- Date: January 13 to January 15, 110 PA
Time: Whatever time you need it to be
Temp: 7° F outside
Weather: Clear, with only a light dusting of snow and plenty of ice
Ley Line info: There are multiple ley lines in the ruins of Old Chicago 80 miles away, but none in Chi-Town itself.
Location: Within 30 miles of Chi-Town, or perhaps in it, or maybe in the burbs. The military knows your location and you are required to keep a locator beacon on you at all times. It's also a communicator so you can be reached.
Downtime! Three Days of Leave
-
CS High Command
- Game Master
- Posts: 970
- Joined: Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:54 pm
- Location: Game Master: CS 110 Nightstalkers
- Contact:
Downtime! Three Days of Leave
Downtime! Three Days of Leave
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Jericho Jackson
Re: Downtime! Three Days of Leave
Perception Bonus: 39%/ 51% to recognize demons in disguise [dice]0[/dice]
JIC: [dice]1[/dice]
[dice]2[/dice]
Downtime
LT. Jackson wanders through the lower levels of Chi-Town, an address in hand. His military uniform draws looks of both admiration and disgust from those he passes, but he pays them no mind. They'd be fools to start something... I kinda wish they would. He travels up and down congested narrow thoroughfares, rough-looking human and dbee vendors hawking their wares from carts and stands as small vehicles and trucks wind their way through the crowds, often at a snail's pace. Eventually, he finds it - a multi-story tenement tucked into the armpit of an out-of-the-way street. Quieter than most, but the garbage in the corners and on the street indicates that this part of town is painfully neglected. I hope that's not how it makes Aunt Claire feel. I don't want her to feel neglected... He straightens up as he approaches the door. as a person opens the door to leave, he catches it and enters. The close hallway smells of cleanser - small mercies - but also of some underlying funk - sweat or mold or just age, the peculiar smell that seems peculiar to ancient buildings. He finds his way to the staircase in back and picks his way up the creaky stairs to his aunt's apartment - 14F.
He approaches, ready to knock, but the door is ajar. He knocks anyway, as he opens it wide. "Aunt Claire?" A harried-looking woman, rough around the edges but still soft, still vulnerable if you catch her at the right time, enters the living space from the cramped bedroom area, carrying a box. "Oh, please leave the door open, Jer - it's stifling as hell in here." He enters, setting down his ruck in the corner. "What can I do, Aunt Claire?" She looks at him, frazzled. "For starters, Jer, you can mind your goddamn business. I was happy where I was!" Jericho sighs. "It's not safe there. I can't have you out in the wilds, Aunt Claire, by yourself, and with no..." She glares. "No what? No one to protect me? Who the hell do you think protected us while you were shitting your diapers, boy? I did. And I still can." Jericho hangs his head. "I know... I... I know. I just want to help. Medical care is better here in the CS, in Chi-town, and once you have citizenship you can..." She stiffens instantly. "You can TAKE your citizenship, and put it you-know-where." Jericho sighs again. She continues, "It's more trouble than it's worth. With all your... your requests, and appeals, and pleas... I wonder if it's worth it at all." Jericho claps his mouth shut. He knows she was letting off steam. The apartment wasn't what she'd hoped, or where she'd hoped. It was smaller even than his own. But he knows, in her condition, she was going to need better medical care sooner rather than later, and she can't get it in the 'burbs... or in the wilderness. Only the CS could provide that kind of care... and Jericho wouldn't always be around to ensure that she gets it.
Silently, he lifts a box and takes it into the bedroom, navigating gingerly through the piles of boxes to carry it to the kitchenette/dinette, and begins unpacking, setting up her kitchen as closely as possible to the way he knew - from years of living with her - that she liked it. He moves to the next box, and the next after that, and as night fell, he implores her to take a break and join him for dinner. He calls for a cab and takes her to a nicer restaurant in one of the lower middle levels of Chi-Town - nice, but not 'you need reservations' nice.
The next day is similar: she grouches at him as he unpacks her boxes, moves her furniture into place, and makes sure she eats at mealtimes. She's not wrong, he keeps thinking. She protected me all those years. The least I can do is help her now. Even if she doesn't want my help. Goddamn it she's gonna get it. With such a small space, and so few possessions, it was not long before it started to resemble a home - if not the home she was used to. Jericho makes her stop, and takes her to a movie. She needs a break - she can't pull all those long hours doing physical labor any more. The tireder she gets... the... He sighs. In short order, the car arrives, and he carries her off to see The Man in Mutieville, a new Coalition movie about a lone human trying to live amongst dbees and mutants, as the world collapses around him. At the end, as Coalition skelebots come to rescue the man from his barricaded house, surrounded by hostile muties, even his mother smiles. Movies are magic, and they can make you feel ways about people you even love, if the movie is made just right. Jericho harbors complicated feelings about dbees even now, and the movie makes him feel as if he'd been treating them with undue kindness, but some small part of him knows the muties and the dbees in the film were that way because a human wrote them to be. He hopes his Aunt Claire saw through it as well, and treats it for what it was - mindless entertainment.
As they finish all of the unpacking on day 3, and Jericho breaks down the boxes for rubbish, Aunt Claire notices a few groceries she's missing, and sets out to go get them. Jericho stands up. "Aunt Claire - I gotta take these boxes down anyhow - let me get them for you, I'll be right back with them. You just settle in, and get used to your new apartment." With that, he carries the bundle of flattened cardboard to the waste receptacle downstairs, and tosses it in. A walk down the street is all it takes to find people selling the particular mix of groceries his Aunt needs, and with them purchased, he makes his way back to her building. At the top of the stairs, he sees her apartment door. Hands full, he tap the door with his boot to knock on it. "Aunt Claire? can you get the door?" The door swings open. His Aunt's face beams. "Paul! Oh, it's good to see you! I've been here so long, waiting." She gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Aunt Claire... I... it's me, Jericho. Paul... died. Twenty years ago." She looks at him, face washed in confusion. A moment passes, a quiet moment where even Jericho is not sure which Aunt Claire is looking at him - the woman who'd loved and protected him his whole childhood, or this new stranger. She slaps him on the shoulder. "Of course, Jericho. I was only kidding."
JIC: [dice]1[/dice]
[dice]2[/dice]
Downtime
LT. Jackson wanders through the lower levels of Chi-Town, an address in hand. His military uniform draws looks of both admiration and disgust from those he passes, but he pays them no mind. They'd be fools to start something... I kinda wish they would. He travels up and down congested narrow thoroughfares, rough-looking human and dbee vendors hawking their wares from carts and stands as small vehicles and trucks wind their way through the crowds, often at a snail's pace. Eventually, he finds it - a multi-story tenement tucked into the armpit of an out-of-the-way street. Quieter than most, but the garbage in the corners and on the street indicates that this part of town is painfully neglected. I hope that's not how it makes Aunt Claire feel. I don't want her to feel neglected... He straightens up as he approaches the door. as a person opens the door to leave, he catches it and enters. The close hallway smells of cleanser - small mercies - but also of some underlying funk - sweat or mold or just age, the peculiar smell that seems peculiar to ancient buildings. He finds his way to the staircase in back and picks his way up the creaky stairs to his aunt's apartment - 14F.
He approaches, ready to knock, but the door is ajar. He knocks anyway, as he opens it wide. "Aunt Claire?" A harried-looking woman, rough around the edges but still soft, still vulnerable if you catch her at the right time, enters the living space from the cramped bedroom area, carrying a box. "Oh, please leave the door open, Jer - it's stifling as hell in here." He enters, setting down his ruck in the corner. "What can I do, Aunt Claire?" She looks at him, frazzled. "For starters, Jer, you can mind your goddamn business. I was happy where I was!" Jericho sighs. "It's not safe there. I can't have you out in the wilds, Aunt Claire, by yourself, and with no..." She glares. "No what? No one to protect me? Who the hell do you think protected us while you were shitting your diapers, boy? I did. And I still can." Jericho hangs his head. "I know... I... I know. I just want to help. Medical care is better here in the CS, in Chi-town, and once you have citizenship you can..." She stiffens instantly. "You can TAKE your citizenship, and put it you-know-where." Jericho sighs again. She continues, "It's more trouble than it's worth. With all your... your requests, and appeals, and pleas... I wonder if it's worth it at all." Jericho claps his mouth shut. He knows she was letting off steam. The apartment wasn't what she'd hoped, or where she'd hoped. It was smaller even than his own. But he knows, in her condition, she was going to need better medical care sooner rather than later, and she can't get it in the 'burbs... or in the wilderness. Only the CS could provide that kind of care... and Jericho wouldn't always be around to ensure that she gets it.
Silently, he lifts a box and takes it into the bedroom, navigating gingerly through the piles of boxes to carry it to the kitchenette/dinette, and begins unpacking, setting up her kitchen as closely as possible to the way he knew - from years of living with her - that she liked it. He moves to the next box, and the next after that, and as night fell, he implores her to take a break and join him for dinner. He calls for a cab and takes her to a nicer restaurant in one of the lower middle levels of Chi-Town - nice, but not 'you need reservations' nice.
The next day is similar: she grouches at him as he unpacks her boxes, moves her furniture into place, and makes sure she eats at mealtimes. She's not wrong, he keeps thinking. She protected me all those years. The least I can do is help her now. Even if she doesn't want my help. Goddamn it she's gonna get it. With such a small space, and so few possessions, it was not long before it started to resemble a home - if not the home she was used to. Jericho makes her stop, and takes her to a movie. She needs a break - she can't pull all those long hours doing physical labor any more. The tireder she gets... the... He sighs. In short order, the car arrives, and he carries her off to see The Man in Mutieville, a new Coalition movie about a lone human trying to live amongst dbees and mutants, as the world collapses around him. At the end, as Coalition skelebots come to rescue the man from his barricaded house, surrounded by hostile muties, even his mother smiles. Movies are magic, and they can make you feel ways about people you even love, if the movie is made just right. Jericho harbors complicated feelings about dbees even now, and the movie makes him feel as if he'd been treating them with undue kindness, but some small part of him knows the muties and the dbees in the film were that way because a human wrote them to be. He hopes his Aunt Claire saw through it as well, and treats it for what it was - mindless entertainment.
As they finish all of the unpacking on day 3, and Jericho breaks down the boxes for rubbish, Aunt Claire notices a few groceries she's missing, and sets out to go get them. Jericho stands up. "Aunt Claire - I gotta take these boxes down anyhow - let me get them for you, I'll be right back with them. You just settle in, and get used to your new apartment." With that, he carries the bundle of flattened cardboard to the waste receptacle downstairs, and tosses it in. A walk down the street is all it takes to find people selling the particular mix of groceries his Aunt needs, and with them purchased, he makes his way back to her building. At the top of the stairs, he sees her apartment door. Hands full, he tap the door with his boot to knock on it. "Aunt Claire? can you get the door?" The door swings open. His Aunt's face beams. "Paul! Oh, it's good to see you! I've been here so long, waiting." She gives him a kiss on the cheek. "Aunt Claire... I... it's me, Jericho. Paul... died. Twenty years ago." She looks at him, face washed in confusion. A moment passes, a quiet moment where even Jericho is not sure which Aunt Claire is looking at him - the woman who'd loved and protected him his whole childhood, or this new stranger. She slaps him on the shoulder. "Of course, Jericho. I was only kidding."
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Drummond Leighton
- Posts: 120
- Joined: Sat Jan 27, 2018 7:36 pm
Re: Downtime! Three Days of Leave
Perception: 30% vs [dice]0[/dice] (+15% vision, +25% salvage, +25% contraband)
JIC: [dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]
Drum heads back to his quarters. Once inside, he heads to the mini-fridge and takes out a little pouch of apple sauce, he twists off the bib and moves over to the reinforced chair in the middle of the living room; well, the side of the room with the AV monitor. He sits down and the chair grunts a bit as it settles under his weight.
He calls out, "System on." The monitor activates and some rerun is playing in the background while the screen displays any messages he has.
He reads each one. "Delete, open next, read," he says through the first six. The seventh causes him to pause. Coalition Armed Forces Housing Authority, what could this be about? "Open next, read."
The message opens on the screen, and the digitized voice begins speaking.
The system complies and the screen changes to a series of some floor plans. Drum spends the next hour looking at the different choices, he finally selects a 3 bedroom unit. One for Caity, then separate bedrooms for Sax and Viola which will work well when they are older, otherwise a guest room for Dad and Mom.
With the layout selected, the system confirms. "Block 27, row 3, floor 6, unit 27-3-6-72 selected. Customize?"
"Customize?" Drum echoes. He asks, "Explain?"
"There is a budget of 10,000 credits to customize the selected unit. You may select from a variety of floor, wall, and counter surfaces along with basic furniture."
"Hot damn!" Drum exclaims. "Uh, hold selection for Caitlin Leighton." He walks a circle around his chair. Tapping his chin, he says, "Compose new message. Send to Caitlin Leighton. Begin: Caity! I've gotten permission to move you and the kids in the mega city! Check the attachments for the passes and registration. Give Sax and Viola a big hug from me. Love you! Let me know when I can come see you and the kids. Drum."
Drum smiling, attaches the instructions to his video message. I'll let the decoration be just as much as a surprise for her as it was me.
With the message composed, he sends the message. He sits heavily in his chair, a sudden case of sleepiness. Not from exhaustion, but of a profound sense of peace. His family is in the walls, something he thought would take a decade or more from when he'd enlisted. When the training accident happened, he'd for a moment, thought the dream was lost when he'd first woken in the hospital bed and realized what had happened. But now, his primary goal had been achieved, the niggling sense of worry he'd had each time he'd gone out in the field thinking he'd not come back and his family would still be in danger is gone. The smile on his face remains as his head drops down, a slight snore beginning as he dreams of a bright future.
JIC: [dice]1[/dice], [dice]2[/dice]
Drum heads back to his quarters. Once inside, he heads to the mini-fridge and takes out a little pouch of apple sauce, he twists off the bib and moves over to the reinforced chair in the middle of the living room; well, the side of the room with the AV monitor. He sits down and the chair grunts a bit as it settles under his weight.
