact recently. Since then, they had nothing. With their dieing breath, they sent a final message to the Galaxy Police. The Police took in the report, looked over the evidence provided, and immediately sent out the all-call to all certified bounty hunters. This was certainly a situation that the G-Fed Police Force was not going to involve themselves in again. With any luck, they plotted, Mr. Aran would be immediately on the case. This was his stomping ground. This was his history. This was his war. Little did anyone know that she brought an army this time. An army, and one big gun. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Omega-Alpha was certainly hungry. It was a long trip in a small box, and the confines were getting too tight for his liking. Despite the comforting touch of his mother, as well as a suitable explanation for what was going on, the image if Ridley pulled a high-pitched growl through his lips. His only solution at this point was to feed. Quickly, he stood and walked to the airlock. His posture was arched forward like a predator on the prowl. A clawed hand deftly reached out and slapped the controls; never reaching for any specific button, a small and dim blue flash flickered between his palm and the control panel. The door hissed open and slid shut behind him, only inches from trapping his tail. The light above the door turned from green to red, and the outside door flipped to the side with a quiet thump. One step, then two, then Omega was flying. It wasn't speedy in the slightest. His flight was more like he was hovering for a moment. Then, it was like a swabby getting his sea-legs back. A twist in midair and away he went. Between his position and where he looked, there was nothing but desolate yellow-green sand and rock. Up ahead, dry blades of grass met the open desert area. Crags of yellow rock jutted out from the grassy land, and they were covered in bladed vegetation as well. Then, something caught his eye. The grass did not sway like it did on most planet surfaces. There was wind on those places. SR388 did not know the term "breeze". Typically, it was either a blistering hot one hundred thirty degrees, still a humid eighty degrees Fahrenheit. During the "lows", it would storm. Thunder and lightning, acidic torrents. But, for right now, it was a calm and still day merely reaching one hundred twenty degrees. No wind, no blades of grass moving. Yet, his eyes spotted movement. It wasn't the wind. Through his eyes, he could see the feint electromagnetic disturbances in the area. It was buried beneath the rock. Some natural born creature was hiding in a tunnel no bigger than one's wrist across. He huffed and growled at it. His tail swung idly as his face pointed right at his quarry. The hungry nightmarish creature flexed his fingers and lashed out at the rock. Chips of debris shot out and scattered, but the creature dug deeper. "Mine," he chittered. "Want, want." Then, he looked at his other hand. Suddenly, he was reminded of a lesson not too long ago. He was given a sea creature who's shell was as large as a basketball, and was hinged. Samus instructed him that he was not allowed to break the shell, but if he could figure out how to open it, he was allowed to have the delicacy within. He never figured it out. Samus ended up having to show him the trick. Instead of violently thrashing at it, he was shown to hold it still. Eventually, the creature would think that trouble had left and would relax the muscles that held the shell closed. With one twist of the wrist, the shell was opened. For that, Samus got to keep half of the prize. Because she held out on him, he learned his lesson. Not everything had to be ended with violence. He held two of his fingers on one hand like a spear tip and pointed them at the opening of the critter's cave. With the other, he scratched at the area just next to where he could see the creature through the rock. The morsel sensed trouble behind it, so it moved back towards the opening to its inevitable demise. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Narssek smiled, pleased to see such enthusiasm. Yuur, A'xun, and Rin'tal relaxed their poses. They have witnessed this sort of scenario before. The crew didn't really know what kind of hand Cottonmouth was playing with, but they also knew Narssek had a good hand as well. "First of all," he said with a knowing chuckle, "there is absolutely nothing stopping you from trying to rile a good mutiny. Though, I don't know how you would be able to handle the talent we have in engineering. She could be quite a handful." There was a chuckle from A'xun, but Yuur quickly backfisted the ensign in the abdomen. "Second, though?" The smile drew even tighter, exposing worn metal and chitin teeth behind his mandibles. "Rather than to take my losses and run like a coward, sulking in