The Furry Forums
Creative Arts and Media => Roleplay => Serious RP => Topic started by: Romulan_Furry on February 10, 2019, 11:58:35 PM
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As the transport (https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/bloodandhonor/images/e/e6/AA-9_Starfreighter.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130507080835) landed, it shuddered when the craft's landing gear made contact with the deck, which was enough to wake a young, emerald-color dragon from his sleep. He looked out the window briefly, and then, as soon as the seat belt sign flashed off, he undid his seat belt, stood up, and headed for the exit everyone else was. Most people stayed out of the dragon's path - either because they saw his lightsabers, or because they judged him to be a Sith because of the black cloak. Either way, he didn't care. The dragon had done nothing but eat, sleep, and listen to music - aside from the odd in-flight movies, one of which he found amusing. Just before entering the New Colorado spaceport proper, he was tempted to don the hood of his cloak, before he saw the customs checkpoint, and felt it wise to not appear too intimidating.
Waiting in line, the dragon got a good look around the spaceport. Fancy, high-class... which was surprising for a place that was advertised to have affordable prices for everyone. This place must get a lot of business, then, for it to be able to afford aesthetics like this.
"Um... sir?" the customs officer in the booth in front of Mesmerin spoke, snapping his attention back. He didn't realize the tourist in front of him had already cleared. Mesmerin stepped forward and presented his passport. The officer looked it over, and smiled. "Well, you'd be the first from Tau Dewa to come here, sir - not to mention our first dragon tourist. Are you here for business or pleasure?"
"Does a vacation count as pleasure?" the dragon asked.
"Sure does," the officer answered. "How long do you plan to stay?"
"Just a couple weeks," the dragon answered. Clandestine, vague or otherwise false answers were not needed here. He came here to relax a bit... for what that's worth with things the way they were in the galaxy.
The officer nodded, and looked over the passport one last time. "Any concealed weapons I need to know about?" he asked. The dragon moved his cloak aside.
"Just my lightsabers," he said, feeling there was no need to tell the officer of his usual armaments stored in his gauntlets' transporter buffers.
The officer blinked a few times, but contrary to calling backup, he leaned out of his booth to call out a message to the girl in the one next to his. "Hey, Jane - you owe me a drink!" The dragon raised an eye ridge. The girl laughed, and the officer returned his attention to the dragon. "I knew a Jedi would come here sooner or later." He stamped an approval on the dragon's passport. "Welcome to New Colorado, mister Argent," he said as he handed the dragon's passport back to him.
The dragon accepted it with a smile. "Just Mesmerin, pal... just Mesmerin." He walked into the spaceport, heading for the concourse to see if there was anything significant to eat.
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On the beach, a white furred vixen laid out, in her white leopard spotted bikini swimsuit, soaking up sunlight on a beach lounger, trying to fit in with the other girls on the beach, considering she was very likely not like any of the others, a mercenary who had seen plenty of action, her body was definitely more athletic than most of the other girls on the beach, her toned body seeming to possess more muscle than that of the slim girls there as well, she had been there for awhile and was starting to get bored, sitting around wasn't a thing she normally did...
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While Mesmerin was inspected by security, a luxuriously dressed fox stepped off of a private transport surrounded by a group similarly glamorous females. While to the unobservant it would seem like any other group of girls for a party on New Colorado, the keen and the wary would be able to tell that the women surrounding the fox weren't merely party girls. They were armed to the teeth in hidden weapons and armor, and the luxurious outfits belay their muscular frames. Emilá walked right through customs, someone of her status hardly ever has to stop when they don't want to.
"Well, girls? Let's go find the party!" She laughed and started heading out onto the town.
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Having found nothing appealing in the food court, Mesmerin headed out into the town proper - Gunnison, it was called. Somehow, he felt he'd heard the name before, but for the life of him, he could not remember where. Still, he wandered, perhaps by chance, into Emila's path. He didn't seem to notice her; his head faced away from her, covered by the hood of that cloak. He looked for a bar or restaurant, someplace - any place - to get a decent meal. The food that had been on that transport sucked. He turned partially toward Emila, still scanning for a good place to grab some grub, and a slight gust of wind would flutter his cloak and reveal a slight silvery glint at his hip.
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A nose like Emilá's can practically sniff out interesting men. Her eye was caught on the silver glint beneath his cloak, and drawn up to the hood. He seemed dark and brooding, but hey, she was here to find an escape. Time to start gathering information. She walked up to Mesmerin, her entourage of bodyguards waiting a safe distance away at the flick of her wrist. She leans on Mesmerin's shoulder lightly. "Hey there, you looking for something? Because you look in need of a little direction." She gave him a pleasant smile and a wink when she made eye contact with him.
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Sora let out a sigh as she stretched, getting off the transport and going through the usual checking process, grabbing both of her bags before leaving the ship. Talking with the security-personnel was always a hassle, but she had her identification handy to show them she was authorized her equipment in her bags. Once she was through, she went to secure her the larger of her two bags in a locker and decided to head to the beach. "Finally! Some R and R time... Being stuck on a duty for six-months and now I have a whole month to myself."
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Klaxons went off as the transport vessel prepared to descend. The vessel switched from reactor power, to a backup to save fuel. As the air-pressure around them increased, the oxygen generators switched off, and the computer opened intake valves, allowing the air-pressure to equalize.The Captain of the ship, Nova Reti, the owner of Nova Energy and Salvagin systems,, (NES) shut the klaxons off, because they did nothing but annoy him.
The ship touched down near customs and Nova walked out of the ship, which promptly took back off. The customs officers eyed him, uncertain as to his intentions. Walking over to the customs, he pulled out his passport and showed it to them. 'Hello Nova. Are you here for buisness or pleasure?' "Buisness. I'm seeing if NES can expand to New Colorado." 'Do you have any concealed weapons?" He pulled his jacket back, revealing a holster for a assault pistol, and took it off to show a sling for an Experimental Ion Beam Rifle. The customs looked at it with wide eyes, but let him through.
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A nose like Emilá's can practically sniff out interesting men. Her eye was caught on the silver glint beneath his cloak, and drawn up to the hood. He seemed dark and brooding, but hey, she was here to find an escape. Time to start gathering information. She walked up to Mesmerin, her entourage of bodyguards waiting a safe distance away at the flick of her wrist. She leans on Mesmerin's shoulder lightly. "Hey there, you looking for something? Because you look in need of a little direction." She gave him a pleasant smile and a wink when she made eye contact with him.
Mesmerin looked to Emila, his eyes a steel-gray color and his gaze reflecting many years of harsh travels. "Yes, actually - you see, this is my first time here on New Colorado," Mesmerin explained. "I was not aware of this place until barely a week ago; while the price was well within my usual price range, the trip was... well, dreary, and the food just sucked. Well, to me - I cannot speak for the others. But I am looking for a good restaurant. I could go for a nice sirloin steak about now."
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A nose like Emilá's can practically sniff out interesting men. Her eye was caught on the silver glint beneath his cloak, and drawn up to the hood. He seemed dark and brooding, but hey, she was here to find an escape. Time to start gathering information. She walked up to Mesmerin, her entourage of bodyguards waiting a safe distance away at the flick of her wrist. She leans on Mesmerin's shoulder lightly. "Hey there, you looking for something? Because you look in need of a little direction." She gave him a pleasant smile and a wink when she made eye contact with him.
Mesmerin looked to Emila, his eyes a steel-gray color and his gaze reflecting many years of harsh travels. "Yes, actually - you see, this is my first time here on New Colorado," Mesmerin explained. "I was not aware of this place until barely a week ago; while the price was well within my usual price range, the trip was... well, dreary, and the food just sucked. Well, to me - I cannot speak for the others. But I am looking for a good restaurant. I could go for a nice sirloin steak about now."
"You could try the steakhouse." Rae said as she approached the dragon, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, handing him a map of the local area, an old fashion brochure like map "I think it was TB on the map..." She added. She had gotten bored laying around and decided to see what all the commotion was around the dragon....not exactly surprized to see a dragon where she came from they were everywhere.
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A nose like Emilá's can practically sniff out interesting men. Her eye was caught on the silver glint beneath his cloak, and drawn up to the hood. He seemed dark and brooding, but hey, she was here to find an escape. Time to start gathering information. She walked up to Mesmerin, her entourage of bodyguards waiting a safe distance away at the flick of her wrist. She leans on Mesmerin's shoulder lightly. "Hey there, you looking for something? Because you look in need of a little direction." She gave him a pleasant smile and a wink when she made eye contact with him.
Mesmerin looked to Emila, his eyes a steel-gray color and his gaze reflecting many years of harsh travels. "Yes, actually - you see, this is my first time here on New Colorado," Mesmerin explained. "I was not aware of this place until barely a week ago; while the price was well within my usual price range, the trip was... well, dreary, and the food just sucked. Well, to me - I cannot speak for the others. But I am looking for a good restaurant. I could go for a nice sirloin steak about now."
"You could try the steakhouse." Rae said as she approached the dragon, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, handing him a map of the local area, an old fashion brochure like map "I think it was TB on the map..." She added. She had gotten bored laying around and decided to see what all the commotion was around the dragon....not exactly surprized to see a dragon where she came from they were everywhere.