He calls out, "System on." The monitor activates and some rerun is playing in the background while the screen displays any messages he has.
He reads each one. "Delete, open next, read," he says through the first six. The seventh causes him to pause. Coalition Armed Forces Housing Authority, what could this be about? "Open next, read."
The message opens on the screen, and the digitized voice begins speaking.
Drum hears the message, but despite being in American, doesn't get it the first time. "Repeat message." The message replays. "Repeat message." By the third time, the cyborg believes his ears. "By young Joseph's chin hairs! Housing! In the mega-city!" He drums out a quick beat on the arms of the chair. "View Housing Options."Message wrote:From Coalition Armed Forces Housing Authority
To Corporal Drummond Leighton, Psi-Battalion Alpha, 40th Special Operations Company, 4th Platoon
Subject: Familial Housing
Congratulations. A housing allotment has been designated your household. Please review the following options available to you.
Housing Options
The system complies and the screen changes to a series of some floor plans. Drum spends the next hour looking at the different choices, he finally selects a 3 bedroom unit. One for Caity, then separate bedrooms for Sax and Viola which will work well when they are older, otherwise a guest room for Dad and Mom.
With the layout selected, the system confirms. "Block 27, row 3, floor 6, unit 27-3-6-72 selected. Customize?"
"Customize?" Drum echoes. He asks, "Explain?"
"There is a budget of 10,000 credits to customize the selected unit. You may select from a variety of floor, wall, and counter surfaces along with basic furniture."
"Hot damn!" Drum exclaims. "Uh, hold selection for Caitlin Leighton." He walks a circle around his chair. Tapping his chin, he says, "Compose new message. Send to Caitlin Leighton. Begin: Caity! I've gotten permission to move you and the kids in the mega city! Check the attachments for the passes and registration. Give Sax and Viola a big hug from me. Love you! Let me know when I can come see you and the kids. Drum."
Drum smiling, attaches the instructions to his video message. I'll let the decoration be just as much as a surprise for her as it was me.
With the message composed, he sends the message. He sits heavily in his chair, a sudden case of sleepiness. Not from exhaustion, but of a profound sense of peace. His family is in the walls, something he thought would take a decade or more from when he'd enlisted. When the training accident happened, he'd for a moment, thought the dream was lost when he'd first woken in the hospital bed and realized what had happened. But now, his primary goal had been achieved, the niggling sense of worry he'd had each time he'd gone out in the field thinking he'd not come back and his family would still be in danger is gone. The smile on his face remains as his head drops down, a slight snore beginning as he dreams of a bright future.
Re: Downtime! Three Days of Leave
On Leave - Day 1
As early as he could, Mane sent a message to the man he affectionately called Grandpa Givens; professionally knowed as Doctor Major Jared Givens, one of the briliant scientist responsible for the genetic generation and maturation of Mane's mother, the lioness battle cat Rosetta. While at first he had troubles getting though to the busy and important man, eventally patience and perserverance paid off. He got Major Givens' answering service. Mane had to leave a message of sufficient meaning in a very little amount of time.
"At the tone you will have thirty seconds to leave your message at the beep. ... *BEEEEEEP*"
"Grandpa Givens... I mean Major Givens.... Damn it! I know. You don't like me calling you that. Anyhow, it's me, Mane. I'm in town for just a few days and I was really hoping ... What? ... What do you want? ... No I don't have any credits to spare! ... I said no ... Get out of my face before I ... Fuck you too you piece of shit parasite! ... OH! Damn it!!! Not you, Grandpa Givens ... I mean ... A bum just... doesn't matter. Please get back to me as soon as... " *BEEEEEEEEP*
Mane waited by his cell phone for hours and hours, hoping the man that was the closest thing to family as he had here in Chi-Town would hear his message. Would answer at all. Would be willing to take time out of his busy schedule to see him at all. While waiting he wondered into a mutant-friendly coffee shop and sat at a booth, just staring at his phone and sipping several cups of straight black bitter coffee. His only companions were the waitressess and his own antsy, anxious anticipation.
Eventually his cell rang.
On Leave - Day 1 - Late Evening
With a humble knock on the door, Mane waited on the front step of his "Grandpa's" lush Chi-Twon appartment. He had been there once before on New Year's Eve, officially functioning as security, unofficially Major Givens' special guest. On his way up, security and the patroling ISS officers didn't even bother to ask for Mane's identification. They were made aware of his coming, and remembered him well from his prior visit. Apparently the hulking murder-cat made a lasting impression with them.
When Major Givens' opened the door, he was alreay in his robe and sleeping attire. In his hand the Major held a generous glass of brandy and looked as though he had a long day. Just the same, he was also genuinely plreased to see the progeny of one of his favorite projects.
"Mane! I'm so glad you called! Please, come in. The hour is late though, so we can't chat too long."
Major Givens knew immediately something was wrong when Mane returned his greetings with a smothering hug; gentel enough to show genuine affection and care, but sufficiently strong enough to take Givens by suprise, holding his drink out at arm's length to prevent it from becoming a casualty of the assault.
After a while the two were sitting down in front of a gas fireplace; Givens in a comfortable leather reclining chair, Mane occupying much of a couch. It was by now that Givens had developed real issues, especially when Mane declined some of his premium brandy. Just the same, he listened intently to the story that unfolded in the snowy town of Hammond and the serial killer the cat and his team pursued.
"... and it was then, looking that quilt of dog ears that I realized what a terrible creature I am. I'm a fucking monster, Grandpa! I'm just as bad as that sick'o piece of shit. Maybe a little worse!
"Ooooh, you aren't as bad as this Sadist character." Givens consoled as best he could.
"I am! Maybe I'm not as ambotious or prolific as him, but I'm a sick, sick fuck, and I deserve to..." Mane stopped himself just shy of revealing his suicidal tempations and the degree of his self-loathing.
"Desrve to what?" Givens inquired like the professional doctor he was. "Die?"
Mane didn't have a firm answer for the Major, but it was implicit by the way he could no longer make eye-contact. Givens could see that's exactly where Mane was going with that statement. He could see that Mane was on the precipice of a major paradign shift in the way he saw himself and how he viewed life, not to mention the value of his life. With not the smallest amount of concern for Mane, not to mention the valuable asset the mutant cat represented, he refrained from picking up the phone to have Mane committed once more into psychiatric care. Being familiar with the battle cat, and feeling he had gotten to know him well enough, the good doctor had a different idea.
"Mane ... I'd like to introduce you to some associates of mine. Have you met my security team?" Givens then leaned a little forward in his chair and waved someone in. Someone who was behind Mane the entire time.
In mild suprise, Mane spun his head around, almost leaving the couch. There behind him was a muscular Dog Boy. A powerful Mastiff by the looks of him. Apparently Major Givens didn't trust Mane that much. On a certain level, Mane was a little hurt by the distrust, but then again, who would trust a murderous monster like himself?
"Mane, this is my chief of security, Ruger."
"Hi, Ruger." Mane said a little apprehensively. Then and there Mane decided it might be a good idea to get one of those third eye bionic implants so he could literally have eyes in the back of his head. But if he did, his trademark mane might get in the way.... could be worth looking into.
"Ruger, you and some of the other dogs were planning on going on a little hunt tomorrow, weren't you? I think Mane could use a little outdoors action. Help him reconnect with nature!" Givens suggested as he swirled his drink in hand, smiling at how clever he was. "Yes, I think that is an excellent idea. I know you're feeling conflicted right now, Mane, but what you need is to get back to the basics. Right now you're affraid of your own baser instincts. And that's okay! You're starting to grow up! That's a good thing!"
"I... uh...I... uh... don't know about this." Mane stammered. Of all the things he thought Grandpa Givens might suggest, this wasn't even on the list. All he could do was sit there slack-jawed, looking back and forth between Ruger and Grandpa Givens. "I don't konw. I'm not supposed to be more than a hour away from recall at any given moment."
"Pish posh! You and the boys can take my private scarab car. It will have you there and back again in no time. Just don't any blood on the interior."
On Leave - Day 2
With the crunch of fresh snow under his bood-clad feet, Mane slowly made his way through the wintery forest. It was a cold day, like usual this winter, but he didn't expect to be out in the middle of nowhere like this. In his hands he carried nothing but a warm set of gloves.
To his flanks Mane found himself surrounded by Ruger, and his team... all of them ravenous Kill Hounds! Under normal circumstances he might have felt right at home among other killers. Today, however, he was failing to see how this was supposed to help him with his problem.
Up ahead, Beretta and Barret were scounting things out, keeping an eye out for signs of predator or prey they may be concerned wtih. There were two of the because Kill Hounds were notorioulsy bad trackers, so they used the buddy system to cover each other's shortcomings.
To Mane's right, in close priximity, stood Ruger, keeping a conspiciously close eye on the battle cat. Mane wondered if this was an elaborate setup, and the pack of hounds was actually there to put his kitty ass down like the defective model he now was. One hell of a factory recall, that would be for sure! But after several obvious prime opportunities, Mane discarded that idea and tried to focus on the hunt.
To the left of Mane was another dog named Marlin. While Mane didn't know that Marlin's function was in the hunt, he did know that Marlin was a bit of a chatter box! While not loud, and the suprising master of being talkative and quiet at the same time, Mane learned all about this particular team. Especially how they were all hand-picked by Dr. Givens, and how they were all given a second chance to serve as bodyguards. Apparently Givens' team of Kill Hounds were a band of misfits, deemed unfit to serve in the field due to a lack of sufficient aggressiveness befiitting a proper Kill Hound.
It was then it started to don on Mane the slightest glimmer of what Givens was up to with this suggested field trip. But where did he fit in here? He was a vicious killer. A monster among sheep awaiting the slaughter. A thousand times more than these losers! What was he even doing here??
But then, sudenly, the entire pack froze. Beretta and Barret found something. Instantly Mane could feel the tension in the air. Something was about to happen.
"Get read to run." Ruger whispered over his shoulder.
The moment hung in the air, and the supence bore tangible weight! In that moment Mane's mind wasn't on anything else other than the moment itself. In that air, there was a clearness of mind, and a certain freedom that he couldn't place his finger on.
Suddenly Mane and the entire pack was in motion, running at a mad dash through the frosted trees and trampling the snow covered ground. With the advantage of speed over the dogs, Mane quickly found himself in front of the pack. Not leading it, but merely the guy in first place in whatever race was. But then he saw it, and Mane knew what was going on.
A deer was up ahead, fleeing for its life as the pack of dogs was in hot pursiit! Instincts that he has come to resent began to come to the surface. Mane speed up and found himself in a flatout sprint, gaining ground on the eight-point buck. Try as it might, the deer was no match for the strength and swiftness of Mane and the pack of Kill Hounds not far behind.
The attack was as swift but shockingly clean. The deer was brought down quickly under an assualt of feline claws. Mane made sure it didn't suffer, but was killed in a blink of an eye.
Instantly the air was filled with howls of victory as the pack had its prize. While at first Mane didn't feel like celebrating with the dogs. Murder was no longer his passion, but eventaully he succumed to the peer pressure and let loose an ear-slitting roar. The dogs stopped and looked at him in silence, never having heard anything like it.
Ruger finally spoke first. "Show off."
What followed was what Mane could only call a sing-a-long as the pack of hunters triumphantly hauled the gutted and cleaned deer back to the scarab hovercraft. Stopming through the forest, singing a simiple song from a cherished children's show, belting out the song in happy unison.
When they returned to their ride, instead of returning to the city, the dogs broke out tents and began to build a large camp fire. In no time the the deer was butchered down into managable components and parts of it were placed on a gridle to cook over the open flame. To his modest suprise, the dogs had no intention of eating the meat raw, but instead had were intent on making a BBQ out of the prey.
Soon the winter sun began to set and Mane found himself on a campout with a pack of dogs. This close to Chi-Town there was little danger of monster attack, but the pack posted a sentry just the same as a precaution. Other than that, the atmosphere was quite jovial and a positive comarderie was thick in the air.
Finally, Mane had to ask. "Okay! What gives! You guys are fuckin' Kill Hounds! Emphasis on kill, and not a lot else! You're monsters like me, with more blood on your hands than slaughter house! But none of you act like it. Doesn't it weigh you down?"
At first the dogs stared at Mane blankly. The silence was undercut by the background sounds of the forest and nature's night life. Finally it was Ruger, the pack leader, who broke the silence. "We've all be there. Everyone of us here. Why do you think we were kicked out of the regular army? But we found a differen't way."
Frustrated, Mane gesticulated his hands in mid air. "Different way?!? There is no other way!! We kill, and we either become monsters or learn to hate ourselves!"
Instead of getting angy in return, or hostile in any way, Ruger simply smiled, softly wagged his tail, and placed his hand on Mane's shoulder. "Friend, I'm here to tell you there is indeed a different way. And the best part is the secret... isn't even a secret. I'm going to help you find it. WE are going to help you find it."
On Leave - Day 3
Mane sat there in the uncomfortable chair, nervous and more affraid than he had been in his entire life. But Ruger was there right by his side to give him support in this difficult task.
"Go ahead. I believe in you. You can do it." the Mastiff said in support.
With a slow inhale to gather his strength, Mane stood up and addressed the small gathering, asembled in a small room, all their chairs in a sociable circle of equals.
"Hello .... my name is Mane .... and I'm a murder'holic."
"Hi Mane!" came the reply of a dozen sympathetic, supportive voices.
As early as he could, Mane sent a message to the man he affectionately called Grandpa Givens; professionally knowed as Doctor Major Jared Givens, one of the briliant scientist responsible for the genetic generation and maturation of Mane's mother, the lioness battle cat Rosetta. While at first he had troubles getting though to the busy and important man, eventally patience and perserverance paid off. He got Major Givens' answering service. Mane had to leave a message of sufficient meaning in a very little amount of time.