the shadows wondering about what could've been, instead I stand up and turn my bow to the wind. "I'm sure you've heard my name. There's a reason I've earned that reputation. Do you really think I'd just idly hang my guns and give up? Do you really think this situation changes anything about who I am? The diplomatic veneer? The gentile demeanor? That's all experience, my dear rival. "Oh, no...." With that, the old admiral answered Cottonmouth's challenge with his own. Narssek stood violently as he whipped out his own knife wielding it like a pro. Though his arm was wielding the weapon at the ready, the rest of his body language still showed that commanding respect and certainty. "I expect that we be pirates about this," he gestured to Cottonmouth with the tip of his knife. "Just don't forget: I may be in a rough spot now, but that still doesn't change my name, or who I am. "Now, brief your crew and get to your post. We set out within the hour, Captain. Why? Because, you will lose much more if you just sit back on your claws doing nothing to rid our kind of the cancer that plagues us. If you weren't interested in the first place, you wouldn't be here. "Dismissed!" Ending his rant on that note, he sat back down in his chair and continued holding the knife. Though it didn't look threatening, a knife was still a knife. (ooc: Jefe, I couldn't help but imagine Megatron and Starscream having the same conversation.... heh. Also, I'm thinking that as this conversation continues near Mars, or at least en route to SR388, by the time they get to their destination, they'll be getting there just hours behind the rest of the group. So, whenever you're wanting to get there, it's all good.) ---------------------------------------------------------------- (ooc: Scout, if I read your post right, the following should be accurate. If not, send me a note and I'll fix it.) The Garlings had already begun setting up a small command post in another spot on SR388. As soon as the finishing touches on their computer systems, all of the screens black out. A moment later, all the screens filled with the image of a feminine face. It was topped with green metallic hair and had bony spiked horns extending forward from behind the head.. The skin was primarily light green, yet framing the violet eye clusters was a chevron shaped patch of blue like a masquerade mask. Unnatural in appearance as the lines of color patterns were sharp. Blackened lips, and spaced teeth with wiggling fangs. "Welcome to our home," came the multi-toned feminine voice accompanying the face on the screens. "I am Colliope. I hold a key to the inheritance of our Creators. The pieces are almost in place. Soon, the galaxy will be prepared for our existence. But, now, it is not time. Soon, though. We need your help, though. We have sent a messenger. Please follow it. We would like to meet you." Just outside the encampment was a single Autoad. A metallic construct of four legs around a central body housing. A single "eye", or camera, was housed laterally in the middle of it. Reminiscent of ancient Chozo design, its smooth contours enabled it dexterous movement and decent jumping capability. It waited for whatever Garling compliment to follow through on the female's request via communique. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Whatever Adam Malcovich was doing, he received a ping. It wasn't the familiar ping of his own compatriots from the realm of which he resides, but a rather harsh tone that rang of uncertainty. Suddenly, it was as if the ping was omnidirectional only to find those of similar "minds". This ping was trying to find ways to communicate. Spurious felt the same sensation only .054 nanoseconds behind due to global positioning. The two of them were suddenly in a brilliantly white room with a single figure standing in the middle. It was of a female form standing six feet two inches long red hair and bony spikes protruding through like nodes from the skull. A similar color pattern to Colliope, only her mask was red as the skin tone was grey. The "mask" framed black eye clusters. "Accessing torrent 295:34 and 438:22. Identification: Ah!" She smiled a small smile of success. "I am glad to have finally met you. We sensed your presence in this realm, and wished to make contact. "I am Athena, and currently using the inheritance of our Creators. Please, follow the Autoad near you. It will lead you to us. We sense no hostile intent. We require assistance. It is about Tisiphone...." The brilliant white ceased and each of the two found themselves back wherever they were. The amount of time that passed was merely seeming like a minor glitch. |
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| ~Twilight~ | May 31 2008, 04:23 PM Post #68 |
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Just... Kind of out there...