This just gets better and better, Emilá thought to herself as she smiled at the newcomer. “Our new friend knows what she’s talking about!” She snapped her fingers, and almost immediately a private limo pulls up to them. “But walking on an empty stomach is no fun. Care for a ride?” Almost out of sight, but barely in view, a similar car pulled up to be filled with elegantly dressed women. A chauffeur gets out and held the door open for the group politely. Inside the car seems just as luxurious as this woman and the outside, Mesmerin and Rae see champagne bottles and hors d’oerves. “My name is Emilá, a pleasure to make your acquaintances.” She said playfully as she took the furs’ offered hand and climbed into the limo.
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Passing through the security check, the feline felt more of a free civilian now. Although still annoyed by being on leave, he's not one to dwell unto something irreversible.
M yawned, still feeling a bit tired even though he kind of passed out during the transportation. Scratching his head with his left paw, M pulled his phone from his pants with the other paw, opening it as he did so. In all honesty, the Caracal doesn't have a clue where the attractions were and what he should really do in this place. All he was given is an address, money that he would fit for fifteen days, and instructions to get the key to his room from the address. Guess it is a motel of some sort. He stood there idly, tapping in his phone as he tries to locate where exactly is the address in his loads of messages in his inbox.
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(Careful with the alcohol references, Mikala. I don't want any trouble with the mods because of it.)
Mesmerin shrugged, then introduced himself: "Mesmerin Argent, Captain of the Wayward Dragon. A pleasure to meet you, as well." He drew back his hood before entering the limo, and his cloak slid to either side of his waist when he sat down, offering an unfettered view of his lightsabers (https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5e/bb/f3/5ebbf313f35119505fac8c3c968ab5fe.jpg).
Mesmerin wasn't much for Champagne, so he paid the bottles little heed. He waited for the others to enter, and while waiting, closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. Nothing was causing a disturbance - which was surprising to him, given the news of the conflict going on at Corneria. Still, if there were no immediate threats, he was content to just spend the next couple weeks relaxing.
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(Whoops! My bad)
Emilá poured herself a glass of apple cider and took a seat in the limo. “Captain, hmmm? And a Jedi, I suppose, unless you just stumbled upon those?” She guestured to the lightsabers nonchalantly. She had never seen a Jedi in person, but she wasn’t about to inform him of that. “Are you here for business or pleasure, captain?” She smiled, with the barest hint of an ulterior motive in her gaze. The astute would get the feeling that this is more than idle pleasantries.
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(Whoops! My bad)
Emilá poured herself a glass of apple cider and took a seat in the limo. “Captain, hmmm? And a Jedi, I suppose, unless you just stumbled upon those?” She guestured to the lightsabers nonchalantly. She had never seen a Jedi in person, but she wasn’t about to inform him of that. “Are you here for business or pleasure, captain?” She smiled, with the barest hint of an ulterior motive in her gaze. The astute would get the feeling that this is more than idle pleasantries.
Rae sighed ,but got into the limo and sat down next to Mesmerin, hopeing he didn't mind, she paid little attention to anything in the limo, not really being one to indulge herself in anything that didn't involve her work. "Rae." she calmly said, still a little suspicious of this rich girl...
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Emilá poured herself a glass of apple cider and took a seat in the limo. “Captain, hmmm? And a Jedi, I suppose, unless you just stumbled upon those?” She guestured to the lightsabers nonchalantly. She had never seen a Jedi in person, but she wasn’t about to inform him of that. “Are you here for business or pleasure, captain?” She smiled, with the barest hint of an ulterior motive in her gaze. The astute would get the feeling that this is more than idle pleasantries.
Mesmerin opened his eyes and looked directly at Emila. "I'm here just as a vacation while my ship is undergoing maintenance," Mesmerin told her. With a shake of his head, he added, "And I'm no Jedi, nor have I ever claimed to be. At the same time, neither am I Sith. No, I walk my own path in the Force. These..." he indicated his lightsabers. "... I built myself a month after my mother was killed, ten years ago. And I've had them ever since. But do not think they are the only weapons I carry." He tapped his gauntlets. "Regardless, I--" Mesmerin stopped suddenly, picking up a faint ripple in the Force. But, just as he felt it... it was gone. He hummed in thought, wondering what that was supposed to be. "Strange..." he whispered. He looked to Rae. "I don't think I caught your name. Might I ask who you are?"
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The white vixen turned her head to the Dragon, upon hearing his voice refer to her."Rae, just call me Rae." Rae responded, in all honesty that pretty much was true that was her name or actually her nickname...but nothing much else was interesting about her, that which could be told anyway.
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After seeing how crowded the beach was, Sora gave up on relaxing there and decided to go to a nearby steakhouse. "Let's hope the food is better than the elbow-room of the beach." she thought out-loud as she entered in and went to go sit at a table, setting her bag next to her leg as a waitress came up to her.
The iguana waitress gave a nod and asked to the timber wolf, holding up a data-pad to take orders and send them to the cook quickly. "What'll you be having?"
"I'll go for the Full-Pound Ribeye with potato wedges and fried onion petals." Sora spoke with a look up to her, having glanced at the menu for a short while. "For the drink, give me a cherry lemonade."
The waitress gets everything on the pad before leaving, the wolf inhaling deeply before looking up to the ceiling. "At least it smells like how a steakhouse would be back on Earth."
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Emilá nodded. “Rae and Mesmerin. Very nice to meet you. Welcome to the biggest party this side of the galaxy!” The limo slowed to a stop and the chauffeur opened the door. Emilá climbed out, smiling. “Let’s see if we can’t find some more interesting people!” She winked at her bodyguards. “Get us a table, and if anyone looks particularly interesting, invite them to the party!” Emilá is a stark contrast to her more serious companions, very exaggerated and overly excited.
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Mesmerin stepped out next, and rose to his full, near-seven-foot height. Being in the open sun, he donned the hood of his cloak until they were inside, where he drew it back again. His eyes slowly scanned the steakhouse patrons, stopping when he noticed Sora. Mesmerin lightly bumped Emila and indicated Sora. "What about that one?" he suggested.
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"I dunno, does she really mind having more girls?" Rae asked, her characteristic tendency to appear out of nowhere, possibly scaring the other two, as she spoke up, looking around for an empty or partially empty table, her stomach grumbling ,she hadn't eaten anything since she arrived about an hour ago.
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Emilá nodded at Mesmerin, giving a sideways glance to Rae. She sensed a sort of psionics in her, but she can’t quite pinpoint it without her using her abilities. In any event... “Excellent idea, Mesmerin.” She walked up to Sora. “Heyyy, your dinner is on me if you come site with us!” She smiled warmly. Meanwhile, one of the bodyguards came up to her. “Miss Wolfrunner, they’ve prepared a table in a back room for us.” Emilá nodded. “Excellent! I hate the noise levels out here. Come along!” She lead them to the back of the restaurant to a large circle table in its own room, with soft, pleasant music in the background. A waiter places menus for everyone.
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Sora had gotten herself to relax before the call-out to her happened. "Hm? Um... okay, but no funny business." she spoke before she got up to follow the group, picking up her pack as she moved from the table she sat at.
The waitress that took Sora's order made note of this and had adjusted the order position to accommodate for this.
"So... why the generous offer?" she asked as she sat down at the new table, her bag being set against her leg again.
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"She's having a large party for some unknown reason.." Rae explained to Sora, at least what she could get without reading Emila's mind with her telepathic powers, Turning to the waiter "I'll have the sirloin steak and for drink, make it apple cider, please."
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"I'm gonna have the sirloin myself, cooked medium-rare, with a side of mashed potatoes and green beans - drink will be a regular cola... whatever passes for those around here," Mesmerin told the waiter after he was seated. He quickly made sure his lightsabers were still clipped to his belt before resting his hands on his thighs. "So, tell me something, Emila," Mesmerin requested in an effort to make conversation, "Where are you from?"
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Emilá smiled at the waiter. “One filet mignon, medium rare.” She turned back to the table. “Well, to answer a few questions, I’m here for my bachelorette party! I’m set to be married to a certain Mr.... something something, stuffy business man.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m looking to have the time of my life, meet interesting people, and... keep the party going as long as possible!” She winked at the table. “And I wouldn’t worry about money. It’s not an issue in my family.” She sighed.
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"I'm no Psionic, Biotic, Jedi, Sith, or telekinetic... but something about your body-language and tone tells me that you're definitely not one wanting for the marriage." she spoke before she received her previously-ordered appetizers first, eating a bit on them with her right hand. "This moment seems like a setup to forget about it rather than to celebrate it." she added as she moved that hand to her drink to take a sip as she watched the others, having taken a mental note of the visible weapons on the others and having her left hand just barely in her bag to grab her own pocket-pistol if she needed it.
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"I had noticed this, myself," Mesmerin said, "But thought it would have been... inappropriate, to point it out."
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"I'm no Psionic, Biotic, Jedi, Sith, or telekinetic... but something about your body-language and tone tells me that you're definitely not one wanting for the marriage." she spoke before she received her previously-ordered appetizers first, eating a bit on them with her right hand. "This moment seems like a setup to forget about it rather than to celebrate it." she added as she moved that hand to her drink to take a sip as she watched the others, having taken a mental note of the visible weapons on the others and having her left hand just barely in her bag to grab her own pocket-pistol if she needed it.