"At the tone you will have thirty seconds to leave your message at the beep. ... *BEEEEEEP*"
"Grandpa Givens... I mean Major Givens.... Damn it! I know. You don't like me calling you that. Anyhow, it's me, Mane. I'm in town for just a few days and I was really hoping ... What? ... What do you want? ... No I don't have any credits to spare! ... I said no ... Get out of my face before I ... Fuck you too you piece of shit parasite! ... OH! Damn it!!! Not you, Grandpa Givens ... I mean ... A bum just... doesn't matter. Please get back to me as soon as... " *BEEEEEEEEP*
Mane waited by his cell phone for hours and hours, hoping the man that was the closest thing to family as he had here in Chi-Town would hear his message. Would answer at all. Would be willing to take time out of his busy schedule to see him at all. While waiting he wondered into a mutant-friendly coffee shop and sat at a booth, just staring at his phone and sipping several cups of straight black bitter coffee. His only companions were the waitressess and his own antsy, anxious anticipation.
Eventually his cell rang.
On Leave - Day 1 - Late Evening
With a humble knock on the door, Mane waited on the front step of his "Grandpa's" lush Chi-Twon appartment. He had been there once before on New Year's Eve, officially functioning as security, unofficially Major Givens' special guest. On his way up, security and the patroling ISS officers didn't even bother to ask for Mane's identification. They were made aware of his coming, and remembered him well from his prior visit. Apparently the hulking murder-cat made a lasting impression with them.
When Major Givens' opened the door, he was alreay in his robe and sleeping attire. In his hand the Major held a generous glass of brandy and looked as though he had a long day. Just the same, he was also genuinely plreased to see the progeny of one of his favorite projects.
"Mane! I'm so glad you called! Please, come in. The hour is late though, so we can't chat too long."
Major Givens knew immediately something was wrong when Mane returned his greetings with a smothering hug; gentel enough to show genuine affection and care, but sufficiently strong enough to take Givens by suprise, holding his drink out at arm's length to prevent it from becoming a casualty of the assault.
After a while the two were sitting down in front of a gas fireplace; Givens in a comfortable leather reclining chair, Mane occupying much of a couch. It was by now that Givens had developed real issues, especially when Mane declined some of his premium brandy. Just the same, he listened intently to the story that unfolded in the snowy town of Hammond and the serial killer the cat and his team pursued.
"... and it was then, looking that quilt of dog ears that I realized what a terrible creature I am. I'm a fucking monster, Grandpa! I'm just as bad as that sick'o piece of shit. Maybe a little worse!
"Ooooh, you aren't as bad as this Sadist character." Givens consoled as best he could.
"I am! Maybe I'm not as ambotious or prolific as him, but I'm a sick, sick fuck, and I deserve to..." Mane stopped himself just shy of revealing his suicidal tempations and the degree of his self-loathing.
"Desrve to what?" Givens inquired like the professional doctor he was. "Die?"
Mane didn't have a firm answer for the Major, but it was implicit by the way he could no longer make eye-contact. Givens could see that's exactly where Mane was going with that statement. He could see that Mane was on the precipice of a major paradign shift in the way he saw himself and how he viewed life, not to mention the value of his life. With not the smallest amount of concern for Mane, not to mention the valuable asset the mutant cat represented, he refrained from picking up the phone to have Mane committed once more into psychiatric care. Being familiar with the battle cat, and feeling he had gotten to know him well enough, the good doctor had a different idea.
"Mane ... I'd like to introduce you to some associates of mine. Have you met my security team?" Givens then leaned a little forward in his chair and waved someone in. Someone who was behind Mane the entire time.
In mild suprise, Mane spun his head around, almost leaving the couch. There behind him was a muscular Dog Boy. A powerful Mastiff by the looks of him. Apparently Major Givens didn't trust Mane that much. On a certain level, Mane was a little hurt by the distrust, but then again, who would trust a murderous monster like himself?
"Mane, this is my chief of security, Ruger."
"Hi, Ruger." Mane said a little apprehensively. Then and there Mane decided it might be a good idea to get one of those third eye bionic implants so he could literally have eyes in the back of his head. But if he did, his trademark mane might get in the way.... could be worth looking into.
"Ruger, you and some of the other dogs were planning on going on a little hunt tomorrow, weren't you? I think Mane could use a little outdoors action. Help him reconnect with nature!" Givens suggested as he swirled his drink in hand, smiling at how clever he was. "Yes, I think that is an excellent idea. I know you're feeling conflicted right now, Mane, but what you need is to get back to the basics. Right now you're affraid of your own baser instincts. And that's okay! You're starting to grow up! That's a good thing!"
"I... uh...I... uh... don't know about this." Mane stammered. Of all the things he thought Grandpa Givens might suggest, this wasn't even on the list. All he could do was sit there slack-jawed, looking back and forth between Ruger and Grandpa Givens. "I don't konw. I'm not supposed to be more than a hour away from recall at any given moment."
"Pish posh! You and the boys can take my private scarab car. It will have you there and back again in no time. Just don't any blood on the interior."
On Leave - Day 2
With the crunch of fresh snow under his bood-clad feet, Mane slowly made his way through the wintery forest. It was a cold day, like usual this winter, but he didn't expect to be out in the middle of nowhere like this. In his hands he carried nothing but a warm set of gloves.
To his flanks Mane found himself surrounded by Ruger, and his team... all of them ravenous Kill Hounds! Under normal circumstances he might have felt right at home among other killers. Today, however, he was failing to see how this was supposed to help him with his problem.
Up ahead, Beretta and Barret were scounting things out, keeping an eye out for signs of predator or prey they may be concerned wtih. There were two of the because Kill Hounds were notorioulsy bad trackers, so they used the buddy system to cover each other's shortcomings.
To Mane's right, in close priximity, stood Ruger, keeping a conspiciously close eye on the battle cat. Mane wondered if this was an elaborate setup, and the pack of hounds was actually there to put his kitty ass down like the defective model he now was. One hell of a factory recall, that would be for sure! But after several obvious prime opportunities, Mane discarded that idea and tried to focus on the hunt.
To the left of Mane was another dog named Marlin. While Mane didn't know that Marlin's function was in the hunt, he did know that Marlin was a bit of a chatter box! While not loud, and the suprising master of being talkative and quiet at the same time, Mane learned all about this particular team. Especially how they were all hand-picked by Dr. Givens, and how they were all given a second chance to serve as bodyguards. Apparently Givens' team of Kill Hounds were a band of misfits, deemed unfit to serve in the field due to a lack of sufficient aggressiveness befiitting a proper Kill Hound.
It was then it started to don on Mane the slightest glimmer of what Givens was up to with this suggested field trip. But where did he fit in here? He was a vicious killer. A monster among sheep awaiting the slaughter. A thousand times more than these losers! What was he even doing here??
But then, sudenly, the entire pack froze. Beretta and Barret found something. Instantly Mane could feel the tension in the air. Something was about to happen.
"Get read to run." Ruger whispered over his shoulder.
The moment hung in the air, and the supence bore tangible weight! In that moment Mane's mind wasn't on anything else other than the moment itself. In that air, there was a clearness of mind, and a certain freedom that he couldn't place his finger on.
Suddenly Mane and the entire pack was in motion, running at a mad dash through the frosted trees and trampling the snow covered ground. With the advantage of speed over the dogs, Mane quickly found himself in front of the pack. Not leading it, but merely the guy in first place in whatever race was. But then he saw it, and Mane knew what was going on.
A deer was up ahead, fleeing for its life as the pack of dogs was in hot pursiit! Instincts that he has come to resent began to come to the surface. Mane speed up and found himself in a flatout sprint, gaining ground on the eight-point buck. Try as it might, the deer was no match for the strength and swiftness of Mane and the pack of Kill Hounds not far behind.
The attack was as swift but shockingly clean. The deer was brought down quickly under an assualt of feline claws. Mane made sure it didn't suffer, but was killed in a blink of an eye.
Instantly the air was filled with howls of victory as the pack had its prize. While at first Mane didn't feel like celebrating with the dogs. Murder was no longer his passion, but eventaully he succumed to the peer pressure and let loose an ear-slitting roar. The dogs stopped and looked at him in silence, never having heard anything like it.
Ruger finally spoke first. "Show off."
What followed was what Mane could only call a sing-a-long as the pack of hunters triumphantly hauled the gutted and cleaned deer back to the scarab hovercraft. Stopming through the forest, singing a simiple song from a cherished children's show, belting out the song in happy unison.
When they returned to their ride, instead of returning to the city, the dogs broke out tents and began to build a large camp fire. In no time the the deer was butchered down into managable components and parts of it were placed on a gridle to cook over the open flame. To his modest suprise, the dogs had no intention of eating the meat raw, but instead had were intent on making a BBQ out of the prey.
Soon the winter sun began to set and Mane found himself on a campout with a pack of dogs. This close to Chi-Town there was little danger of monster attack, but the pack posted a sentry just the same as a precaution. Other than that, the atmosphere was quite jovial and a positive comarderie was thick in the air.
Finally, Mane had to ask. "Okay! What gives! You guys are fuckin' Kill Hounds! Emphasis on kill, and not a lot else! You're monsters like me, with more blood on your hands than slaughter house! But none of you act like it. Doesn't it weigh you down?"
At first the dogs stared at Mane blankly. The silence was undercut by the background sounds of the forest and nature's night life. Finally it was Ruger, the pack leader, who broke the silence. "We've all be there. Everyone of us here. Why do you think we were kicked out of the regular army? But we found a differen't way."
Frustrated, Mane gesticulated his hands in mid air. "Different way?!? There is no other way!! We kill, and we either become monsters or learn to hate ourselves!"
Instead of getting angy in return, or hostile in any way, Ruger simply smiled, softly wagged his tail, and placed his hand on Mane's shoulder. "Friend, I'm here to tell you there is indeed a different way. And the best part is the secret... isn't even a secret. I'm going to help you find it. WE are going to help you find it."
On Leave - Day 3
Mane sat there in the uncomfortable chair, nervous and more affraid than he had been in his entire life. But Ruger was there right by his side to give him support in this difficult task.
"Go ahead. I believe in you. You can do it." the Mastiff said in support.
With a slow inhale to gather his strength, Mane stood up and addressed the small gathering, asembled in a small room, all their chairs in a sociable circle of equals.
"Hello .... my name is Mane .... and I'm a murder'holic."
"Hi Mane!" came the reply of a dozen sympathetic, supportive voices.
Re: Downtime! Three Days of Leave
The screen flickered to life as the connection was made. A middle-aged woman with kind eyes stared back at him as a small voice screamed from behind her. ”EGAN!” Shar's youngest sat on a pile of pallets bouncing around in excitement.
”She'll be happy you called, let me go get her.” Said Shar before she moved out of frame leaving Egan to stare at Kim and her growing mischievous smile.
As their epic facing making battle reached its crescendo and Egan was contorting in ways that were now actually causing himself physical discomfort, he heard someone clear their throat. The speed in which both parties snapped back to 'normal' when clearly caught in the act was comical. Egan looked over at the new figure standing just in the frame, her blond hair piled up on top of her head, arms crossed with one hand half hiding the big smile stamped on her face. Upon seeing Cindy, a smile spread over the young scouts face before with feigned innocence, he threw his opponent under the proverbial bus with the words: ”She started it.”
Cindy's laugh was music to Egan's ears as Kim puffed out her cheeks in a pout. ”Do you want me to yell at the big evil man?” Cindy asked as she bent over to be face to face with the little girl.
Kim giggled and shook her head as her sweet little voice exclaimed: ”He's not evil, he's just silly!”
”That he is. Let me talk to him, okay?” Kim nodded before hopping down from the pallets she had been sitting on and with an enthusiastic wave her little voice called out ”Bye Egan.” before skipping out of sight.
”Bye Kim.” Egan's voice cracked as he called out after her.
”So, do we get to see you in person?” Cindy asked in a hopeful tone as the screen flickered a little.
Egan sighed as he shook his head slowly. ”No. I have three days, but you guys are too far out. We need to be close enough that if the call comes we can move quickly.”
”Oh.” came her reply, the disappointment very apparent in her tone. She wiped something away from the corner of her eye, but when she spoke her voice was almost back to normal. ”So, what are you planning on doing for those three days?”
”I figured I'd take a stroll down memory lane here in the Burbs. Keeps me in range and I haven't really been out there in a while.” Egan stated softly as the screen flickered again. -Damn, I disappointed her.-
”Oh, so your gonna see Mable then?” Her voice sounded forced.
”Well, I...” Egan began before she cut him off, hands now planted firmly on her hips. ”Don't tell me you were just going to go around taking care of some problems for her, or making things happen without even saying hi.” Egan opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off again. ”You were, that's exactly what you planned to do wasn't it? You know people want to see you right?”
” I do,” Began Egan's reply. ”And I want to see some people too.”
”Yeah, right.” Snapped Cindy before she covered her mouth upon seeing his hurt expression. ”I'm sorry.” She began in a soft voice. ”I know you wanted to come out here, I could tell. I guess I wanted you to come out here more than I realized. It's not your fault, but I was taking it out on you and that was wrong.”
”It's okay..” he began before she cut him off again, this time with a soft but forceful voice. ”No. No, it isn't. I'm sorry, I just want....” she paused for a moment before continuing. ”I don't want you dwelling in the past. Call John at least. He called here two days ago all excited about joining the ISS like his parents. I guess the girl you introduced him to made him want to do something with his life. Amy sounds like a good thing for him, but from what I gathered he didn't have many people to call to share in the moment....so will you at least call him for me? Please?”
Egan looked at Cindy's face, her eyes glistening as he reached towards the screen but stopped, realizing that he couldn't comfort her like he wanted to. With a sad smile he simply said. ”I will.”
”Thank you.” She said with a sniffle. Cindy kissed her fingers before planting them on the screen and whispering. ”I miss you.”
The screen turned black as the call ended, leaving Egan to stare at his reflection reaching out towards the screen.
- Well, that could have gone better....-
Burbs
They say if you walk down the right alley out in the Burbs that you can find anything that you could ever desire, however, walk down the wrong one and all your worries end. Never have so many people gathered that did not exist in one place. Millions huddle in the shadow of the great walls of Chi-Town, hoping, begging to gain access to the comfort and privilege that comes from being able to live inside its sheltering embrace. But outside, outside the Coalition could nuke these towns out of existence without even batting an eye if they so choose, because the people out here have no rights, they don't really exist in the eyes of the Coalition.