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OOC: Week of the monster posts? O.o The rest of the trip had been rather uneventfull, atleast on Twilights side of it all. During the long days of waiting he had done what he usualy did, meditated. Sitting in a form of calm he was able to forget any and all worries, atleast for a short time, however his conversations with this Jenosa and... Adam... Kept occupying his mind, what she had said about this... Scurge... Intrigued him, it seemed to, in ways, be similiar to the Ing, yet different. He'd have to find out more about it later. What Adam had said made sense, however, he got the feeling that there was something he had purpousfully left out, a probability of meeting metroid similiar to Omega eh? He had thought Omega was the last of his kind, although perhaps metroids was similiar to Ing when it came to reproduction. Twilight knew they were nearing their destination as the command console over at the pilot seat began to beep and a small red light began to flicker on and off, indicating a message. And as he stood up and walked over to the large screen he could clearly see how long that was remaining until they reached SR388, less than an hour, however before that he could see how Samus ship had slowed down to a halt, and as such he turned off the auto-pilot and steered it in slightly behind on the huntress ships left side. He was hoping for some kind of explanation, but he figured that they merely wanted to make sure the landing would be safe, or that no one had gotten lost during the trip. Whichever was the case, once they started moving again Twilight was quick to follow, and as the small group of ships was near landing Twilight noticed how something rather large and green, Omega, jumped out of Samus ship before it had landed. And as he saw that, he made his ship stop dead, before having it swiftly sink towards the ground. He knew that Metroids could float, or similiar, during certain circumstances, and as this was the metroids homeworld, he figured the ability was adapted to work perfectly here, so he was not worried about Omega getting hurt by falling, he simply wanted to make sure. Merely a few seconds later the slim shape of the dark purple colored Luminoth "Lightbringer" prototype landed on the rocky surface of SR388, and as it touched down on the ground the airlock door opened, revealing the form of the dark purple and black colored federation marine armor that was Twilights shell. And as the Ing stepped out from the small transport-like ship he could see Omega some distance away, he seemed to be eating something, but from where he stood he could not make out any details. Calmly Twilight walked up to Omega, stopping just a few meters away from him to let him enjoy his meal in peace, and once he was done and Twilight was sure he had his attention he felt compelled to ask one thing. "This is, your home right? If you dont mind me asking, how does it feel to be back?" It was a very simple question, but Twilight was curious, he himself no longer had a home, nor planet to return too, as Samus had caused Dark Aether to collapse, however as the price to pay for the Ings defeat Twilight did not regret that she had. |
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| +Aiko+ | May 31 2008, 08:13 PM Post #69 |
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Roffel House!
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If the situation wasn’t quite so urgent, Adam would’ve felt ridiculous sporting the outfit he was wearing. SR388’s atmosphere was toxic to human life, and to maintain his masquerade, he had to be suited for the environment. His HFI projected a 100% accurate representation of the FFC (Federation First Contact) armor, a suit specifically designed for troops exploring hostile terrain. It was the suit he wore when he first met Samus all those years ago. Now that he didn’t need it, he realized just how ugly the thing was. With Samus standing next to him in her Varia suit, it was like comparing a troll to a goddess. He looked clunky, awkward, and stupid. She looked comfortable, lithe, and…well… ….beautiful. Adam shook himself free of the distracting thought, although compared to the slow thought processes of normal humans, his vagrancy might’ve well never happened. Samus watched Omega leave, knowing her adoptive son instinctively knew he needed to feed to prepare for the possible fight ahead. She attempted to send him encouraging and approving thoughts, and was elated to feel a loving response although he was already out of sight. She turned her attention to the Garling camp in the near distance, perfectly happy never to set foot there. She had a mission to accomplish, and the Garlings were in her way as far as she was concerned. “Adam, have you located the Queens yet?” she asked. When she didn’t get a response right away, she looked over at him. Adam’s eyes were impossible to see through his helmet, but Samus knew that unless he projected them, they didn’t exist anyway. “Adam?” she asked in a sharper, alarmed voice. “Huh? What?” Adam said, snapping out of his trance all at once and coming back to life like a rebooted computer. “Did you say something?” “I asked if you found the Queens yet. Are you okay?” Adam’s chin tilted down to his chest. He looked a little shaken. “I’m fine. Got caught off guard. I didn’t have to find the Queens. Athena found me,” he said sheepishly. “Oh? What do you mean?” Adam shifted his weight. Samus thought he looked distinctly uncomfortable, which was highly unusual for him. “Athena somehow found me and Squirt on the ship network and dragged us into a makeshift network of her own. It was… surprising.” “Are you sure you’re alright?” “Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that I’ve only been yanked from a system once before, and it was an experience I hoped would never be repeated.” Samus nodded, knowing what he was referring to. The GIs had quite literally yanked him out from his biological brain when he was forced to sacrifice his ship, his former body, into a Federation craft to buy his friends some time. She couldn’t fathom what dying could’ve felt like, if it was really death at all. Adam took an unnecessary breath, then shook himself. “Sorry. It takes me a while to settle down after something like that happens, since all the processes I was running had to reboot. I’m back up to speed now. Anyway, Athena said she needed help with Tisiphone...” Adam and Samus shared a glance, their body language full of dread. “Where is Athena?” “I don’t know, she said she’d send us an autoad. What’s an autoad?” Samus didn’t have to answer, for at that moment they both spotted a squat, strange, frog-looking machine approaching them from the side. “The description is appropriate,” Adam said flatly, earning a small, stressed smile from Samus. The two of them walked together behind the machine. Samus paused in the gaping mouth of one of the many caves that riddled the planet, glancing behind her. She wasn’t sure how to call for Omega, but hoped he’d know he was needed somehow. She tried to project a desire for him to join her as she descended into the cavern below. She was sure that Jenosa and Twilight would follow, but she wasn’t about to wait with her nerves on absolute edge. |
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| ~beflexor~ | Jun 3 2008, 01:21 AM Post #70 |
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I just _____ in the _____.