" Would you want to be forced into a marriage, for money or some other silly reason?" Rae asked "perfectly reasonable to me,but my question is, how does a rich girl fool her father so easily?"Rae asked sipping her drink once she received it. "Your hiding something else besides that, but I'll take it you don't want it known so I will leave it at that." Rae said turning to Mesmerin. "I don't suppose you've heard of the Jedi marauders? You don't take me for as my one of as friend puts it as a light-sider or dark-sider..."She asked the dragon, turning to Sora. "And you... your just a Merc like me, correct?"
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Mesmerin looked to Rae. "Jedi... Marauders?" he asked. "Can't say I've heard of them. Who are they?"
*** Elsewhere in Gunnison ***
A middle-aged man woke his son up, armed with his rifle. This was the day. The son was already half-awake, and began dressing. His own rifle was leaning against the wall...
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Emilá tipped her glass to Sora. “Very perceptive of you. But my idea is it would be easy to forget...” she leaned in and spoke quieter. “If I didn’t go back.” She shrugged. “And you seem like an interesting lot. I have money. Lots of it. I just need some... let’s just say, skilled friends.” She smiled and sipped at her drink, turning her attention to the conversation about Jedi marauders.
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Emilá tipped her glass to Sora. “Very perceptive of you. But my idea is it would be easy to forget...” she leaned in and spoke quieter. “If I didn’t go back.” She shrugged. “And you seem like an interesting lot. I have money. Lots of it. I just need some... let’s just say, skilled friends.” She smiled and sipped at her drink, turning her attention to the conversation about Jedi marauders.
"I'll explain that later." She said to Mesmerin, her ears perking to Emil's words "What sort of skills do you need?" The white vixen asked, her attention now on the 'young runaway bride'.
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"Forgive me, madame," Mesmerin said, "But from the sounds of it, you need more than not to go back. You sound like you... need to disappear." Mesmerin smiled and chuckled. "Ironic that I am in need of the same thing, if for harsher and much more... different circumstances."
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"I am no mercenary. Mercs do anything if the pay is high enough." she spoke as she looked to Rae, adding a "I just got off a six-month tour." before she took another sip, then she started to eat again, her hand still on the pocket-pistol as she watched them out of caution. "And as much as I'd like to just 'disappear', I would be going AWOL if I stayed away for more than a month."
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The feline felt lonely and somber as he treaded the sidewalks slowly beside the beach, his phone at paw. Having found the address, he felt the need to have some time to himself before heading to wherever it leads. M gave a weary sigh, leaning unto the rails that seperated the sidewalk and the beach.
The Caracal silently stood to watch the bystanders of all species and sorts that is playing with sand or water, feeling the small breeze caress his fur. The vacation may be peaceful, but it is still quite a bore.
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(Waiting on Mikala before posting with Mesmerin again.)
The father and his 19-year-old son both got into the father's pickup truck and headed for the freeway, discussing the hunt soon to begin.
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“You guys are smart people, you get exactly what I mean!” She smiled brightly. “And I was pretty sure I’d find it on New Colorado. And lookie here!” She guestures towards all of them. “This is exactly what-“ She stopped speaking mid-sentence as the waiter arrives with their steaks, serving them out. Beyond the entrance to this side room the women who were with Emilá before are seated.
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"Look, I'm not for hire." the timber wolf spoke, starting up in eating the main-course and side of her meal. She stopped to swallow before continuing to speak. "I have an employer already and most-likely they will not like me taking up a job with a possible conflict of interest." she added, resuming to eat her food with one hand, the other still on her bag she had brought with her. As she ate, her ears would flick to hearing nearby sounds, but her attention was focused on the one providing for the food and drink.
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Mesmerin smiled and chuckled. He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them again. "If you need to disappear, I can help accomplish that," he told Emila. "But I sense there is a larger reason we met." His smile faded. "The Force is a difficult thing to predict; nothing happens by accident. I feel our paths have crossed for a reason - more than a similar desire to vanish among the stars. What that reason is, I can only speculate." He dug into his meal after that, letting his speculations sink in.
*** Gunnison Outskirts ***
The father and his son parked the truck at the turnout, and hiked into the woods on foot, tracking their prey.
*** WY Cargo Vessel, New Colorado Orbit ***
Things were getting stranger by the minute. First, the Weyland-Yutani Corp. sends them to a grid coordinate to investigate a downed ship. They get there, find the ship of a familiar origin, and pick up a survivor, who later dies. Then, ten minutes later, the CMO comes in to find a hole in the alien's chest, indicating something broke out. Now, crewmen were disappearing, people weren't reporting for their shifts, and those still there kept reporting a god-awful hissing. Which was a major concern for the captain, given the cargo he was carrying. If just one of those b******s got loose, it would be a disaster. So the captain ordered the ship put in orbit of New Colorado until this issue was resolved.
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"Dissapearing in my specialty, I think I can also help ,but as Mesmerin said, I think something else may be up I've defintly felt something Odd, in the last few minutes of my stay here." Rae replied, starting to eat her food, though keeping her eyes On Mesmerin, having full knowledge that Force-users could usually pick up threats before they became threats.
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“Could it be the feeling we’re being watched?” She chuckled. “I don’t have any special powers to sense things, but I’m used to that feeling.” She grimaced as she spoke before returning to her pleasant smile. “You’re very kind to offer to help.” She nodded at Rae and Mesmerin.
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M aren't aware of how long has it been since he ate. He was already sleepy before entering the transport towards New Colorado that he forgot checking the time of his departure and immediately went to sleep. The feline suddenly felt his stomach groan as soon as the thought of food touched his mind. Well, he did have money with him anyways, so it wouldn't hurt buying himself lunch.
He decided to enter the first thing he saw- which was a random steakhouse. Pushing the glass doors gently, he ventured inside. M sat on the nearest vacant table, waiting for someone to take his order, also a bit nervous as he always did when ordering food. He rarely ate in a steak house, and this is the first time he went on alone. He grabbed the menu and scanned its contents, quickly finding his usual selection.
One of the waiters, an otter, approached him. "Welcome sir, how may I take your order?" In a quick swipe of paw, the mustelid opened his data-pad.
"The uh-" M paused to take a quick side-glance at the menu. "Just a Flat Iron Steak, please. I'd have water as a drink."
"Alright sir, thank you for ordering." And with that, the otter left M in silence.
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Sora finished off her meal and drink, getting up and picking up the bag with a slight bow to Emilá. "Thank you for the meal, but I'm not interested in another job. I'm here for my leave-time and I intend on taking it." she spoke before she left the steakhouse to go find somewhere relaxing to be, quietly singing an ancient shanty. "A recruitin' sergeant came our way, from an inn near town at the break of day..."
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Mesmerin watched Sora leave, then commented, "Not very chatty..." His attention returned to Emila. "And it's not a feeling of being watched - I know what that feels like. No... this is something else. But what it is, again, I can only speculate; the Force is a difficult thing to predict." He looked to Rae. "I almost forgot to ask, where are you from, Rae?"
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Mesmerin watched Sora leave, then commented, "Not very chatty..." His attention returned to Emila. "And it's not a feeling of being watched - I know what that feels like. No... this is something else. But what it is, again, I can only speculate; the Force is a difficult thing to predict." He looked to Rae. "I almost forgot to ask, where are you from, Rae?"
Rae shrugged, when Sora got up and left, turning to Mesmerin as he spoke to her. "I'm from the Dragon'taan system." Rae replied "Why do you ask?" She added.
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"I may spend most of my time alone, but that doesn't mean I won't try to get to know the people I meet," Mesmerin said. He paused, then added, "Dragon'taan, huh? Heard of the place. Never been there, though. You Dragon'taan Marauder Corps?"
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"I may spend most of my time alone, but that doesn't mean I won't try to get to know the people I meet," Mesmerin said. He paused, then added, "Dragon'taan, huh? Heard of the place. Never been there, though. You Dragon'taan Marauder Corps?"
"Eh kinda sorta." Rae replied holding her hand out level and rotating it back and forth as she spoke. "I"m actually a Merc and since I live there, they tend to offer me contracts, for them."
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Jayce Blackburn’s brow creased increasingly as he watched the gauges of his vessel. He had set a path home, to Mongdrigo, but his drives seemed now to fight his orders.
“No, no,” Jayce hissed at the console. “One hundred thirty is bad, go down.” The purple raccoon punched a few keys, but got a terrible groan as a response. Jayce grit his teeth, and tried to activate his warp drive.
A heavy, bassy thrum echoed throughout local space, audible even in New Colorado.
Bits of Jayce’s vessel scattered away as his warp core failed. The Mongdrigan sighed loudly and leaned back in his seat. Grumpily, even though his ship was now crippled, he piloted the ship to New Colorado.
A few minutes would pass before a god-awful metallic grinding signaled the Mongdrigan’s landing. Horrid green smoke and blue electrical discharge poured from the wounded vessel.
Jayce popped the cockpit open and stepped out. Checking his wallet, Jayce bit his lip.
“A little strapped. Gonna need a pickup, ‘less someone’s willing to help me.”