The Burbie's rights were on full display as Egan exited an alleyway and stood watching a flight of SAMAS and Skycycles race overhead in patterns, and squads moved through the streets during this shakedown. If they ran, they were insurgents. If they didn't, they were well disciplined insurgents. Vague thoughts and memories of being pushed into soft dirt (by tires or was it treads) swirled in Egan's head as he glanced over and half expected to see the Enforcer start dancing but it just stood still, a silent sentinel observing the area.
”Hey!” A voice calling out brought Egan back to the reality before him. -Shit- He looked over and watched as two grunts peeled off a nearby squad, approaching him with weapons at the ready. As they got closer the call came again starting strong and commanding, but then trailing off into uncertainty. ”Hey.....Umm....move along?”
”Yes sir, thank you sir, absolutely sir.” Egan fired off in rapid succession to the Private as he quickly back into the alley he came out of and disappeared into the labyrinth of alleys and dead ends. The IFF in his old armor not set to broadcast, but equipment that knew the correct handshake would still get pulsed the info. It took two hours for Egan to snake his way around the operation zone and to his final destination.
In a cut out, down a side street Egan found the last store that he was looking for. Walking in the door to the small shop, the smells of fertilizer and grow chemicals assaulted his nose as he opened his suits visor. The only other person in the place was an older gentleman who sat behind the counter, and as the sound of the chime died out, he took his glasses off and set down a beat up tablet. ”Afternoon.” came his gruff voice. ”What can I do for you?”
”I'm here to pay off a tab and put some extra on the account for future use.” Egan said in an upbeat tone as he flashed a hand gesture while he approached the counter. The man grunted, then got up from his seat. Egan started to gesture again, but the old man cut him off.
”Yeah, Yeah. I seen.” the man said as he put his glasses back on and looked over some books behind him. Selecting one he pulled it out and dropped it on the counter with a thud. ”That's an old one. So you must be one of her firsts.” The man flipped open the book and browsed a few pages before apparently finding the correct entry. ”It's even.” the man just looked up at Egan and waited.
”Okay, two transactions then. 5000 black on the books for them to use, and 1000 black for management and discretion.” Egan stated as he pulled out his unsecured black card and placed it on the counter.
”Bah.” quipped the old man as he took the card and slotted it. ”Won't take your money to manage shit. Six grand on the books seeing that most of that will end up back in the community getting gardens up and running for food when the weather turns. They're good people. Her kids rather do an honest days work then try and swipe or swindle. We need more like them in this world. Sides, I feel like giving back to the community so there’s your discretion.” The old man gave Egan a smile as he pulled six thousand off the card and gave it back before marking the book and replacing it on the shelf. Egan took back his card and knocked twice on the counter before thanking the man and making his way back outside, the suits visor sealing back up before he made the door.
Outside town
The light was slowly fading as Egan finally made it to the outskirts of of the Burbs. The sprawl had spread out even further since he had left, what was a thirty minute walk only took ten before he came upon the game trail he used to use. Years of overgrowth had hidden it well, the scout actually walked past the opening, having to backtrack when things failed to match up to his memory. Easily hopping over the overgrown entrance, Egan found the still active game trail forty feet from the road. Picking up the pace, Egan flew along the game trail eventually coming to a fork. To the left the game trail would dump out on a larger trail which was used by the homesteaders that lived out here, right would take him deeper into the forest to the clearing in which he had lived for the last few years before he joined.
Having gone left, Egan settled down on the edge of where the game trail met the small road and switched over to low-light as the sun set. The homesteader road looked completely unused and it appeared to have been that way for a while. Zooming in with his suits optics, Egan noticed the gate twisted and hanging from a single hinge and no roof where one should have been. An easy hop brought him down lightly next to the destroyed gate and showed him the reason for the missing roof. Charred timbers and blackened stone stood as testament to why the building had collapsed. Trudging through the snow, Egan moved around to the back of the building to where a seven year old oak tree stood in the overgrown yard. Burrowing down at the base of the tree, Egan found what he was looking for and pulled out a lump of decomposing wood. As he slowly turned it over in his hands, a small voice seemed to whisper right in his left ear. ”Whatcha doing?” Egan spun around reaching for his pistol as ghostly giggles seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
For two days Egan enjoyed the stillness and solitude that being at his old haunt afforded him. The platform he had built in the branches of a massive oak tree was still solid in most places, but in a few years nature would reclaim it. Hunting for his food and working on a project made the days both seem to last forever yet pass in a blink of an eye. Soon he found himself packing things back up and moving back towards the armored city, and as he left, at the base of a seven year old oak tree now cleared of the surrounding snow sat a beautifully craved stallion flicking its mane as it reared up.
Back to work
Walking back into 'civilization' saddened Egan, the noisy, bustling people crowding the streets was the exact opposite of what he had just enjoyed experiencing. Shrugging off the disappointment, Egan made his way to Karl's Revenge in Firetown to meet John for a night of celebration. After being called a 'crazy son of a bitch' and getting the nickname 'camper' for the night after some people overheard their conversation. The tab wasn't as bad as it could have been considering the fifty percent discount for active military, a couple of rounds for the bar still put a dent in his secure card. Cheers for Humanity still rang in his ears as he got back to his bunk, and while taking a shower to wash the grime off before he hit the sack.
”She'll be happy you called, let me go get her.” Said Shar before she moved out of frame leaving Egan to stare at Kim and her growing mischievous smile.
As their epic facing making battle reached its crescendo and Egan was contorting in ways that were now actually causing himself physical discomfort, he heard someone clear their throat. The speed in which both parties snapped back to 'normal' when clearly caught in the act was comical. Egan looked over at the new figure standing just in the frame, her blond hair piled up on top of her head, arms crossed with one hand half hiding the big smile stamped on her face. Upon seeing Cindy, a smile spread over the young scouts face before with feigned innocence, he threw his opponent under the proverbial bus with the words: ”She started it.”
Cindy's laugh was music to Egan's ears as Kim puffed out her cheeks in a pout. ”Do you want me to yell at the big evil man?” Cindy asked as she bent over to be face to face with the little girl.
Kim giggled and shook her head as her sweet little voice exclaimed: ”He's not evil, he's just silly!”
”That he is. Let me talk to him, okay?” Kim nodded before hopping down from the pallets she had been sitting on and with an enthusiastic wave her little voice called out ”Bye Egan.” before skipping out of sight.
”Bye Kim.” Egan's voice cracked as he called out after her.
”So, do we get to see you in person?” Cindy asked in a hopeful tone as the screen flickered a little.
Egan sighed as he shook his head slowly. ”No. I have three days, but you guys are too far out. We need to be close enough that if the call comes we can move quickly.”
”Oh.” came her reply, the disappointment very apparent in her tone. She wiped something away from the corner of her eye, but when she spoke her voice was almost back to normal. ”So, what are you planning on doing for those three days?”
”I figured I'd take a stroll down memory lane here in the Burbs. Keeps me in range and I haven't really been out there in a while.” Egan stated softly as the screen flickered again. -Damn, I disappointed her.-
”Oh, so your gonna see Mable then?” Her voice sounded forced.
”Well, I...” Egan began before she cut him off, hands now planted firmly on her hips. ”Don't tell me you were just going to go around taking care of some problems for her, or making things happen without even saying hi.” Egan opened his mouth to respond, but she cut him off again. ”You were, that's exactly what you planned to do wasn't it? You know people want to see you right?”
” I do,” Began Egan's reply. ”And I want to see some people too.”
”Yeah, right.” Snapped Cindy before she covered her mouth upon seeing his hurt expression. ”I'm sorry.” She began in a soft voice. ”I know you wanted to come out here, I could tell. I guess I wanted you to come out here more than I realized. It's not your fault, but I was taking it out on you and that was wrong.”
”It's okay..” he began before she cut him off again, this time with a soft but forceful voice. ”No. No, it isn't. I'm sorry, I just want....” she paused for a moment before continuing. ”I don't want you dwelling in the past. Call John at least. He called here two days ago all excited about joining the ISS like his parents. I guess the girl you introduced him to made him want to do something with his life. Amy sounds like a good thing for him, but from what I gathered he didn't have many people to call to share in the moment....so will you at least call him for me? Please?”
Egan looked at Cindy's face, her eyes glistening as he reached towards the screen but stopped, realizing that he couldn't comfort her like he wanted to. With a sad smile he simply said. ”I will.”
”Thank you.” She said with a sniffle. Cindy kissed her fingers before planting them on the screen and whispering. ”I miss you.”
The screen turned black as the call ended, leaving Egan to stare at his reflection reaching out towards the screen.
- Well, that could have gone better....-
Burbs
They say if you walk down the right alley out in the Burbs that you can find anything that you could ever desire, however, walk down the wrong one and all your worries end. Never have so many people gathered that did not exist in one place. Millions huddle in the shadow of the great walls of Chi-Town, hoping, begging to gain access to the comfort and privilege that comes from being able to live inside its sheltering embrace. But outside, outside the Coalition could nuke these towns out of existence without even batting an eye if they so choose, because the people out here have no rights, they don't really exist in the eyes of the Coalition.
The Burbie's rights were on full display as Egan exited an alleyway and stood watching a flight of SAMAS and Skycycles race overhead in patterns, and squads moved through the streets during this shakedown. If they ran, they were insurgents. If they didn't, they were well disciplined insurgents. Vague thoughts and memories of being pushed into soft dirt (by tires or was it treads) swirled in Egan's head as he glanced over and half expected to see the Enforcer start dancing but it just stood still, a silent sentinel observing the area.
”Hey!” A voice calling out brought Egan back to the reality before him. -Shit- He looked over and watched as two grunts peeled off a nearby squad, approaching him with weapons at the ready. As they got closer the call came again starting strong and commanding, but then trailing off into uncertainty. ”Hey.....Umm....move along?”
”Yes sir, thank you sir, absolutely sir.” Egan fired off in rapid succession to the Private as he quickly back into the alley he came out of and disappeared into the labyrinth of alleys and dead ends. The IFF in his old armor not set to broadcast, but equipment that knew the correct handshake would still get pulsed the info. It took two hours for Egan to snake his way around the operation zone and to his final destination.
In a cut out, down a side street Egan found the last store that he was looking for. Walking in the door to the small shop, the smells of fertilizer and grow chemicals assaulted his nose as he opened his suits visor. The only other person in the place was an older gentleman who sat behind the counter, and as the sound of the chime died out, he took his glasses off and set down a beat up tablet. ”Afternoon.” came his gruff voice. ”What can I do for you?”
”I'm here to pay off a tab and put some extra on the account for future use.” Egan said in an upbeat tone as he flashed a hand gesture while he approached the counter. The man grunted, then got up from his seat. Egan started to gesture again, but the old man cut him off.
”Yeah, Yeah. I seen.” the man said as he put his glasses back on and looked over some books behind him. Selecting one he pulled it out and dropped it on the counter with a thud. ”That's an old one. So you must be one of her firsts.” The man flipped open the book and browsed a few pages before apparently finding the correct entry. ”It's even.” the man just looked up at Egan and waited.
”Okay, two transactions then. 5000 black on the books for them to use, and 1000 black for management and discretion.” Egan stated as he pulled out his unsecured black card and placed it on the counter.
”Bah.” quipped the old man as he took the card and slotted it. ”Won't take your money to manage shit. Six grand on the books seeing that most of that will end up back in the community getting gardens up and running for food when the weather turns. They're good people. Her kids rather do an honest days work then try and swipe or swindle. We need more like them in this world. Sides, I feel like giving back to the community so there’s your discretion.” The old man gave Egan a smile as he pulled six thousand off the card and gave it back before marking the book and replacing it on the shelf. Egan took back his card and knocked twice on the counter before thanking the man and making his way back outside, the suits visor sealing back up before he made the door.
Outside town
The light was slowly fading as Egan finally made it to the outskirts of of the Burbs. The sprawl had spread out even further since he had left, what was a thirty minute walk only took ten before he came upon the game trail he used to use. Years of overgrowth had hidden it well, the scout actually walked past the opening, having to backtrack when things failed to match up to his memory. Easily hopping over the overgrown entrance, Egan found the still active game trail forty feet from the road. Picking up the pace, Egan flew along the game trail eventually coming to a fork. To the left the game trail would dump out on a larger trail which was used by the homesteaders that lived out here, right would take him deeper into the forest to the clearing in which he had lived for the last few years before he joined.
Having gone left, Egan settled down on the edge of where the game trail met the small road and switched over to low-light as the sun set. The homesteader road looked completely unused and it appeared to have been that way for a while. Zooming in with his suits optics, Egan noticed the gate twisted and hanging from a single hinge and no roof where one should have been. An easy hop brought him down lightly next to the destroyed gate and showed him the reason for the missing roof. Charred timbers and blackened stone stood as testament to why the building had collapsed. Trudging through the snow, Egan moved around to the back of the building to where a seven year old oak tree stood in the overgrown yard. Burrowing down at the base of the tree, Egan found what he was looking for and pulled out a lump of decomposing wood. As he slowly turned it over in his hands, a small voice seemed to whisper right in his left ear. ”Whatcha doing?” Egan spun around reaching for his pistol as ghostly giggles seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere.
For two days Egan enjoyed the stillness and solitude that being at his old haunt afforded him. The platform he had built in the branches of a massive oak tree was still solid in most places, but in a few years nature would reclaim it. Hunting for his food and working on a project made the days both seem to last forever yet pass in a blink of an eye. Soon he found himself packing things back up and moving back towards the armored city, and as he left, at the base of a seven year old oak tree now cleared of the surrounding snow sat a beautifully craved stallion flicking its mane as it reared up.