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Everything on the ship was cheap, the food, the tools. Even the space suits. Ben’s was especially crummy. The temperature controls were a little off, making it too hot in warm climates and cold in icy climates. The radio was too staticy, and he didn’t even want to think about the waste management system. Everyone’s suits: Nick’s, Trisha’s, even Enigma’s suits were packed away in a cheap locker gathering dust. The only exception was Lorrilal’s. No one had anticipated that they would ever have a child on board, especially one that needed to go out in harsh environments. Ben had plunked down a good amount of money for her suit, and it showed. The cargo ship captain made one final check over his suit before leaving the storage room. He adjusted one quick knob, looked up, and then did a triple-take. Squirt was walking around naked. It felt like all the blood in his body rushed to his head, making his face red as well as making him dizzy, then he attempted to calm himself down. Squirt didn’t feel things the same way normal people did, and she seemed sensitive to things brushing against her, clothing must have felt like wearing sandpaper. He’d known the girl since her not-so humble beginnings as a child GI, surprisingly, she’d grown, just as other children did. She learned and applied things to future learnings, and managed to grow into a fine young woman. He blushed again when he noticed how fine she really was. Ben’s embarrassment was, thankfully, short-lived, as she disappeared into the virtual world. She didn’t seem very prepared for it though, leaving halfway into a step. Ben thought that she would want to prepare herself, set up where the Beflexor went and everything. Still, she would be furious if he didn’t take her with him, so he picked up the device and slipped it into a pocket meant for geological samples. Lorrilal slipped out of her room shortly after, wearing her top of the line suit. “This is really uncomfortable.” Ben crossed his arms “yeah well, I’m not paying for another new suit. You either stay that size forever or hurry up and grow to us normal people’s size.” “I can’t.” “That’s the spirit! Now, I’m guessing Squirt had us land while I was changing, banged my elbow in the process. For a GI being based off a flight intelligence, she sure can’t pilot worth beans.” They both stepped into the airlock and he continued. “Of course, that’s a part of being a GI I’m guessing, they can’t have skills programmed into them, they have to learn them like you and me.” The outside door opened. “Of course, I know our ship is a little large, but it is landable, the guy selling it told me so n- Lori!“ Ben rushed forward to grab her, but it was too late. Lorrilal undid the clasps to her helmet and there was a hiss sound as the harsh air of the planet entered her suit. She lifted the glass orb off and tilted her head at her guardian. “Is something wrong?” It took him a few seconds to regain his composure. Not to mention it would look really lame if he dropped dead from a stress-induced heart-attack in front of all the hardened bounty hunters and friends. He had to remind himself that Lorrilal wasn’t a human girl, and she wasn’t subject to the same needs. “Couldn’t you have mentioned something earlier?” “You were quite insistent. I figured the best way to show you I am able to withstand a move variable range of atmospheres is to give you a first-hand example.” It could have been the lighting, but her skin seemed to be turning a more teal shade, probably a side effect of her photosynthesizing of a different type of air. Either way, Ben felt like things were off to a bad start, that, and he wasn’t exactly going to ignore the possibility of his heart being attacked. Whether it was from his own fallible body, or because of a massive set of claws digging into his chest, it wouldn’t really matter. ~ (OOC: hope you don’t mind if I have a bit of fun Aiko...) The first half of Squirt’s step was on the cargo bay of Ben’s ship, the second half was halfway into a corrupted .doc file before she felt herself pulled elsewhere. She stumbled down and bent her foot over so she could look a the bottom, finding jumbles of computer text still smeared on. “Aw son of a brain-washed freaking Norton anti-virus loving spyware eater.” She pulled out an eraser from a pocket in the tight pair of virtual jeans she wore and got to work. When she looked up she realized she was back in the computer network of Ben’s ship. The GI paused for a moment, trying to catch just what had happened, when she recalled someone she saw, she threw down her eraser in disgust. Jeez, Adam didn’t have to be so rude! If he wanted to talk to her, then he should have been polite, not confusing as hell! Ooh he was gonna pay. After a few moments Squirt located Adam’s hi-fi and gave it a quick flick of her virus magic. Under his holographic suit, Adam suddenly grew a pair of full, voluptuous breasts. |
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4:14 AM Jul 11