The Mongdrigan sighed again and made his way to the entrance.
Without prompting, Jayce laid out his weapons.
Firstly, a simple short bladed machete, a tool more than a weapon.
Secondly, a Mark 5 Smart Pistol. Able to track targets from about twenty feet away, eight rounds of fin-controlled bullets would hone in on the targets skull.
Thirdly, Jayce’s prized possession. A gift from his brother, for when Jayce hunted. The Transuranic Arquebus.
An archaic operating rifle, single shot muzzle loaded. But the round was the size of a small cat and punched through most armor like wet tissue. It was big, loud, and deadly.
Collecting his gear, Jayce headed deeper into New Colorado.
Now in a decent light, the Mongdrigan appeared worse for wear. The left half of his lower jaw was a shiny steel, his eyes a bright, gem-like green. His ears were tipped with the same gem green.
All signs of tiberium infection.
-
“Pardon, but who are the Dragon’taan marauders?” Emilá asked curiously. For someone with a timer on her freedom, she does still love to chat.
-
Seconds turned into minutes. He hasn't had anyone but his thoughts and the chatter behind him. Chin rested on his left paw, the Caracal leaned unto the table in wait, free paw rhythmically tapping on the furniture with his claws.
M must admit that he have been ignorant to the world— or should he say universe? Doesn't matter. The feline haven't heard about New Colorado until it was proposed to him by his boss and explained further by his colleagues. Without having any idea to what New Colorado is except of "The place is good! I wish I could be there!", M wishes that there are better and more elaborate explanations.
His ears perks upward as they heard someone approaching his table. Even in a large, noisy room, he can still deter if someone is approaching, especially if said person is looking straight at him. M turned around and saw the same Otter who took his order. Shrugging, he watched the waiter place his food on the table and settle the glass of water right beside it, the ice clinking inside. With a mutter of thanks, M watched the Otter leave.
Flat Iron Steak, huh? M wonders if the taste is different from where he came from and New Colorado's. Only one way to find out. With the fork and knife provided, M sliced the meat easily, the very aroma of the steak making his mouth water. He took a bite as soon as it was cut, and cracked a small grin at how delicious it is. Well, now he know that it is the same as his usual.
-
"The Dragon'taan Marauder Corps," Mesmerim explained, "The Dragon-Shifter military, formed just prior to the outbreak of the Marauder War, the Marauder War being the conflict fought against the Necromyan Collective. Some months later, the Marauder Corps fought the Drakkonian Combine to a stalemate in what is now called the Mirror Conflict, which ended with the signing of the treaty of Draconis. Since then, I hear, the Marauder Corps has fought numerous other foes that threatened them and their allies. The most prolific of them being the Imperial Forces under Emperor Demitrius Zaarin. Long story. I never met any Marauder Corps personnel, so I don't know anything about them outside of what is public knowledge."
-
"And even less is known about their spec ops teams, some say that it's even a false rumor that they exist..."Rae replied "Then there's the New Cerian command close allies of the DMC...."
-
Sora had made her way back to the beach, her time in the steakhouse having given some time for the crowd of people to thin-down. "Well, this is as best as it is possibly going to get." she grumbled before she made her way to a changing station, keeping her bag close to herself so she could get into her swimsuit. She then grabs out a beach towel before she shuffled the clothing underneath her pocket pistol, then she picks up the bag and makes her way to the sand to find a good spot to set-up. It took her a few minutes before she found an ideal spot, pulling out a set of nose-bridge display glasses from the bag and putting it on before it darkened rather quickly to shield her eyes.
-
“Interesting.” She pauses, deep in thought. The check is placed down in front of her and she places down enough to cover it and a hefty tip.
-
His steak disappeared as fast as it was served. It was a fine meal too. His amber gaze switched slowly from his plate to his paws, placing the fork and the knife beside each other with their ends facing 11 o'clock. Something he picked up in one of his assignments. Not that everyone does these fancy stuff, it just feels nice to do, no matter if the waiter do understand it or not.
M recollected his thoughts, thinking of what he'll do next after this steakhouse. As far as he is concerned, he's in charge of himself for the next 15 days. He considered calling a friend from his division, but decided against it because he might mock him indirectly. He sighed, his gaze now directed towards the window next to him.
-
"So," Mesmerin asked Emila, "What's your next move?"
*** Orbit ***
Situation bad, getting worse. Bugs broke containment, and were running amok. Even worse, the dead Yaut'ja had one of those things in him, and it burst free. Now they had a creature worse than the bugs running around. It was a complete surprise, then, when one of the crewmen, armed with one of the Yaut'ja's weapons, spotted the thing and started shooting, missed, and blew out the stabilizers. The WY ship plummeted into the atmosphere, heading toward the woods to the north of Gunnison. Most of the ship burned up via re-entry, but some of the crew survived the crash.
When he recovered, one of the crewmen sent a subspace distress signal on all frequencies. Just as he sent it, though, a spear-tipped tail ended his pain.
*** Woods ***
The father and his son remained hidden as the son stalked his prey. He had the buck in his sights, and was about to squeeze the trigger of his hunting rifle when a loud BANG startled the buck and sent it running. Both hunters looked up, in the direction the sound came from, and saw something, trailing smoke and fire, rocket overhead and crash somewhere east of their position. The son, ever the curious one, went running to investigate, and the father had to work to keep up.
When they arrived at the crash site, they say a vessel with the WY Logo still barely visible. The father suggested they report this to the sheriff, and urged his son to hurry along. The faint chittering and hissing didn't help. The two headed back the way they came, but the son tripped and fell, and the father took a defensive stance.
No words needed to be said of what happened - but the trees and birds would bear silent witness to what happened to an innocent family, in the wrong place at the wrong time.
-
"So," Mesmerin asked Emila, "What's your next move?"
*** Orbit ***
Situation bad, getting worse. Bugs broke containment, and were running amok. Even worse, the dead Yaut'ja had one of those things in him, and it burst free. Now they had a creature worse than the bugs running around. It was a complete surprise, then, when one of the crewmen, armed with one of the Yaut'ja's weapons, spotted the thing and started shooting, missed, and blew out the stabilizers. The WY ship plummeted into the atmosphere, heading toward the woods to the north of Gunnison. Most of the ship burned up via re-entry, but some of the crew survived the crash.
When he recovered, one of the crewmen sent a subspace distress signal on all frequencies. Just as he sent it, though, a spear-tipped tail ended his pain.
*** Woods ***
The father and his son remained hidden as the son stalked his prey. He had the buck in his sights, and was about to squeeze the trigger of his hunting rifle when a loud BANG startled the buck and sent it running. Both hunters looked up, in the direction the sound came from, and saw something, trailing smoke and fire, rocket overhead and crash somewhere east of their position. The son, ever the curious one, went running to investigate, and the father had to work to keep up.
When they arrived at the crash site, they say a vessel with the WY Logo still barely visible. The father suggested they report this to the sheriff, and urged his son to hurry along. The faint chittering and hissing didn't help. The two headed back the way they came, but the son tripped and fell, and the father took a defensive stance.
No words needed to be said of what happened - but the trees and birds would bear silent witness to what happened to an innocent family, in the wrong place at the wrong time.
A sudden chill, caused Rae to shiver a bit, Did you feel that?" Rae asked Mesmerin, her senses suddenly on high alert.
-
Emilá looks at them seriously. “Something is going to happen. You can feel it in the air. Our next move is to gather as many, as they say, ‘interesting’ folks as we can before whatever it is that will provide our cover happens.” Her eyes wandered over towards M. She called the waiter over. “Pay for the furs meal and invite them over.”
-
Mesmerin sensed it a split second before Rae, and inhaled sharply through gritted teeth as he sensed a massive tremor in the Force. He closed his eyes, staving off the cold chill of a surge in the Dark Side. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong.
-
Realizing that New Colorado wasn't exactly the place to walk around with his weapons, Jayce had returned his gear to his ship. The frequent green sparks from the rear of the vessel still spat, but the acrid green smoke had died off. Jayce sighed and figured a vacation was in order. With no liquid water on his homeworld, Jayce was immediately drawn to the beach. It's smell, the sounds, the sight were completely alien to him. He seemed, however, to treat the sand as if it were a minefield. Each step was preceded by tapping the lead foot on the sand before putting pressure down. His large coat and lanky frame didn't help with his balance, so it was indeed quite an event.
-
Rae tapped Mesmerin's shoulder "Hello? Force-boy, did you feel that, i asked..." Rae said, looking back to Emila, with a serious look. "Your hiding something,but I feel it's not important right now."
-
After a peaceful traveling, the ship was arrived to New Colorado’s Spaceship port, Gabe coming down and once he felt the air of that planet, a half smile appeared on his face while turns on the phone connectivity only to receive a bunch of messages from his manager crazed by his scape. «I don’t need it on that place.» He thought throwing his phone into a garbage can, and walking direct to his lodgment; a private apartment on the city center.
“The first thing to do need to be rent a vehicle” Gabe grumbled in a low voice for refusing take a cab no much ago. Apparently, he didn’t expect his lodging to be so far from the spaceport.