Back to work
Walking back into 'civilization' saddened Egan, the noisy, bustling people crowding the streets was the exact opposite of what he had just enjoyed experiencing. Shrugging off the disappointment, Egan made his way to Karl's Revenge in Firetown to meet John for a night of celebration. After being called a 'crazy son of a bitch' and getting the nickname 'camper' for the night after some people overheard their conversation. The tab wasn't as bad as it could have been considering the fifty percent discount for active military, a couple of rounds for the bar still put a dent in his secure card. Cheers for Humanity still rang in his ears as he got back to his bunk, and while taking a shower to wash the grime off before he hit the sack.
-
Culter
Re: Downtime! Three Days of Leave
[Day One]
Returning Home; Level 36
A few days of leave was always regarded with great importance among the Culter family, as a military and industrial family, the parents rarely got to see their children, and never at the same time. This leave was different, as the entire Culter Family would find itself under the same roof for the first time in several years. Due in no small part to Jedrek Culter, a well known military advisor and the father, as well as Camilia Anderson-Culter, a major stockholder in Biotechnic Industrial Designs and their former CFO before retirement, the family was quite politically connected. This also meant they knew about their children's leave time before the child found out more often than not, and this was no exception.
***
Culter rolls his shoulders and rubs the back of his neck as he gazes out on the 36th level of the fortress city. I feel so out of place. He often thinks to himself as he walks down the causeways in his dress uniform. Though feeling out of place, he certainly isn't as he passes several locations he frequents whenever he is on leave. The owner of one higher-society coffee and diner shops rushes out as he passes by.
"Everett! Welcome home, you bloody badass. How goes life in the field, I heard you got a new unit assignment?!" His old family friend, Derrick Jameson, asked while greeting him. Jameson has run this outlet for well over twenty years, and was a former Spec Ops with the Coalition during the height of the war, retired now, of course. But the man still had connections and knew things well outside of his purview.
"Derrick!" Culter returns the greeting with a friendly hug. "You know I can't talk about that, man." Culter adds with an acknowledging and reaffirming grin. Culter doesn't confirm or deny anything, but the silent smile says enough that Derrick clasps him on the shoulder with a nod of approval.
"So, will I see you here later?" Derrick asks of Culter, then leaning in, "You know, Ashley's been asking about you recently. She has a shift later tonight if you want to stop by and catch up." Derrick adds. Culter nods and extends his hand and the two shake hands. "Thanks, Derrick. I'd love to see her, gotta catch up with family first though. I'll be in touch, I'm here for a couple days." Culter finishes and the two then sets off to his family's estate.
***
Upon walking in, he's greeted by his family's butler, Jorey who greets him with a bow and escorts him to the family main room where he is immediately tackled to the ground by the younger body of his younger brother, Michael. "Welcome Back, Bro! I Got Ya!" Michael shouts from behind and seems to be truly trying to get Everett into a headlock. The special forces zapper glances around and sees his dad standing on the other side of the room with a smile, and then nods when they make eye contact. That was all the approval Everett needed as he flips his leg around and triangle chokes his brother, rolling out of the lock and onto his feet and pinning his brother, face down, to the ground in an arm-bar.
"Hey Bro, Nice to see you too!" Everett responds with a smile before adding "You need to work on your ground game, you're out of practice. Have you been slacking off at training?" He asks jestingly before his eyes go wide as Michael spins on the ground, out of the arm-bar and throwing Everett onto his back with an elbow against his throat. Everett responds with a smile and a tap-tap on his brother's shoulder before adding "Ha, maybe you aren't." The two get up and embrace as their father walks over and joins the hug.
"Welcome home, son. Samantha and Dean are already here." He adds, causing Everett to glance around and his smile tightens.
"And Tony?" Everett asks and he sees a light grimace appear on Michael's face as his father answers him.
"Anthony... well, he may not be coming this time. Seems like his work with ISS is keeping him too busy to come say hi, or so he says." His father answers and Culter nods, knowingly. Anthony never cared much for either Everett nor Samantha, he viewed them both as an oddity and anomaly in an otherwise perfect upper-class family.
Sam walks into the room and embraces Everett as the four of them head over to the table. "Welcome back, Ev. We've got some things to talk about. After dinner?" Sam asks him quietly and he nods.
"Sure, we can hit up Derrick's place after dinner and talk." Everett suggests and she nods. Her tone was very solemn at the mention of talking and Everett was growing concerned. Though, it quickly washed away as the Culter family enjoyed a nice and beautiful dinner fit only for the upper-class. Everything that Everett loved to eat was there and delicious, as it has always been. Everett exchanged war stories of an unclassified sort, generalizing and embellishing things for the entertainment of his younger brothers while his father looked on with pride and a knowing smile of I've seen your mission reports, I know what you are actually doing, but thank you for lying.
Nearing 1900, Sam and Everett find themselves at Derrick's place with a happy pair of lava chocolate cakes and a welcome greeting from Ashley. "So, are you two going on a date yet?" Sam asks quietly to which Everett just scoffs with a smile and shakes his head. "Nah, not yet. Maybe this weekend though. You said you had something important to talk about?" Everett asks and Sam nods, dropping her spoon and looking at Everett.
"Ev, Anthony is missing. Dad didn't want to worry you during your leave." She says quietly and Everett nearly jumps out of his seat as he feels his muscles tense and he forces a nodas he swallows a bite of the cake.
"Okay, what do we know?" Everett asks, falling into his tactical mind, and his sister smiles.
"I knew you'd help. Okay. He's been with the ISS for years now, started as a Peacekeeper as you know, then he got moved to the Intelligence Community and he's been dubbed a Specter; one of their best according to father. Following that, he moved to NTSET; he opted for it. I'm still with the Investigator's branch." She says quietly, taking another bite of her cake. "Now, Within the past month, he dropped off the grid entirely, not even dad or myself knows why, but his last assignment was investigating an unregistered psychic and the murder of a human citizen in the Burbs. I was going to help him, but he still has a distaste for even registered psychics, even family. I don't think he'll ever get over that. Either way, we need to help him." Sam finishes to which Culter nods and takes a drink.
"Well, so much for a quiet leave. Let's go check it out. I could honestly care less for his prejudice, he's still our brother, even if he's an ignorant shit sometimes." Everett responds with a shrug and then the two get up and pay Derrick before heading out.
"Right, we need to be careful. Luckily for us, I have discretionary authority." Sam adds with a cheeky grin as Everett shakes his head at his sister’s glee, the two make their way down to the elevators.
[Day 1.5-2]
Midnight at the Burbs
It was just after 2300 hours as Everett and Sam arrived in the Burbs of Chi-Town. The two were able to navigate with minimal scrutiny, and it only took Sam flashing her ID once, and another group of guards recognized Everett from his time prior to Psi-Bat; including a former Dog-Pack senior dog-boy, Rowen.
”Well, well. If it isn’t Everett Culter. Fort Desparado; you saved my life, and that of Commander Goeletti.” The older and strong Dog-Boy mentioned. Rowen was with the psi-stalker, Goeletti, whom both were saved when Culter used his own armor to intercept them. Rowen is a wolfhound who has been in service for nearly two decades, his grey and silver hair denote his age against his pure white fur. He is also quite large for the standard dog-boy, standing at nearly 3m high with obvious strength, he was an oddity among other dogboys for his size, comparable to a wolfen dbee; he was also among the most articulate of dogboys Culter has ever met.
Everett, who always had a great deal of love and respect for the dogboys he has served with, has no problem embracing the older dogboy. ”Rowen, I’m glad you still are able to be active. I didn’t expect to see you guarding the burbs entryway.” Everett admits.
”Turns out I injured one of my legs during that scuffle and was given an honorable discharge from active service; I requested joining the CS Police here in Chi-Town last year.” Rowen responds, then looks to Sam and nods his head. ”Sergeant Culter, it is good to see you.” He adds before looking at them both. ”What brings you both to the burbs, if I may?” Rowen asks, to which the siblings look at each other and Everett nods. Sam speaks up, loud enough only for the dogboy to hear.
”We’re hunting our brother. He vanished in the burbs sometime this month and no one can give us a clear answer. We’re just here to ruffle some feathers.” She says and both siblings notice the dogboys wolf-like ears twitch. He glances around and looks to the other guards on shift with him who are busy with someone trying to get into the city before speaking.
”I saw him a week or so ago. I might be able to trace his scent.” Rowen offers before Sam shakes her head.
”No, no. I couldn’t ask you to leave your post, this is not a sanctioned event. Besides… it’s family business.” She answers and the large dogboy lowers himself to her and Everett’s eye level before responding.
”Were it not for Everett, I would not be alive. You two have been kind to me through my years of service; I consider you as family. My shift over at midnight, go on. I’ll catch up.” Rowen responds and then returns to his post before either sibling can attempt to argue the point further. Sam turns to Everett who shrugs with a smile.
”I served with him in AD for several years, we couldn’t ask for better back up.” Everett responds and Sam just shrugs in resignation and the two make their way into the burbs.
***
The two were wandering the burbs, specifically the new town burb of Tranquility, where violence of coalition forces is not uncommon. Neither sibling knew exactly what they were looking for, but both had a great deal of training in dealing with unknown threats and quickly fell into their ways.
Everett, dawned in a long black overcoat and beanie, looked not unlike a denizen of the town, falling into the ways of the locals thanks to his counterintelligence training. Sam, likewise, was wearing a dark leather coat and hat, with dark clothing underneath.
Visiting a few run-down shacks that pass as bars over the course of the hour, they leave the third one as Everett elbows his sister. She glances at him and notices his rather serious expression as her peripherals catch the glimpse of several silhouettes following them down an alleyway. As the two siblings make eye contact, a sly grin creeps on each of their faces as they both are thinking the same thing. This is exactly what they needed, some local denizens to separate themselves from public view for information. Two unsuspecting humans would make easy targets, or so most would think.
When they round the corner, they turn and stop, relaxed and waiting for their followers to round the corner. When their pursuers round the corner; each sibling does a quick headcount. Three humans, two d-bees; one dbee looks like a lizard, the other looks like a long-necked human with rather large spikes protruding from its forearms. Each dbee stands just under seven feet tall.
”Well, well, well. Lookie here, friends. We got us a couple chocolate bars, I’ve been needing something sweet for a few days.” The larger lizard dbee snarls to which Everett rolls his eyes. It’s been a long time since he’s heard a skin-tone slur, even one as bad as that. Everett quickly examines the five that approached them, identifying the lizard as a Seljuk after it spoke.
”So, a Seljuk, five humans and a polearm walk into an alley.” Everett starts sarcastically with a grin as Sam continues. ”Oh, I know this one; and two humans walk out.” She answers as her fists begin to flare.
The Seljuk snarls and lashes out with long sharp claws before impacting a painful electrical field, prompting a small shockwave to be unleashed that causes Everett’s coat to flow with the shockwave as his hands remain in his pocket, though his smile is unmistakable. He reaches his hand out through the electrical field that the Seljuk is connected to and touches his chest, prompting the Seljuk to hiss and jump back, leaving a black scorch mark on its chest.
Sam walks forward, her body beginning to become engulfed in fire as her smile is also apparent to the five unsuspecting pursuers. ”Come now, don’t you want to play with some hot chocolate?” She says, rather playfully though the five step back. Obviously not expecting such resistance, they turn to leave only to see a looming shadow over them from behind. Standing taller than the two dbees was Rowen, the large wolfhound dogboy. Bearing his large teeth, the dogboy snarls as he speaks. ”You chose the wrong pack to fuck with. We bite back.” Rowen growls low and his eyes glisten.
”Shit, a fucken Wolfen. Damn it.” One of the humans mutters as Rowen sniffs and curls his nostrils.
Everett clasps his hands together and releases his electrical field, approaching the Seljuk. ”So, let’s restart. We’re looking for someone, and you’re going to help us. Don’t, and my friend here will finally get to make a fresh kill.” Everett states, nodding his head to the large dogboy they happily mistake for a wolfen.
After a few minutes of interrogation, the trio leave the alleyway with the other five, who now have become the equivalent to guides to the trio, thanks to some persuasion. A group of eight is much more challenging to randomly attack, and the dogboy was keeping a sharp eye on them. The Seljuk was obviously waiting for a chance to rip Everett apart, and Rowen knew that. So far, the trio has kept their affiliation to the Coalition quiet; Rowen’s large size helped deter the thought of him being a dogboy.
Commanded, the five took the trio to a clustered series of buildings where one of the gang leaders in Tranquility claimed it as home. A Cyber Snatcher gang called The Pincers was on the ISS list as low to moderate threat level. Their leader, a woman named Helena Blake, was an underground cyber-doc with access to a great deal of illegal modifications in Coalition territory. Sam remembers her name crossing the charts as a potential target for Specter removal, before the topic was dropped a few months ago. As good a place to start as any.
The eight walked into the compound and were under heavy scrutiny from the members there, removing the two pistols carried by Sam and Everett, as well as the weapons by the other five, before being shown the rest of the way. Rowen was keeping his nose low and had a strong scent of Everett’s brother.
Once inside, they were brought before Helena who was sitting on what looked like a high-tech computer throne chair. Everett scoffs and mutters ”Someone thinks highly of themselves.” Prompting Sam to smile, scoff and shake her head as Helena leans forward with a scowl.
”Why, yes, I do. And you should really understand what you just walked into, I could have you killed where you stand, your bodies eradicated and no one would be the wiser.” She threatens prompting Everett to shrug. He was familiar with playing the part of an outlaw.
”Sure. But then you’d never figure out why we were here, what we wanted or could offer you.” Everett begins prompting Helena to sit back and narrow her eyes.
”You come to my home in the dead of night with a rather large escort of vagabonds. No weapons to speak of. No cybernetics to speak of. What, exactly, do you have to offer me.”
Sam speaks up, remembering Helena’s dossier from the ISS. ”You have a need for experimental tech. We have that need.” She answers, before opening her arms and offering, ”Look, I have a small storehouse a few blocks away with some tech I’ve been trying to move. Come with me, we can leave some of my crew here as collateral.” Sam offers, prompting Helena to stand and walk towards her. Sam’s level of persuasion is high, and Everett can tell his sister has done her time on the streets and is used to the environment as well.