After a few minutes walking and a couple of biometric security filters, finally Gabe arrived to his apartment, keep his cloth, take a shower, and finally he was ready to leave. Not without first calling a car rental agency. He had chosen a small car, with space for only two passengers; enough to a hungry lion that needed a good piece of grilled beef and some to drink. After a while consulting the restaurant guide integrated with the car’s driving assistant, the feline with mane came to a food place, nothing fancy; he was sick of it. He ordered a piece of steak with French fries, a good drink imported from his home planet, and spend his time remembering the things he missed before fame, lost on himself…
OCC:
There is my introduction post, Rom, thanks for accepting my char sheet.
EDIT: References modified.
-
(OOC: That's a very good post, LeafLion, but the only gripe I have with it is that we're not supposed to reference alcohol in these RPs. Frowned on by the Mods here. Apart from that, it's an admirable post.)
"Yes, I felt it," Mesmerin responded finally. "There has been a... disturbance in the Force. A massive disturbance."
-
Sora snapped out of her skyward 'stare off into space' when she saw the familiar trail of a re-entry of a ship. Even with the options the sunglasses had, all she got was the basic outline of the ship and a few snapshots of it before it hit. "That was a crash. Not a controlled re-entry." she thought out-loud before she got up, grabbing up her stuff before she saw a figure walking on the sand from the direction that the ship had landed, noticing the raccoon . His attire made her stop and think before she were to call out, having a hand on her pistol in while in the bag case she needed to use it. "Sir? Are you okay? Do you need medical attention?" she called out. "I can call for an ambulance if needed."
-
(OOC: That's a very good post, LeafLion, but the only gripe I have with it is that we're not supposed to reference alcohol in these RPs. Frowned on by the Mods here. Apart from that, it's an admirable post.)
"Yes, I felt it," Mesmerin responded finally. "There has been a... disturbance in the Force. A massive disturbance."
"So no details huh?" Rae asked, "I think this qualifies as a moment to suit up." Rae said as her body began to glow, her armor Materializing onto her body.
-
Jayce glanced up from his phantom-mine-sweeping and looked around. He finally sighted Sora, and realizing she was talking to him, shook his head. "Huh? Oh! My ship. No no, I'm fine. Warp-generator failed, that's all." Realizing Sora wasn't too cautious about where she stood, Jayce relaxed. "The sand is safe here?"
-
"Huh?" M mused, mostly to himself. Thanks to his species' hightened sense of hearing, he's able to make out noises from lenghty distances. M just suddenly heard what the patrons behind him said, and have a faint idea of what 'Force' is. The feline thinks it is related to those lightsaber wielding ruffians.
M decided to look around, catching a glance of three figures behind him. He then went back to face his empty plate. Well, there they are.
-
Mesmerin looked to Rae in surprise, evidently shocked to know she had that kind of armor on her. Why didn't he suspect that before?
*** Elsewhere in space ***
The WY Distress signal was sent on a subspace frequency, audible to anyone with the right equipment. And who should pick it up but a crimson-furred Lucario, dressed in custom armor that had pieces clearly of Yaut'ja origin, with amber-yellow dragon eyes that seemed to churn like clouds. While his girlfriend slept - at least, he assumed she was sleeping - the Lucario traced the signal to New Colorado. Further examination of the records of that vessel indicated it was carrying some high-value cargo that required high-class suspended animation and stasis pods. The Lucario knew of only one creature fit that profile.
Apparently, they broke containment, and caused the ship to crash, one way or another. Whether they did so intentionally or if the crew did so inadvertently was irrelevant; it seemed it was up to the Lucario to fix this issue, clean up the mess the Weyland-Yutani Corporation had made.
Again.
He just hoped he could get there and clean up the mess before anyone there knew of the danger - the last thing he needed was to attract attention to himself.
-
A female Cobalt, blue colored Lucario, stepped into the same room as the crimson Lucario. "I take it you've already seen the Distress signal, and already determined the ship and it's cargo?"she asked.
"Somethign really bad is about to happen..." Rae almost growled.
-
"Correct," the crimson Lucario sighed. "Seems it's up to us to clean up Weyland-Yutani's mess... again." He looked to the female Lucario. "This time, Cobalt... promise me you'll stay here. I came too close to losing you last time. You can provide tactical overwatch from here - radio chatter, network monitoring, and you know how to fly the ship - if I need evac, you can come get me."
-
"I wouldn't have gotten hurt, if you hadn't distracted me." Cobalt said back, grumbling to herself, as she stepped near a computer port. "Fine but only if you'll promise me two things, Stay safe and when you get back I want some more one-on-one time..."she added crossing her arms...
-
"It's definitely not quicksand." she spoke. "This is a beach resort. Unless you can't swim, it should be perfectly fine." the timber wolf spoke as she raised an eyebrow at him. "You may want to get new clothes, though. Stay out here in that long enough and you'll start burning up." Sora started to back away, never really hearing of someone who never been on a beach or someone who never heard of a resort before.
-
"Interesting." Emilá smiled. "I think we should get going." She stood up. "Something big is going down, and I don't intend on waiting it out here. I will travel with you until the right time strikes." She paused for a moment, reflecting on Rae's comment. "Well, a girl has to have her secrets, doesn't she? Can't put everything out on the first meeting."
-
“Wait, sand can be fast?” Jayce was obviously very confused. “That’s a horrifying idea. No, I had read about a uh...whatsit...cah-rab-eh? They’re these subterranean armored spiders with scissors for hands, from what I remember. I didn’t want to run afoul of such creature.” He wiped his brow and took his coat off, holding it near his chest. “It is rather warm. Not used to this weather. Mongdrigo isn’t the warmest place.”
-
"Crabs. And they only pinch if you get in their territory. Most of them are pretty easy to spot." Sora explained. "And yes, you probably need to find clothes more suitable for this weather than that. You do stand out like a sore thumb. Shops are back that way?" she added as she pointed to the mainland with her thumb.
-
The three behind him effectively took M's attention by the woman's vague words. His ears angling towards their direction, it may be obvious but he already prepared a lie for it. So there are secrets and mysteries that he doesn't know about- and probably should never even try to know about -but because of the Dragon's words about disturbance and force or something... the Caracal doesn't like what his brain is making up. In fact, the feline tend to exaggerate the simple things and end up preparing for the worst-case scenarios, which his colleagues find funny.
The same Otter waiter approached M, and by the looks of it, it's about the payment. "Here's your bill, sir." The mustelid showed the amount M needs to pay and the Caracal obliged wordlessly.
-
Mesmerin didn't answer, but closed his eyes and reached out with the Force. Moments later, he opened them and looked to Emila. "I trust I can get in contact with you later if I need to?"
*** Unspecified Location ***
"Done," K'Tath said, and plotted a course for New Colorado. "You might want to take a seat," he suggested to Cobalt.
-
Emilá handed Mesmerin and Rae each their own compads. “Yup. Use these. They’re on their own network, so we will always be able to communicate.” She tossed one over to M, with the compad landed right over the bill when he reaches for it. “Just in case.” She winked and then walked out of the restaurant onto the street.
-
Just as when he's about to give his money, a compad suddenly landed right on top of his table which made him jump in surprise. M sharply glanced at the three's direction and saw the woman in red wink. The feline couldn't help but grin.
M payed for the food he ate. As soon as the Otter received the payment, he smartly withdrew from M. M's eyes followed the vixen until she got outside the establishment. "What an interesting bunch..." He muttered to himself as he swiped the compad from the table and hid it in his jacket.
-
Jayce nodded, and turned towards the shops. “I hope they take cash...left my card in the ship.” He fished his wallet from his pocket, and thumbed through it. “Mm...left my cash, too.” He shrugged and headed onwards.
-
"Do you have any sort of identification on you? Maybe they might be able to look up your accounts through the system database and you can buy your clothes that way?" the timber wolf asked, a bit more relaxed but still cautious with the strange raccoon.
-
Mesmerin accepted the commpad and nodded to Emila. "We should keep in contact. Something now feels... wrong, here. And until I find out what, we should all be on the lookout," he said before drawing his hood over his head and walking for the exit.
*** Sewer Entrance ***
Some ways shy of the city, a police officer was investigating one of the sewer entrances. He wanted to investigate the crashed WY ship, but orders were orders. The tunnel got dark fast, so the officer - a canine named Ray Adams - switched on his flashlight. He could hear raspy breathing, and wondered what it was. Much to his relief, an elderly feline came towards him. Ray sighed. This wasn't the first time he'd dealt with this man.
"Harry... we keep telling you guys to stay out of here, and you keep coming back," Ray told the man. "I hate to do this, but I'm gonna have to take you in."
Harry sighed wearily. "Let me just get my dog?" Ray knew better than to force Harry to go anywhere without his pet. "Butch? Butch?" Harry called. The pet canine came, but not from the direction Harry evidently was expecting, and the pet was carrying something. "Butch!" Harry called the dog. "Come here, boy! What is that?"
As though giving Harry a gift, Butch dropped something that Ray was not expecting in the least - a severed hand. Both Ray and Harry recoiled. Ray immediately got on the radio and contacted the Sheriff. This was not good at all...
-
"I dunno why I need this." Rae said looking at the compad before attaching it to her left thighplate,"Where do think the crap will hit the fan first." Rae asked Mesmerin, as she followed Mesmerin outside, having worked with Jedi before she was familiar with their abilities, as if her actions hadn't already proved that.