”Hmm. Fine, we’ll see what you have. Take these six to the holding rooms. If it pans out, we’ll compensate you for your time, if it doesn’t, easy to kill you if you're in one spot. No funny business.”
Helena and an entourage of half a dozen escort Sam and one of the other humans out as Everett made a point to stay back. Escorted to the holding rooms, the six now sit and wait. The Seljuk stares daggers at Everett for, what he believes, as ending his life by walking him into this gang’s headquarters. Everett, however, doesn’t care, and moves to Rowen.
”He’s here. His scent is strong. Blood.” Rowen whispers to Everett who nods. He glances at his newfound allies with a sly grin.
”Hey, seljuk, what’d you say your name was?” Everett asks.
”I didn’t. It’s Tarsque, humans call me Q cause my name is hard to pronounce.” He answers and Culter extends a hand.
”Well, Tarsque, what say we break out of this room and wreak havoc on this gang.” Everett responds, pronouncing his name properly, prompting the Seljuk to cock his head and stand, nodding.
”I might’ve misjudged you, human.” Tarsque responds and Culter smiles, snapping his fingers, everyone feels a tingle in the room as the lights flicker and the camera light dies. They hear the door unlock as he Culter looks to the door.
”So did they.” Culter answers, prompting the Seljuk to offer a toothy grin as they move.
The inhabitants of the building were not prepared for the carnage that followed, as Cyber Snatchers were lowly regarding by all for their murderous ways. Culter extends his electrical control and causes the entire building to lose power, making it go dark in the dead of night. He drains the power of every radio and camera within his range in a manner of minutes. The Seljuk and the Polearm, silent Dbee begin to shred their way through the unsuspecting, mostly human group, with their human friends following them. Culter and Rowen take an opposite direction, with Culter following Rowen’s lead.
They head down several levels, the dogboy shredding through his share of occupants. They pass several rooms designated as chop-shops where the smell of blood and residue permeates the area. Rowen snarls, ”Yeah, we are shutting these guys down.” Rowen snarls and continues down with Everett in tow.
They find their way to a holding cell with several humans and a few dogboys chained to a wall. Everett immediately identifies his brother, and his eyes flash pure-white with a hint of blue as he shocks the cell door open, nearly blowing it off its hinges. He glances at Rowen, ”Cover me.”
Everett moves in and gives his brother a minor electrical shock that wakes him up. ”Ah, What!? Back the Fuck Up, Cyber Shitter!” Anthony shouted and before Everett could respond, felt a pair of powerful legs impact his chest, staggering him back before he heard his brother gasp. ”What the fuck are you doing here, Everett?”
Everett shrugs, ”Rescuing you it seems like. What are you doing here?” Everett responds nonchalantly as he removes the restraints and helps his brother stand.
”Tch. I was sent to investigate the disappearance of one of our patrols out here. I tracked them here. They're still alive though barely. We need to get them to the city, and I am going to recommend culling this gang.” Anthony states, rubbing his wrists before moving to the other restrained prisoners. Everett shakes his head.
”Got you covered there. I met a rather detestable seljuk and polearm dbee who are currently cutting their way through the majority of these guys. Sam’s got Helena preoccupied, we can go ambush them.” Everett responds, and helps uncuff them. He moves to the dogboys first, noticing two of the three are females who look badly hurt. He looks to Anthony. ”What happened to these ones?”
Anthony looks over solemnly at his brother and sighs. Anthony knows how much respect his brother has for dogboys, and though the Specter would never admit it, he kept tabs on his brother to make sure he stayed alive during his service. ”Tortured; for no other reason than they enjoyed hearing their yelps.”
Everett’s face hardens and Anthony genuinely steps back as he sees his brother begin to radiate with electricity. Rolling his neck, Everett forces himself to kneel down and removes the restraints of the dogboys. ”Hey, what’s your name?” He says softly to the first one, a female wolfhound, smaller in stature to Rowen and obviously younger by at least a decade.
Her eyes blink open and she spots Everett, hesitantly she answers, ”Harley. Who are you?”
”Name’s Everett Culter. Come, let’s get your pack up and out of here.” Everett responds, prompting a wide eyed response from the wolfhound doggirl who seems to recognize the name.
The two brothers wake and help everyone up to their feet, as Rowen looks back. ”Everett, we have company.”
Everett nods and looks to the newly freed squad of coalition forces, ”Well, ready for some revenge?”
He sees the troop nod as Anthony steps forward. ”As an NTSET Specter, I hereby grant you all tentative NTSET status. You’ll help us Cull this building. We have a group of friendlies on the upper level we will allow to live; when Everett identifies anyone to be spared, listen. All members of this gang are culled tonight, by any means necessary.” Anthony states, rather coldly then looks to his brother with a small smile, Everett moves to a dispatched gang member and tosses his brother a pistol and the group departs back to the upper levels.
Everett looks to his brother, ”If Blake hasn’t figured it out by now, she soon will and Sam is outnumbered. Let’s go get her. Rowen can lead these to success.”
***
Sam takes Helena down several blocks slowly, giving her brother time to get in and do his thing while the boss is out. She makes small talk with Helena before she hears one of Helena’s entourage stop them.
”Boss, we just lost contact with the House.”
”Shit, I knew this was a trap, get back to the House, now!” Helena shouts before her eyes light up as she sees a wall of flames erupt behind them. Turning to look at Sam and one of the humans, she sees Sam engulfed in a burning fire that makes her shield her eyes as she hears Sam speak.
”Now, now. Leaving so soon? Sorry, Miss Blake. You’ve just been the unwitting accomplish of a sting. Lay down your arms, now, and you might be allowed to live.” Sam orders, revealing her connection to the ISS and, unsanctioned or not, the threat of Coalition Retaliation was usually enough to get anyone to back down.
Helena scoffs and spits towards the burster. ”Tch. Fuckin’ Burster. You psychic fucks are one step away from being murdered by your own government.” Helena says as her escort slowly begins to circle Sam and one of the ruffians. ”I’ll handle that for them, though.” She says, leveling her weapon at Sam and firing.
The round splashes off of Sam’s fiery aura and the buster begins to systematically attack the members of the entourage. Helena and Sam trade firebolt to plasma bolt as the ruffian with Sam disarms one of the escorts and jumps for cover. Figuring he’d be best to stay with the devils he knows, the ruffian supports Sam and fires on the escorts and Helena as best as he is able.
Ducking for cover after her fiery aura dissipates, she hears Helena over the scorching sound of her flames that surround them. ”Come on, burster. You’re outnumbered here, just come out and die. You’ve lost your choice to surrender!”
Sam pauses and shakes her head before shouting back to her. ”I was just going to say the same thing to you!”
Helena looks to one of her large escorts and snarls. ”Kill this bitch.” She demands and sees a grin splash on his face as he stands and begins walking towards where Sam is ducking. There is a sudden howl the rips through the night as three shadows dart through the flames, one taking down Helena, another taking down her escort and another on one of the remaining guards.
Sam looks up and sees a trio of dogboys, one being Rowen, pinning the Pinchers to the ground as Everett and Anthony walk up. She doesn’t even say anything as she rushes and hugs them both. They can all hear Helena cursing underneath the dogboy Harley as Anthony releases the embrace and walks over to the leader.
”Miss Blake, it is my pleasure to tell you that you are under arrest by Coalition Forces, and that your little gang is no more.” Anthony states, and as he does so, the jetstreams of a pair of SAMASs are heard cutting through the air approaching the well lit roadway. They weren’t paying attention before, but there was a growing crowd lurking in the shadows. The ground begins to shake as a large skullhead transport rolls in and scares a number of the spectators off as several deadboy armored personnel offload and surround the area, with one that has a slightly larger helmet approaching Anthony.
”I appreciate your responsiveness, Sergeant. Take this one to the city to be executed, publically.” Anthony orders and the Deadboy nods, relinquishing authority to the specter.
As he goes to leave, he turns back and looks at the other escorts. ”And what of these ones, sir?”
Anthony glances at them, an obvious coldness on his face from his time in NTSET as he answers, ”They resisted.” Anthony states and moves away with Everett and Sam, heading towards the elevators. Rowen follows closely in tow with the two other dogboys as several quick and clean gunshots are heard behind them.
***
At the Elevators, Rowen shakes hands with Everett. ”Great working with you again. You ever need anything, let me know. I’ll be a watchdog here til the end of my days.” Rowen says with a smile. Everett shakes the dogboys hand and the trio of siblings head up the elevator back to their level.
They get home in the dead of morning, it’s nearly 4am after Anthony was done filing all the required paperwork. He headed home with his siblings and they all passed out til nearly noon. Both parents gone to work, though aware of Anthony’s return, the trio leave before the younger siblings can find them and head over to Derrick’s place.
Getting a late lunch, Ashley is again one of the tableworkers and her and Everett both exchange looks a couple times amid the siblings conversations.
”I’m glad your okay, Tony.” Everett begins, taking a drink.
”Yeah, I’ll be honest. I was not expecting you, of all people, to be my rescuer.” Anthony responds as he looks between Everett and Sam. ”You nearly lit that entire roadway on fire.”
Sam shrugs ”I had it under control, plus it was more for intimidation effect to get Blake to stay with me. Didn’t want her to go back and ambush you guys, I made sure all the fires were out and controlled.” She says, feeling like the comment was an underhanded jab at being a burster.
”No, no. I mean, that was awesome. I--look” Anthony pauses and levels his eyes with both siblings. ”I’ve worked with a great deal of psionics since being in NTSET. One of them gave me pretty good advice, advice I was worried I wouldn’t get to put into action after being nabbed by that psychopath.”
”Psychopath is such a strong word.” Everett says with a sly grin as Anthony shakes his head.
”Would you shut up. Jeez. What I am saying is; we’re family. I’m not going to stand by with a chip on my shoulder over something you didn’t even choose. I saw how both of you acted and I can just say, you’re family.” Anthony finishes as Everett and Sam exchange looks
”Thanks, Tony.” Sam answers
”Strong as fuck family that I now need to ensure I don’t piss off, but family none the less.” Tony clarifies
”Hey, you piss me off everytime we met over the years, I’ve never once zapped your ass.” Everett states, sitting back.
”Fair enough.” Anthony answers with a laugh as Culter leans forward.
”Hey, check this out.” Everett says as he brings up his hands and wiggles his fingers infront of his brothers face, almost mockingly until his brother feels a tingle in his forearm as the hairs on his arm begin to stand. ”Damn, bro, what’s your hair standing up for?” Everett adds with a cheesy laugh as Tony rubs his forearm to calm the tingly sensation.
”Man, would you shut the hell up!” Tony exclaims while shaking his head with a big grin as Ashley, their server walks up.
”Everything going okay here?” She asks to which Anthony waves his hand at Everett.
”Oh, yeah. Just a little sibling love, apparently.” Anthony responds
”Another drink, please. Food is excellent, by the way.” Everett adds
”You got it.” Ashley responds looking at Everett and ass she walks away, Tony kicks him from underneath the table.
”Dude, I swear to God, if you do not ask her out, I will personally kick you ass.” Tony states as Sam jabs Everetts side.
”And I’ll set your ass on fire. Get the hell over there and ask that girl out, you’ve been googly-eying each other this whole meal.”
”Fine, FINE! Jeez. I go back in a couple days, no telling when I come home. Wasn’t going to worry about it.” Everett sighs and gets up, heading over to Ashley at the service counter. Yet another challenge he wasn’t ready to face.
***
That evening’s dinner with the family was filled with laughs and a good time as the entire Culter Family found themselves under one roof. The older siblings bonded through strife and were laughing together like their parents had never seen before.
After dinner, Everett was excused early as Sam and Tony regaled the family of their adventure. Everett made his way to the cineplex as he saw Ashley waiting for him. The two enjoyed an awesome movie and they spent the night at Ashley’s apartment.
Ashley, along with the rest of his family, sent him off the following day when he made his way to return to his unit, leaving with plenty of time to have a few hours there before end of leave. Now he had another reason to come home on leave, and even something more to look forward too when returning from missions and checking his mail.
The world out there was shit, and he was doing his best where he could, but it was these little things that kept him going.
Returning Home; Level 36
A few days of leave was always regarded with great importance among the Culter family, as a military and industrial family, the parents rarely got to see their children, and never at the same time. This leave was different, as the entire Culter Family would find itself under the same roof for the first time in several years. Due in no small part to Jedrek Culter, a well known military advisor and the father, as well as Camilia Anderson-Culter, a major stockholder in Biotechnic Industrial Designs and their former CFO before retirement, the family was quite politically connected. This also meant they knew about their children's leave time before the child found out more often than not, and this was no exception.
***
Culter rolls his shoulders and rubs the back of his neck as he gazes out on the 36th level of the fortress city. I feel so out of place. He often thinks to himself as he walks down the causeways in his dress uniform. Though feeling out of place, he certainly isn't as he passes several locations he frequents whenever he is on leave. The owner of one higher-society coffee and diner shops rushes out as he passes by.
"Everett! Welcome home, you bloody badass. How goes life in the field, I heard you got a new unit assignment?!" His old family friend, Derrick Jameson, asked while greeting him. Jameson has run this outlet for well over twenty years, and was a former Spec Ops with the Coalition during the height of the war, retired now, of course. But the man still had connections and knew things well outside of his purview.
"Derrick!" Culter returns the greeting with a friendly hug. "You know I can't talk about that, man." Culter adds with an acknowledging and reaffirming grin. Culter doesn't confirm or deny anything, but the silent smile says enough that Derrick clasps him on the shoulder with a nod of approval.
"So, will I see you here later?" Derrick asks of Culter, then leaning in, "You know, Ashley's been asking about you recently. She has a shift later tonight if you want to stop by and catch up." Derrick adds. Culter nods and extends his hand and the two shake hands. "Thanks, Derrick. I'd love to see her, gotta catch up with family first though. I'll be in touch, I'm here for a couple days." Culter finishes and the two then sets off to his family's estate.