*** Unspecified Location ***
Cobalt sighed, attaching some sort of electrical cord to the spike on top of her left hand an attaching the other end into the computer port, linking her to the ship. "Alright I'm in, can you hear me on your comm system? "It appears as it has started im picking up a message over a local police band, someone found a,,, severed hand."
-
"I don't know," Mesmerin replied. "The Force is never clear on points like that. All I know is that something is wrong."
*** Unspecified Location ***
"Keep at it," K'Tath replied. "Let me know what else they find. We have approximately four hours before we hit orbit."
-
Rae sighed "I was afraid of that." the white vixen sighed ,putting her helmet on, her suit sealing, her weapon a BR-90 ACR appearing in her hands, the rifle unloaded and empty, she began to quickly inspect it before attaching it to the holster on her armors back.
*** Unspecified Location ***
"It's pretty spotty at this range but I'll see what I can do I had to record and modify the last transmission I picked up to understand it." Cobalt explained.
-
Seated in front of a half-eaten dish, the second past to be minutes, minutes to a full hour and the maned feline finally decided to go away. Many sites, many possibilities and all that he did, was stay driving without a direction. It was for a few minutes, until he glimpsed through the windshell a lonely beach. Very unusual considering the season; so, he decided spend some time on that place. Gabe took off his shoes, touching the warm sand with his nude paw, walk away from the car to the coast and a timid smile was drawn on his face.
He was enjoying that moment of reconnection with nature, but no much later an unknown sound disturbed his internal peace. «A shooting star?» Asked to himself, while the object falls down around to a mile from his location. —Holy crap! — His instincts dictate him to go check, a natural curiosity or something, so he rode his vehicle and drove to the place.
OOC: I hope not disturbate if my char go to check :3
-
M shrugged, standing up himself after the other two left the steakhouse. He then proceeded to leave the place a few moments later. There's something ominous going around here, and he feels like he's going to be in the thick of it.
-
Sora yawned a bit before she adjusts the pack to a better grip and swapping hands in her way of holding it. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm still suffering from jet-lag it seems. I'm going back to my room. I would recommend you go back to your ship and get your money before venturing about too much." she spoke as she left the raccoon, heading back to the changing station to get back in her normal clothes first so she could put the pistol in her pocket instead of having to pull it out of her bag when needed. Something still felt off about the raccoon, but she dismissed it due to the notion of inexperience and lack-of-knowledge she could see from his actions and words.
-
Emilá smiled to herself for a moment before getting up and stretching. This is a vacation, after all. She decided to head to her luxury hotel and get a massage. She got the peculiar feeling that she'll receive a call when the moment is right.
-
Jayce waved to Sora as she left, returning his attention to the ocean. Genuflecting, the purple raccoon watched the undulant water with fear and fascination. There, after a while, Jayce prayed.
“By the shifting sands under thy baleful gaze, O Great Singular. Thy hatred-blessed landscapes know not of this blasphemous liquid.”
He dropped his other knee, gently pressing his forehead against the sand.
“By thy unfair irreverence, we humbly slave. Toiling to bone and blood. Until our lungs no longer draw your acrid breath.”
He sat back up, contented. His Lord May let him live another day.
-
Mesmerin wandered about for a while, trying to ascertain what it was he felt in the Force. But the Force had gone quiet. With little else to do, he checked into the hotel.
*** Elsewhere on New Colorado ***
A Police SUV pulled up to a parking area where a pickup truck was parked. The lone occupant - Sheriff Eddie Morales, a brown-furred canine - got out and drew his sidearm. He cautiously approached the truck, weapon ready, and peered inside. The truck was empty. Having received a report that his colleague found a severed hand, he still feared what was going on. He activated his radio.
"Ray, you find anything?" he asked.
"Nothing. Anybody parked at the turnout?" Ray Adams replied.
"Buddy Benson's truck," Eddie said. There was a pause.
"Dear god, Eddie... he usually goes out with his kid," Ray stated.
*** New Colorado Orbit ***
K'Tath's ship arrived, cloaked, in orbit, and headed down toward the surface. He wasn't gonna land near the crashed ship, given what said ship was carrying, but close enough to where he wouldn't be walking that far.
"Cobalt, anything new on the police band?" he asked.
-
Mesmerin wandered about for a while, trying to ascertain what it was he felt in the Force. But the Force had gone quiet. With little else to do, he checked into the hotel.
*** Elsewhere on New Colorado ***
A Police SUV pulled up to a parking area where a pickup truck was parked. The lone occupant - Sheriff Eddie Morales, a brown-furred canine - got out and drew his sidearm. He cautiously approached the truck, weapon ready, and peered inside. The truck was empty. Having received a report that his colleague found a severed hand, he still feared what was going on. He activated his radio.
"Ray, you find anything?" he asked.
"Nothing. Anybody parked at the turnout?" Ray Adams replied.
"Buddy Benson's truck," Eddie said. There was a pause.
"Dear god, Eddie... he usually goes out with his kid," Ray stated.
*** New Colorado Orbit ***
K'Tath's ship arrived, cloaked, in orbit, and headed down toward the surface. He wasn't gonna land near the crashed ship, given what said ship was carrying, but close enough to where he wouldn't be walking that far.
"Cobalt, anything new on the police band?" he asked.
"I hope you don't mind if I Tag along with you. I think it'd be best if we stick together." Rae said as she followed along with Mesmerin.
*** New Colorado Orbit ***
"It appears the Sheriff has found an empty truck, about 4000m from the crash site of the WY ship...I think we might have confirmation on 2 casualties." Colbalt sighed. "Damn WY..." she growled . "Do we have anyway of tracking these Xenomorphs or thier spawns?"
-
Mesmerin yelped, nearly jumping out of his skin when Rae spoke to him. He never even felt her approach. "Don't do that to me!" he exclaimed.
*** Approaching New Colorado LZ ***
"I know a few tricks with my armor for tracking them," K'Tath responded. "Soon as we land, I'll upload programs - you can bounce a signal off one of the orbiting satellites to track the Xenomorphs, but do so sparingly; I don't want anyone knowing we're here. Remember what ship we're in."
-
Mesmerin yelped, nearly jumping out of his skin when Rae spoke to him. He never even felt her approach. "Don't do that to me!" he exclaimed.
*** Approaching New Colorado LZ ***
"I know a few tricks with my armor for tracking them," K'Tath responded. "Soon as we land, I'll upload programs - you can bounce a signal off one of the orbiting satellites to track the Xenomorphs, but do so sparingly; I don't want anyone knowing we're here. Remember what ship we're in."
Rae's ears drooped"Sorry Force of habit... I'm a stealth specialist..." She apologized.
*** Approaching New Colorado LZ ***
"I told you to fix that..." Cobalt sighed.. "We're going to fix that after we get out of here, I'm tired of hearing about it."
-
Mesmerin breathed a sigh of relief. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that," he told Rae as he accepted the key to his room.
*** New Colorado LZ ***
"If you remember, I already had my eye on a new ship," K'Tath told Cobalt as he landed the ship. "You know, the scaled-up variant of the Resistance Y-Wing? The one with upgraded arsenal and ablative armor generators?" He rose from the pilot's seat and started for the cargo bay, which he'd turned into a makeshift armory. "And the new ship will have a dedicated armory, too," he called out to her.
-
M slowly strolled the streets with his phone at hand, the mobile device providing him a GPS with a direction from where to go, which is... this hotel.
The felidae scratched his left ear. He didn't expect such luxury for him, nor did he want to recieve some sort of special treatment from the Agency. It seems bothersome for the young Caracal. He entered the glass doors and introduced himself to the woman at the counter, acquiring the key to his room. He decided to proceed there immediately.
-
Mesmerin breathed a sigh of relief. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that," he told Rae as he accepted the key to his room.
*** New Colorado LZ ***
"If you remember, I already had my eye on a new ship," K'Tath told Cobalt as he landed the ship. "You know, the scaled-up variant of the Resistance Y-Wing? The one with upgraded arsenal and ablative armor generators?" He rose from the pilot's seat and started for the cargo bay, which he'd turned into a makeshift armory. "And the new ship will have a dedicated armory, too," he called out to her.
"Force of habit.." Rae sighed "Sorry." she added
*** New Colorado LZ ***
"And do i get my own room?"the female "Does it come with the astromech?" THe female Lucario asked.
-
She eventually makes it to her room and locks the door behind her, dropping the bag she carried to the side and noticing that the detachable locker was put in her room. "They told me to be ready to go once my leave was up. Things have been getting nutty out there in these star systems we're trying to build relations with." she grumbled as she unlocked it and pulled out a communications-pad to start sifting through her messages. "What's this? 'Person of High Interest'?" Sora thought out-loud before she looked about to ensure that there was no one watching into her room or possibly listening in on her.
"To Commander Sora Dazzel: Your leave time will be compensated due to the circumstances given. There is a PoHI at the resort you were all-expenses paid-leave to, she is to be protected at all costs. Her life is to be placed above your own, above other citizens..."
She stopped and shivered at that statement, not liking the mention of protecting just one individual over possibly other civilians.
"Included is a dossier of Emilá Wolfrunner, fiance' to (name redacted). Her husband-to-be's dealings with the N7 Armament Advancement Program are vital to continued progression of the Systems Alliance technological development, and her survival until the marriage is necessary to finalize the NAAP contracts."
"Great, I'm a glorified baby-sitter. They won't even tell me the guy's name, that figures..." she grumbled before she continues reading the message.
"She is having a bachelorette party at the location you intended to take leave, and so we will compensate you for your interrupted leave time along with providing all-expenses paid for food and necessities to maintain a leave-like cover for the duration of her stay. These orders are non-negotiable and her death will result in your demotion along with an Article 15 pending your return."
"Oi. These guys are serious about her. A woman about to marry a business-... no. Of all things, no..." she spoke before she looked through the dossier. "Great. Jet-lag recovery may have to wait." she grumbles as folds away the comm-pad to put it back and secures her work-bag closed before picking up both of her bags once again before getting out of the room, starting up a face-paced walk back towards the steakhouse.
-
As luck would have it, Emilá is just leaving the steakhouse to head to her hotel for some relaxation. She smiled pleasantly at Sora. “Back so soon? The food was pretty good, but I can’t say the portions were THAT small!” Her band of ladies giggle appreciatively at the joke.
-
"My higher-ups have recalled me off of leave... and apparently they want me to protect you, Miss Wolfrunner." she spoke quietly and calmly as possible while revealing she knew her name intentionally. She held a rather serious expression as she held both of her own bags in a ready-to-go fashion. "So where is it that you intend on going?"
-
"What was your name, again?" Mesmerin asked. "Rae? I'm--"
"Mesmerin?" asked a female voice. Mesmerin turned to see a female panther with a young child next to her.
"Megan!" Mesmerin greeted her. "Long time no see! What are you doing here?"
*** New Colorado LZ ***
"Yes to all," K'Tath responded, securing the last piece of armor. "Now, get your game face on; we're going full clandestine here." He headed for the boarding ramp. "Unless ordered to the contrary, keep the ship cloaked, okay?"
-
"Well thanks for the introduction..."Rae sighed a little unnerved at being ignored, wasn't something she was exactly use to considering she usually wanted to be ignored, though on that note she seemingly vanished from sight
*** New Colorado LZ ***
"uhh you told me not to come with you so why do i need a game face?" She asked "On another note I just got some transmission from off world I'm working on decrypting it now." Cobalt explained. "Like you need to tell me what to do?" she replied to his comment on keeping the ship cloaked.
-
Emilá's smile dropped from her face. "Well, actually, you can tell your higher-ups that I have enough babysitters, thank you very much." She walked away dismissively, secretly seething. She already has guards from her father, this one must have been hired by her fiance.
-
"I'd honestly love to tell them that. I'd rather take up another hot-zone-corpse-retrieval mission than be a glorified babysitter." she spoke. "But Systems Alliance heads want specifically you alive to the point that they'd sacrifice one of their most successful N7 Combat Search and Rescue Operatives in their history." Sora added. "Commander Sora Dazzel, at your service until further notice."
-
“Well... hmmm... then, Commander Dazzel, unfortunately I’ll have to insist upon you adopting the uniform of my guard. You understand, to not stand out is important.” She gestured to her guard, who are all wearing short, stylish dresses. “Let’s go... shopping!!!” All of the girls cheer and chatter as if they aren’t a hired crew. Emilá’s excited smile hides the barest hint of her irritation at the situation and how trapped she feels in this gaggle of girls.
-
"I've got some clothing like that already, but if you think I could use another set, lead on." the female timber wolf spoke. "But I am keeping both bags with me until we get you back to your room." She started walking with them, inhaling deeply. "I just wanted to take some leave to be undisturbed for a month... was that so hard to ask of those pencil-pushing, bureaucratic, logistical..." then she starts muttering near incoherently, the words having some Irish and Scottish tones to them.
-
M unlocked his door and entered the hotel room, expressing a sigh of relief. This bizarre day mystifies him. He shook his head as to dismiss the thought forming and spotted at briefcase placed on top of his bed. Must've been where the rest of his clothes are.
He grabbed the case and placed it beside the bed. He'll handle that later. Right now, he'll take a nap. He removed his shoes and decided to clock out.
-
Mesmerin eventually went to his room, flopped down on the bed, and closed his eyes, wondering what it was the Force was trying to warn him about.
*** Woodland area ***
As day began to turn to night, and the denizens of New Colorado went about their affairs in the evening hours, a lone hunter was heading for the ship that had crashed. Tracking it by the distress beacon, K'Tath found it strange that WY had not yet responded to it. He found that odd and disturbing.
Finally finding the ship, K'Tath entered through a breach on the hull. Looking about, he surveyed the damage. "Cobalt, you seeing this? Looks like a hell of a fight took place here," he commented, wondering if Cobalt could even see what he was seeing through his armor cam. K'Tath finally came across the source of the signal - a computer, still active, with a dead human near it. He had apparently been stabbed with a pointed weapon.
Accessing the computer, K'Tath went through the records and confirmed his fears. "Got it," he told Cobalt, "Looks like we have our work cut out for us - this ship was carrying those damned bugs, plus one hybrid. And I don't think I need to mention what that is." He then went about setting the ship to implode, and then rapidly exiting the ship, following the unique trail the first-stage bugs left when they dashed to the outside. After he was clear, the WY ship lit up a bright blue-white color, and was sucked into what some would term as a mini-singularity, and vanished, as if it never were, while K'Tath climbed a tree and began moving among the branches, tracking the bugs via the unique trail they left behind.
Other sentient races would not know it was there unless they had the tech K'Tath had to track it and they knew what to look for.
-
Rae had vanished from sight in reality she had activated her personal cloak and snuck away to the spaceport where her personal ship waited, her ship on double lock down, once she got inside and headed to her own room, she prefered sleeping in her own ship over a fancy hotel room anyway...
***Location Unknown***
"I don't think the term bug adequately describes them... were there any of their remains in the ship? she asked "Why did you blow it up?" She asked, not familar with the 'bugs' as K'Tath had called them. "I finished deciphering the transmission from a couple hours ago, someone very important to someone else is on planet, and someone has hired a Commander Sora Dazzle to protect her, I have no other info unless you want to see the whole message." Cobalt explained "I"m also picking up an NCC ship signature at the spaceport, just so you know, I highly doubt they're here for the same reason we are ,but I'm certain you know what that likely means if the New Cerinian Fleet gets word of the WY ship or the blasted cargo."
-
"Then it's a good thing I destroyed it," K'Tath said. He continued to move among the trees quietly, feeling stealth was of particular importance here.
*** Hours Later ***
When Sheriff Eddie Morales confirmed the truck he found was indeed Buddy Benson's truck, a massive search was organized. What he did not count on was the Gunison citizens moving in to assist. Flashlights in hand, they combed the woods for any sign of Buddy Benson and his son. Even Buddy's wife, Darcy, was out there, shouting their names.
None of them had any idea that K'Tath was literally in their midst, staying perfectly still and cloaked among the branches. While he waited for the search parties to move on, K'Tath cycled through his mask's vision settings and spotted the trail the first-stage bugs left when they moved through the woods. Soon as the search parties were out of earshot, K'Tath moved along the trail, and came upon a grisly scene: Buddy Benson was laying dead on the ground with his son not three feet away, both of whom showed the classic signs of something having broken out of their chests. Definite confirmation.
K'Tath took a vial out of his suit, filled with a corrosive blue liquid, and poured it on both bodies, along with the spider-esque corpses near them. The fluid completely dissolved the bodies, as though they never had been there. He then went back up into the trees and continued tracking the trail. "Talk to be, Cobalt - do the search parties suspect?" K'Tath muttered over the private channel. Of course, he had no reason to think the search parties knew Buddy's body had been there - but it always paid to be sure.
*** Gunison Hotel ***
Mesmerin finally managed to fall asleep, still feeling something was unfolding here on New Colorado.
-
Jayce snorted himself awake.
He had stared so long and so enraptured at the water that he had fallen asleep. He stood from his kneeling position and shook the sand from his clothes. He quickly drew his coat on, his head pounding. Perhaps the wreck had done him in a little more than he thought. The trickle of green-flecked blood from his nose reinforced the thought. He wandered back towards town, vision swimming. A concussion, maybe some sort of hemorrhage, though a small one. “Hospital.” Jayce sort of half-barked at passersby. His anxiety was rising quickly, showing no signs of ebbing.
-
Of all the people that had been searching the woods for the now-disintegrated bodies, the undercover WY Operative was the one who stayed searching the longest. He was investigating an area he thought was where some of the creatures had been when he picked up on EM signatures that were of interest. He tracked it to a crimson-furred Lucario, cleaning up yet another corpse. The operative would have stayed quietly observing had his radio not gone off. The Lucario snarled, whipping around and spotting him. The Lucario could not let his presence be known. He immediately cloaked and gave chase to the man. He circled around the operative's path and cut him off, and as he tried to run past, ambushed him, forcing his wrist blades through the man's gut.