***
Upon walking in, he's greeted by his family's butler, Jorey who greets him with a bow and escorts him to the family main room where he is immediately tackled to the ground by the younger body of his younger brother, Michael. "Welcome Back, Bro! I Got Ya!" Michael shouts from behind and seems to be truly trying to get Everett into a headlock. The special forces zapper glances around and sees his dad standing on the other side of the room with a smile, and then nods when they make eye contact. That was all the approval Everett needed as he flips his leg around and triangle chokes his brother, rolling out of the lock and onto his feet and pinning his brother, face down, to the ground in an arm-bar.
"Hey Bro, Nice to see you too!" Everett responds with a smile before adding "You need to work on your ground game, you're out of practice. Have you been slacking off at training?" He asks jestingly before his eyes go wide as Michael spins on the ground, out of the arm-bar and throwing Everett onto his back with an elbow against his throat. Everett responds with a smile and a tap-tap on his brother's shoulder before adding "Ha, maybe you aren't." The two get up and embrace as their father walks over and joins the hug.
"Welcome home, son. Samantha and Dean are already here." He adds, causing Everett to glance around and his smile tightens.
"And Tony?" Everett asks and he sees a light grimace appear on Michael's face as his father answers him.
"Anthony... well, he may not be coming this time. Seems like his work with ISS is keeping him too busy to come say hi, or so he says." His father answers and Culter nods, knowingly. Anthony never cared much for either Everett nor Samantha, he viewed them both as an oddity and anomaly in an otherwise perfect upper-class family.
Sam walks into the room and embraces Everett as the four of them head over to the table. "Welcome back, Ev. We've got some things to talk about. After dinner?" Sam asks him quietly and he nods.
"Sure, we can hit up Derrick's place after dinner and talk." Everett suggests and she nods. Her tone was very solemn at the mention of talking and Everett was growing concerned. Though, it quickly washed away as the Culter family enjoyed a nice and beautiful dinner fit only for the upper-class. Everything that Everett loved to eat was there and delicious, as it has always been. Everett exchanged war stories of an unclassified sort, generalizing and embellishing things for the entertainment of his younger brothers while his father looked on with pride and a knowing smile of I've seen your mission reports, I know what you are actually doing, but thank you for lying.
Nearing 1900, Sam and Everett find themselves at Derrick's place with a happy pair of lava chocolate cakes and a welcome greeting from Ashley. "So, are you two going on a date yet?" Sam asks quietly to which Everett just scoffs with a smile and shakes his head. "Nah, not yet. Maybe this weekend though. You said you had something important to talk about?" Everett asks and Sam nods, dropping her spoon and looking at Everett.
"Ev, Anthony is missing. Dad didn't want to worry you during your leave." She says quietly and Everett nearly jumps out of his seat as he feels his muscles tense and he forces a nodas he swallows a bite of the cake.
"Okay, what do we know?" Everett asks, falling into his tactical mind, and his sister smiles.
"I knew you'd help. Okay. He's been with the ISS for years now, started as a Peacekeeper as you know, then he got moved to the Intelligence Community and he's been dubbed a Specter; one of their best according to father. Following that, he moved to NTSET; he opted for it. I'm still with the Investigator's branch." She says quietly, taking another bite of her cake. "Now, Within the past month, he dropped off the grid entirely, not even dad or myself knows why, but his last assignment was investigating an unregistered psychic and the murder of a human citizen in the Burbs. I was going to help him, but he still has a distaste for even registered psychics, even family. I don't think he'll ever get over that. Either way, we need to help him." Sam finishes to which Culter nods and takes a drink.
"Well, so much for a quiet leave. Let's go check it out. I could honestly care less for his prejudice, he's still our brother, even if he's an ignorant shit sometimes." Everett responds with a shrug and then the two get up and pay Derrick before heading out.
"Right, we need to be careful. Luckily for us, I have discretionary authority." Sam adds with a cheeky grin as Everett shakes his head at his sister’s glee, the two make their way down to the elevators.
[Day 1.5-2]
Midnight at the Burbs
It was just after 2300 hours as Everett and Sam arrived in the Burbs of Chi-Town. The two were able to navigate with minimal scrutiny, and it only took Sam flashing her ID once, and another group of guards recognized Everett from his time prior to Psi-Bat; including a former Dog-Pack senior dog-boy, Rowen.
”Well, well. If it isn’t Everett Culter. Fort Desparado; you saved my life, and that of Commander Goeletti.” The older and strong Dog-Boy mentioned. Rowen was with the psi-stalker, Goeletti, whom both were saved when Culter used his own armor to intercept them. Rowen is a wolfhound who has been in service for nearly two decades, his grey and silver hair denote his age against his pure white fur. He is also quite large for the standard dog-boy, standing at nearly 3m high with obvious strength, he was an oddity among other dogboys for his size, comparable to a wolfen dbee; he was also among the most articulate of dogboys Culter has ever met.
Everett, who always had a great deal of love and respect for the dogboys he has served with, has no problem embracing the older dogboy. ”Rowen, I’m glad you still are able to be active. I didn’t expect to see you guarding the burbs entryway.” Everett admits.
”Turns out I injured one of my legs during that scuffle and was given an honorable discharge from active service; I requested joining the CS Police here in Chi-Town last year.” Rowen responds, then looks to Sam and nods his head. ”Sergeant Culter, it is good to see you.” He adds before looking at them both. ”What brings you both to the burbs, if I may?” Rowen asks, to which the siblings look at each other and Everett nods. Sam speaks up, loud enough only for the dogboy to hear.
”We’re hunting our brother. He vanished in the burbs sometime this month and no one can give us a clear answer. We’re just here to ruffle some feathers.” She says and both siblings notice the dogboys wolf-like ears twitch. He glances around and looks to the other guards on shift with him who are busy with someone trying to get into the city before speaking.
”I saw him a week or so ago. I might be able to trace his scent.” Rowen offers before Sam shakes her head.
”No, no. I couldn’t ask you to leave your post, this is not a sanctioned event. Besides… it’s family business.” She answers and the large dogboy lowers himself to her and Everett’s eye level before responding.
”Were it not for Everett, I would not be alive. You two have been kind to me through my years of service; I consider you as family. My shift over at midnight, go on. I’ll catch up.” Rowen responds and then returns to his post before either sibling can attempt to argue the point further. Sam turns to Everett who shrugs with a smile.
”I served with him in AD for several years, we couldn’t ask for better back up.” Everett responds and Sam just shrugs in resignation and the two make their way into the burbs.
***
The two were wandering the burbs, specifically the new town burb of Tranquility, where violence of coalition forces is not uncommon. Neither sibling knew exactly what they were looking for, but both had a great deal of training in dealing with unknown threats and quickly fell into their ways.
Everett, dawned in a long black overcoat and beanie, looked not unlike a denizen of the town, falling into the ways of the locals thanks to his counterintelligence training. Sam, likewise, was wearing a dark leather coat and hat, with dark clothing underneath.
Visiting a few run-down shacks that pass as bars over the course of the hour, they leave the third one as Everett elbows his sister. She glances at him and notices his rather serious expression as her peripherals catch the glimpse of several silhouettes following them down an alleyway. As the two siblings make eye contact, a sly grin creeps on each of their faces as they both are thinking the same thing. This is exactly what they needed, some local denizens to separate themselves from public view for information. Two unsuspecting humans would make easy targets, or so most would think.
When they round the corner, they turn and stop, relaxed and waiting for their followers to round the corner. When their pursuers round the corner; each sibling does a quick headcount. Three humans, two d-bees; one dbee looks like a lizard, the other looks like a long-necked human with rather large spikes protruding from its forearms. Each dbee stands just under seven feet tall.
”Well, well, well. Lookie here, friends. We got us a couple chocolate bars, I’ve been needing something sweet for a few days.” The larger lizard dbee snarls to which Everett rolls his eyes. It’s been a long time since he’s heard a skin-tone slur, even one as bad as that. Everett quickly examines the five that approached them, identifying the lizard as a Seljuk after it spoke.
”So, a Seljuk, five humans and a polearm walk into an alley.” Everett starts sarcastically with a grin as Sam continues. ”Oh, I know this one; and two humans walk out.” She answers as her fists begin to flare.
The Seljuk snarls and lashes out with long sharp claws before impacting a painful electrical field, prompting a small shockwave to be unleashed that causes Everett’s coat to flow with the shockwave as his hands remain in his pocket, though his smile is unmistakable. He reaches his hand out through the electrical field that the Seljuk is connected to and touches his chest, prompting the Seljuk to hiss and jump back, leaving a black scorch mark on its chest.
Sam walks forward, her body beginning to become engulfed in fire as her smile is also apparent to the five unsuspecting pursuers. ”Come now, don’t you want to play with some hot chocolate?” She says, rather playfully though the five step back. Obviously not expecting such resistance, they turn to leave only to see a looming shadow over them from behind. Standing taller than the two dbees was Rowen, the large wolfhound dogboy. Bearing his large teeth, the dogboy snarls as he speaks. ”You chose the wrong pack to fuck with. We bite back.” Rowen growls low and his eyes glisten.
”Shit, a fucken Wolfen. Damn it.” One of the humans mutters as Rowen sniffs and curls his nostrils.
Everett clasps his hands together and releases his electrical field, approaching the Seljuk. ”So, let’s restart. We’re looking for someone, and you’re going to help us. Don’t, and my friend here will finally get to make a fresh kill.” Everett states, nodding his head to the large dogboy they happily mistake for a wolfen.
After a few minutes of interrogation, the trio leave the alleyway with the other five, who now have become the equivalent to guides to the trio, thanks to some persuasion. A group of eight is much more challenging to randomly attack, and the dogboy was keeping a sharp eye on them. The Seljuk was obviously waiting for a chance to rip Everett apart, and Rowen knew that. So far, the trio has kept their affiliation to the Coalition quiet; Rowen’s large size helped deter the thought of him being a dogboy.
Commanded, the five took the trio to a clustered series of buildings where one of the gang leaders in Tranquility claimed it as home. A Cyber Snatcher gang called The Pincers was on the ISS list as low to moderate threat level. Their leader, a woman named Helena Blake, was an underground cyber-doc with access to a great deal of illegal modifications in Coalition territory. Sam remembers her name crossing the charts as a potential target for Specter removal, before the topic was dropped a few months ago. As good a place to start as any.
The eight walked into the compound and were under heavy scrutiny from the members there, removing the two pistols carried by Sam and Everett, as well as the weapons by the other five, before being shown the rest of the way. Rowen was keeping his nose low and had a strong scent of Everett’s brother.
Once inside, they were brought before Helena who was sitting on what looked like a high-tech computer throne chair. Everett scoffs and mutters ”Someone thinks highly of themselves.” Prompting Sam to smile, scoff and shake her head as Helena leans forward with a scowl.
”Why, yes, I do. And you should really understand what you just walked into, I could have you killed where you stand, your bodies eradicated and no one would be the wiser.” She threatens prompting Everett to shrug. He was familiar with playing the part of an outlaw.
”Sure. But then you’d never figure out why we were here, what we wanted or could offer you.” Everett begins prompting Helena to sit back and narrow her eyes.
”You come to my home in the dead of night with a rather large escort of vagabonds. No weapons to speak of. No cybernetics to speak of. What, exactly, do you have to offer me.”
Sam speaks up, remembering Helena’s dossier from the ISS. ”You have a need for experimental tech. We have that need.” She answers, before opening her arms and offering, ”Look, I have a small storehouse a few blocks away with some tech I’ve been trying to move. Come with me, we can leave some of my crew here as collateral.” Sam offers, prompting Helena to stand and walk towards her. Sam’s level of persuasion is high, and Everett can tell his sister has done her time on the streets and is used to the environment as well.
”Hmm. Fine, we’ll see what you have. Take these six to the holding rooms. If it pans out, we’ll compensate you for your time, if it doesn’t, easy to kill you if you're in one spot. No funny business.”
Helena and an entourage of half a dozen escort Sam and one of the other humans out as Everett made a point to stay back. Escorted to the holding rooms, the six now sit and wait. The Seljuk stares daggers at Everett for, what he believes, as ending his life by walking him into this gang’s headquarters. Everett, however, doesn’t care, and moves to Rowen.
”He’s here. His scent is strong. Blood.” Rowen whispers to Everett who nods. He glances at his newfound allies with a sly grin.
”Hey, seljuk, what’d you say your name was?” Everett asks.
”I didn’t. It’s Tarsque, humans call me Q cause my name is hard to pronounce.” He answers and Culter extends a hand.
”Well, Tarsque, what say we break out of this room and wreak havoc on this gang.” Everett responds, pronouncing his name properly, prompting the Seljuk to cock his head and stand, nodding.
”I might’ve misjudged you, human.” Tarsque responds and Culter smiles, snapping his fingers, everyone feels a tingle in the room as the lights flicker and the camera light dies. They hear the door unlock as he Culter looks to the door.
”So did they.” Culter answers, prompting the Seljuk to offer a toothy grin as they move.
The inhabitants of the building were not prepared for the carnage that followed, as Cyber Snatchers were lowly regarding by all for their murderous ways. Culter extends his electrical control and causes the entire building to lose power, making it go dark in the dead of night. He drains the power of every radio and camera within his range in a manner of minutes. The Seljuk and the Polearm, silent Dbee begin to shred their way through the unsuspecting, mostly human group, with their human friends following them. Culter and Rowen take an opposite direction, with Culter following Rowen’s lead.
They head down several levels, the dogboy shredding through his share of occupants. They pass several rooms designated as chop-shops where the smell of blood and residue permeates the area. Rowen snarls, ”Yeah, we are shutting these guys down.” Rowen snarls and continues down with Everett in tow.
They find their way to a holding cell with several humans and a few dogboys chained to a wall. Everett immediately identifies his brother, and his eyes flash pure-white with a hint of blue as he shocks the cell door open, nearly blowing it off its hinges. He glances at Rowen, ”Cover me.”
Everett moves in and gives his brother a minor electrical shock that wakes him up. ”Ah, What!? Back the Fuck Up, Cyber Shitter!” Anthony shouted and before Everett could respond, felt a pair of powerful legs impact his chest, staggering him back before he heard his brother gasp. ”What the fuck are you doing here, Everett?”
Everett shrugs, ”Rescuing you it seems like. What are you doing here?” Everett responds nonchalantly as he removes the restraints and helps his brother stand.
”Tch. I was sent to investigate the disappearance of one of our patrols out here. I tracked them here. They're still alive though barely. We need to get them to the city, and I am going to recommend culling this gang.” Anthony states, rubbing his wrists before moving to the other restrained prisoners. Everett shakes his head.
”Got you covered there. I met a rather detestable seljuk and polearm dbee who are currently cutting their way through the majority of these guys. Sam’s got Helena preoccupied, we can go ambush them.” Everett responds, and helps uncuff them. He moves to the dogboys first, noticing two of the three are females who look badly hurt. He looks to Anthony. ”What happened to these ones?”
Anthony looks over solemnly at his brother and sighs. Anthony knows how much respect his brother has for dogboys, and though the Specter would never admit it, he kept tabs on his brother to make sure he stayed alive during his service. ”Tortured; for no other reason than they enjoyed hearing their yelps.”
Everett’s face hardens and Anthony genuinely steps back as he sees his brother begin to radiate with electricity. Rolling his neck, Everett forces himself to kneel down and removes the restraints of the dogboys. ”Hey, what’s your name?” He says softly to the first one, a female wolfhound, smaller in stature to Rowen and obviously younger by at least a decade.
Her eyes blink open and she spots Everett, hesitantly she answers, ”Harley. Who are you?”
”Name’s Everett Culter. Come, let’s get your pack up and out of here.” Everett responds, prompting a wide eyed response from the wolfhound doggirl who seems to recognize the name.
The two brothers wake and help everyone up to their feet, as Rowen looks back. ”Everett, we have company.”
Everett nods and looks to the newly freed squad of coalition forces, ”Well, ready for some revenge?”
He sees the troop nod as Anthony steps forward. ”As an NTSET Specter, I hereby grant you all tentative NTSET status. You’ll help us Cull this building. We have a group of friendlies on the upper level we will allow to live; when Everett identifies anyone to be spared, listen. All members of this gang are culled tonight, by any means necessary.” Anthony states, rather coldly then looks to his brother with a small smile, Everett moves to a dispatched gang member and tosses his brother a pistol and the group departs back to the upper levels.
Everett looks to his brother, ”If Blake hasn’t figured it out by now, she soon will and Sam is outnumbered. Let’s go get her. Rowen can lead these to success.”
***
Sam takes Helena down several blocks slowly, giving her brother time to get in and do his thing while the boss is out. She makes small talk with Helena before she hears one of Helena’s entourage stop them.
”Boss, we just lost contact with the House.”
”Shit, I knew this was a trap, get back to the House, now!” Helena shouts before her eyes light up as she sees a wall of flames erupt behind them. Turning to look at Sam and one of the humans, she sees Sam engulfed in a burning fire that makes her shield her eyes as she hears Sam speak.
”Now, now. Leaving so soon? Sorry, Miss Blake. You’ve just been the unwitting accomplish of a sting. Lay down your arms, now, and you might be allowed to live.” Sam orders, revealing her connection to the ISS and, unsanctioned or not, the threat of Coalition Retaliation was usually enough to get anyone to back down.
Helena scoffs and spits towards the burster. ”Tch. Fuckin’ Burster. You psychic fucks are one step away from being murdered by your own government.” Helena says as her escort slowly begins to circle Sam and one of the ruffians. ”I’ll handle that for them, though.” She says, leveling her weapon at Sam and firing.
The round splashes off of Sam’s fiery aura and the buster begins to systematically attack the members of the entourage. Helena and Sam trade firebolt to plasma bolt as the ruffian with Sam disarms one of the escorts and jumps for cover. Figuring he’d be best to stay with the devils he knows, the ruffian supports Sam and fires on the escorts and Helena as best as he is able.
Ducking for cover after her fiery aura dissipates, she hears Helena over the scorching sound of her flames that surround them. ”Come on, burster. You’re outnumbered here, just come out and die. You’ve lost your choice to surrender!”
Sam pauses and shakes her head before shouting back to her. ”I was just going to say the same thing to you!”
Helena looks to one of her large escorts and snarls. ”Kill this bitch.” She demands and sees a grin splash on his face as he stands and begins walking towards where Sam is ducking. There is a sudden howl the rips through the night as three shadows dart through the flames, one taking down Helena, another taking down her escort and another on one of the remaining guards.
Sam looks up and sees a trio of dogboys, one being Rowen, pinning the Pinchers to the ground as Everett and Anthony walk up. She doesn’t even say anything as she rushes and hugs them both. They can all hear Helena cursing underneath the dogboy Harley as Anthony releases the embrace and walks over to the leader.
”Miss Blake, it is my pleasure to tell you that you are under arrest by Coalition Forces, and that your little gang is no more.” Anthony states, and as he does so, the jetstreams of a pair of SAMASs are heard cutting through the air approaching the well lit roadway. They weren’t paying attention before, but there was a growing crowd lurking in the shadows. The ground begins to shake as a large skullhead transport rolls in and scares a number of the spectators off as several deadboy armored personnel offload and surround the area, with one that has a slightly larger helmet approaching Anthony.
”I appreciate your responsiveness, Sergeant. Take this one to the city to be executed, publically.” Anthony orders and the Deadboy nods, relinquishing authority to the specter.
As he goes to leave, he turns back and looks at the other escorts. ”And what of these ones, sir?”
Anthony glances at them, an obvious coldness on his face from his time in NTSET as he answers, ”They resisted.” Anthony states and moves away with Everett and Sam, heading towards the elevators. Rowen follows closely in tow with the two other dogboys as several quick and clean gunshots are heard behind them.
***
At the Elevators, Rowen shakes hands with Everett. ”Great working with you again. You ever need anything, let me know. I’ll be a watchdog here til the end of my days.” Rowen says with a smile. Everett shakes the dogboys hand and the trio of siblings head up the elevator back to their level.
They get home in the dead of morning, it’s nearly 4am after Anthony was done filing all the required paperwork. He headed home with his siblings and they all passed out til nearly noon. Both parents gone to work, though aware of Anthony’s return, the trio leave before the younger siblings can find them and head over to Derrick’s place.
Getting a late lunch, Ashley is again one of the tableworkers and her and Everett both exchange looks a couple times amid the siblings conversations.
”I’m glad your okay, Tony.” Everett begins, taking a drink.
”Yeah, I’ll be honest. I was not expecting you, of all people, to be my rescuer.” Anthony responds as he looks between Everett and Sam. ”You nearly lit that entire roadway on fire.”
Sam shrugs ”I had it under control, plus it was more for intimidation effect to get Blake to stay with me. Didn’t want her to go back and ambush you guys, I made sure all the fires were out and controlled.” She says, feeling like the comment was an underhanded jab at being a burster.
”No, no. I mean, that was awesome. I--look” Anthony pauses and levels his eyes with both siblings. ”I’ve worked with a great deal of psionics since being in NTSET. One of them gave me pretty good advice, advice I was worried I wouldn’t get to put into action after being nabbed by that psychopath.”
”Psychopath is such a strong word.” Everett says with a sly grin as Anthony shakes his head.
”Would you shut up. Jeez. What I am saying is; we’re family. I’m not going to stand by with a chip on my shoulder over something you didn’t even choose. I saw how both of you acted and I can just say, you’re family.” Anthony finishes as Everett and Sam exchange looks
”Thanks, Tony.” Sam answers
”Strong as fuck family that I now need to ensure I don’t piss off, but family none the less.” Tony clarifies
”Hey, you piss me off everytime we met over the years, I’ve never once zapped your ass.” Everett states, sitting back.
”Fair enough.” Anthony answers with a laugh as Culter leans forward.
”Hey, check this out.” Everett says as he brings up his hands and wiggles his fingers infront of his brothers face, almost mockingly until his brother feels a tingle in his forearm as the hairs on his arm begin to stand. ”Damn, bro, what’s your hair standing up for?” Everett adds with a cheesy laugh as Tony rubs his forearm to calm the tingly sensation.
”Man, would you shut the hell up!” Tony exclaims while shaking his head with a big grin as Ashley, their server walks up.
”Everything going okay here?” She asks to which Anthony waves his hand at Everett.
”Oh, yeah. Just a little sibling love, apparently.” Anthony responds
”Another drink, please. Food is excellent, by the way.” Everett adds
”You got it.” Ashley responds looking at Everett and ass she walks away, Tony kicks him from underneath the table.
”Dude, I swear to God, if you do not ask her out, I will personally kick you ass.” Tony states as Sam jabs Everetts side.
”And I’ll set your ass on fire. Get the hell over there and ask that girl out, you’ve been googly-eying each other this whole meal.”
”Fine, FINE! Jeez. I go back in a couple days, no telling when I come home. Wasn’t going to worry about it.” Everett sighs and gets up, heading over to Ashley at the service counter. Yet another challenge he wasn’t ready to face.
***
That evening’s dinner with the family was filled with laughs and a good time as the entire Culter Family found themselves under one roof. The older siblings bonded through strife and were laughing together like their parents had never seen before.
After dinner, Everett was excused early as Sam and Tony regaled the family of their adventure. Everett made his way to the cineplex as he saw Ashley waiting for him. The two enjoyed an awesome movie and they spent the night at Ashley’s apartment.
Ashley, along with the rest of his family, sent him off the following day when he made his way to return to his unit, leaving with plenty of time to have a few hours there before end of leave. Now he had another reason to come home on leave, and even something more to look forward too when returning from missions and checking his mail.
The world out there was shit, and he was doing his best where he could, but it was these little things that kept him going.
-
James Howlett
- Group Leader
- Posts: 519
- Joined: Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:38 am
- Location: Group Leader (CS 110th)
- Contact:
Re: Downtime! Three Days of Leave
Not much can keep a man going in the face of exhaustion...
Finally done with his work for the day, James quickly changes into civilian dress and makes what he considers the most important phone call of his life so far. "Miranda, do you still want to get together tonight?" James asks, a hint of nervousness in his voice, which is funny considering the things he's done is life, including facing down a Gorgan by himself in MercTown. Miranda's voice is riddled with exhaustion, but she agrees. James quickly makes his way to her residence, while still on base, it's far nicer than his smaller barracks room. James' artificial face is slightly flushed by the time he makes it to her place. Miranda is beautiful, as always in James' eyes, but he can tell she's down right tired. James chuckles a little as she lets him in, giving him a peck on the cheek. Once James has his coat hung up, he joins Miranda in the living room of her quarters. "Do you want to do anything in particular?" Miranda asks coyly. James smiles and thinks for a short moment. "Why don't we cook dinner and watch a movie." Is James' response.
James and Miranda put on some music, and head to the kitchen. there amid cooking a quaint dinner of chicken and a few sides, they drink wine and dance. In some ways it seems the most normal thing in the world, well maybe the civilian world. They talk about work, or at least the stuff they're aloud to talk about, excitedly asking each other questions about things. Eventually Dinner is finished and they make their way to the dining table. Some more wine, soft music and deeper conversations happen. Once the meal is over James clears the table while Miranda picks a movie and sets it up on her television.
James plops down on the couch next to his beloved and hands her another glass of wine. Miranda picked an ancient black and white film about an eccentric doctor who tries to create life. To James the movie is mildly laughable, but he is more than happy to watch it with Miranda. The two of them cuddle under a woven afghan blanket, whispering sweet nothings into each others ears, until eventually the two of them fall asleep before the movie ends. When they awaken, it's due to personal alarms going off, telling them work awaits. The two lovebirds chuckle at falling asleep. "I honestly think that was the best night of sleep I've had in a few weeks." Miranda says with a smile. James laughs. "Same. How about tonight?" James responds. Miranda frowns. "i have meetings, how about tomorrow?" She retorts. James nods. "I'll make room in my schedule for you." He says with a content sigh. James goes to get his coat as she prepares herself to leave as well. I could get used to this.
Finally done with his work for the day, James quickly changes into civilian dress and makes what he considers the most important phone call of his life so far. "Miranda, do you still want to get together tonight?" James asks, a hint of nervousness in his voice, which is funny considering the things he's done is life, including facing down a Gorgan by himself in MercTown. Miranda's voice is riddled with exhaustion, but she agrees. James quickly makes his way to her residence, while still on base, it's far nicer than his smaller barracks room. James' artificial face is slightly flushed by the time he makes it to her place. Miranda is beautiful, as always in James' eyes, but he can tell she's down right tired. James chuckles a little as she lets him in, giving him a peck on the cheek. Once James has his coat hung up, he joins Miranda in the living room of her quarters. "Do you want to do anything in particular?" Miranda asks coyly. James smiles and thinks for a short moment. "Why don't we cook dinner and watch a movie." Is James' response.
James and Miranda put on some music, and head to the kitchen. there amid cooking a quaint dinner of chicken and a few sides, they drink wine and dance. In some ways it seems the most normal thing in the world, well maybe the civilian world. They talk about work, or at least the stuff they're aloud to talk about, excitedly asking each other questions about things. Eventually Dinner is finished and they make their way to the dining table. Some more wine, soft music and deeper conversations happen. Once the meal is over James clears the table while Miranda picks a movie and sets it up on her television.
James plops down on the couch next to his beloved and hands her another glass of wine. Miranda picked an ancient black and white film about an eccentric doctor who tries to create life. To James the movie is mildly laughable, but he is more than happy to watch it with Miranda. The two of them cuddle under a woven afghan blanket, whispering sweet nothings into each others ears, until eventually the two of them fall asleep before the movie ends. When they awaken, it's due to personal alarms going off, telling them work awaits. The two lovebirds chuckle at falling asleep. "I honestly think that was the best night of sleep I've had in a few weeks." Miranda says with a smile. James laughs. "Same. How about tonight?" James responds. Miranda frowns. "i have meetings, how about tomorrow?" She retorts. James nods. "I'll make room in my schedule for you." He says with a content sigh. James goes to get his coat as she prepares herself to leave as well. I could get used to this.
Captain James Howlett