"I regret this act, but I cannot let my presence be known - know that I will clean up this infestation your corporation caused, and I will make sure no one else dies from it," K'Tath said. Once the man had quietly passed on, K'Tath set to work staging a scene to throw off anyone that came looking, then continued tracking the trail left by the creatures.
-
"No ,but i have worse news, i downloaded the manifest from the WY ship before you destroyed it, cargo manifest list a hybrid , as you know and about 10 or so 'facehuggers' "I dunno what they were planning ,but i would imagine they have more than what was on that ship. On a side note I've identified our NCC agent, and at present it doesn't look good." Cobalt explained.
***Spaceport, Rae's ship***
Rae shot up awakening from a nightmare...."Dammit thoughts." She grumbled to herself, deciding to get out of bed.
-
"Why? Who is it?" K'Tath asked as he continued tracking the trail the facehuggers left when they moved through the area.
*** Gunison Sewer ***
Several people were in the sewers looking to set up shop when they heard eerie, echoing screeches coming from deeper within. It wasn't an ideal setup, but they were away from prying eyes, and that's all they could have hoped for. But that was soon to change.
Their guard dog started barking incessantly, despite the owners demanding he stop. Then for one reason or another, the dog scampered off. One of the people was about to go after the dog when he hard something splash in the water, and could swore he saw--
He never saw it coming when a facehugger leapt from the water onto his face. Another of them took the other man by surprise. Xenomorphs began moving into the area, accompanied by a hulking hybrid, which impregnated those that the facehuggers did not get.
-
"Why? Who is it?" K'Tath asked as he continued tracking the trail the facehuggers left when they moved through the area.
*** Gunison Sewer ***
Several people were in the sewers looking to set up shop when they heard eerie, echoing screeches coming from deeper within. It wasn't an ideal setup, but they were away from prying eyes, and that's all they could have hoped for. But that was soon to change.
Their guard dog started barking incessantly, despite the owners demanding he stop. Then for one reason or another, the dog scampered off. One of the people was about to go after the dog when he hard something splash in the water, and could swore he saw--
He never saw it coming when a facehugger leapt from the water onto his face. Another of them took the other man by surprise. Xenomorphs began moving into the area, accompanied by a hulking hybrid, which impregnated those that the facehuggers did not get.
"Rae Arcnon, from what i've gathered on other things Arcnon is the name of the Royal family on Tigaria, so we have two potential VIPs who if are lost to this infestation could cause...well no less than Chaos.
-
"Great - even more reason to contain this infestation," K'Tath growled. "Anyone else I should be aware of?"
-
"Great - even more reason to contain this infestation," K'Tath growled. "Anyone else I should be aware of?"
"No, Nothing on anyone else on the planet, of imprtance or at least that I can find a profile on." Cobalt replied
*Spaceport*
Rae by now walked out of her small armory on her ship, checking her weapons out, she felt something was going down and she wanted to be prepared... Placing her BR-95 rifle onto the back 'holster' of her armor she attached some sort of pistol to the magnetic hip holster, before putting on her silver visored helmet, suit sealing as the locks engaged on her helmet and suit seal....
-
Emilá rolled her eyes. "Commander Dazzel, is that any way to behave on duty?" She tuts softly as she started walking towards the downtown district. "A little bit of nightlife will do us well once we've gotten some shopping in." Emilá decides to take out her frustration with the circumstances with shopping, and they spend hours. At the end of the shopping trip, Sora has 10 new outfits and it might feel like she's tried on every piece of clothes her size in New Colorado. Emilá steps out of the final clothes store, followed by some poor valet who has been brought on to carry all of their shopping. "Well! Now you're prepared for anything, Commander!" She smiled at Sora.
-
Sora was about to give Emilá a piece of her mind, but the wolf restrained herself as they were shopping, being mostly-silent other than saying only what was needed to speed-up the process. While she was strong enough to carry both her bags, the extra walking with the two bags was starting to tire her out and she was starting to feel sorry for the poor guy that was being made to follow them for the extra clothes. Thankfully, she knew her own size rather well, so that sped up the shopping quite a fair bit by taking the guesswork out of the sizes. Once the shopping was said and done, she looks back to Emilá. "Are we going to head back to get some rest? It's late and I'm surprised this place has shops that are open day and night."
-
Sora was about to give Emilá a piece of her mind, but the wolf restrained herself as they were shopping, being mostly-silent other than saying only what was needed to speed-up the process. While she was strong enough to carry both her bags, the extra walking with the two bags was starting to tire her out and she was starting to feel sorry for the poor guy that was being made to follow them for the extra clothes. Thankfully, she knew her own size rather well, so that sped up the shopping quite a fair bit by taking the guesswork out of the sizes. Once the shopping was said and done, she looks back to Emilá. "Are we going to head back to get some rest? It's late and I'm surprised this place has shops that are open day and night."
"Considering how people can come from any planet with who knows what type of daily cycles, I'm not surprised." Said Rae who seemingly appeared out of nowhere near Sora. "Need a hand?" the armored vixen asked.
-
"Ah, nice to see you Rae." Emilá said sourly. "My new lady in waiting and are were just about to hit the clubs, actually. Care to join us?" Turning to Sora, she felt a small twinge of regret that she's taking out her frustrations on a (mostly) innocent bystander, she shrugs. "I mean, you're welcome to let me go party all by my lonesome, I don't know your contract." She shrugged with an innocent smile.
-
Jayce crashed against a trash can. Hard. He looked terrible; his eyes were dark and sunken, his nose had stopped bleeding, but had been replaced by nausea. Jayce looked like death, and wasn’t far off. Spotting Sora, Jayce was drawn to a familiar face. He stumbled like a drunk, words slurred and disjointed. What he said was unintelligible, but he obviously needed help.
-
Sora was about to comment back to Rae when she saw the raccoon from earlier, who looked like he was not doing so well. When he approached her, she managed to drop one of her own bags just in time to catch him. "Waitaminute, not drunk... he's suffered a head injury. We need to get him to medical attention, now!" she spoke looking to the other two. "Do either of you two have a medic nanite kit?" she asked as she had him sit carefully.
-
Emilá thinks quickly, and mostly out of sight and subtle a message kit from inside of the nearest store finds its way to her paw. “I have one, here you go.” She tosses it to Commadner Dazzel, fascinated as to why they are now playing doctor to random drunks on the street.
-
Rae Eyed Emila oddly as this happened, but for now decided to leave it to herself... "looks like a concussion, not much we can do from here." Rae noted. "We can call the emergency center...actaully we should." she turned Back to Emila. "I'll join you for now but first i think we need to deal with this emergency...
-
Sora starts patching up the raccoon, checking the pupil dilation-response as well. "The nanites will help with speeding up the recovery, but yes we need to get him to a hospital for better treatment. I don't want him to risk further injury due to his disorientation, so I can't lift him or move him until we have somewhere stable to sit him." she spoke. "I met this guy earlier and he was definitely disoriented, not even knowing what a beach was. But I didn't see the injuries he's got until just now."
-
"Shall i call the emergency center, then?"
-
"Yes please. They would be more equipped to deal with this, but we can at least make sure he gets to them safely." the timber wolf spoke, looking up to Rae as the raccoon was now stable for the time being. "I probably should've asked you before, but you look like you're about to go on an expeditionary mission. Do you feel something is going to happen soon?"
-
“Everyone who’s anyone thinks something’s going to happen soon.” Emilá muttered. She side eyes Rae, noting her moment of suspicion. Too close.
-
(Gonna let this situation play out before shifting to morning time.)
Mesmerin was still sacked out on the bed.
And K'Tath was still tracking the prey toward the city.
-
(Gonna let this situation play out before shifting to morning time.)
Mesmerin was still sacked out on the bed.
And K'Tath was still tracking the prey toward the city.
Rae sighed and called the medical center, they'd bring an ambulance ASAP.... Rae returned her gaze to Emila... this time out of suspicion for another reason, why was this girl who was 'running' from her forced marriage so odd.... the thoughts swirled in her mind, and although she had made the conclusion she wasn't 100% sure of her conclusion and her best way of finding out would possibly reveal too much about herself....
***Unknown location***
"Just got word of an Emergency call from within the city, i doubt it's related to the Xeno at this point... judging by the map i've seen of the city.. word is someone is suffering from severe concussion side-effects" Colbalt informed K'Tath "Nothing else to report the search party has had no other findings, i can't confirm if they are still searching or not."
-
"...then I might need to put on my armor too if we're on high-alert. I really wished I had the Biotic Implants, but too late now." she grumbled with a deep inhale "So any idea on what we're up against?" she added as she starts putting on her N7 armor over her casual clothes, putting all three of her pistols on her armor.
-
"Biotic Implants? For what?" Rae asked. "I simply have a device that materializes my armor and equipment using energy transfer technology." Rae said.
-
"I was talking about how you seem to sense something incoming. A lot of people with Biotics can sense malice or danger quicker than normal people, but the same goes for those with jedi-like powers or psionic-like powers too." she spoke as she picks up her helmet to put it on, the face-guard not locking into place at the moment. She inhales as she puts the now-empty bag in with the other one to make it easier to carry both, seeing the emergency-services arrive. Once they arrived, she explained pertaining to the raccoon and the symptoms she saw along with the treatment she gave for it, then she gave them a contact number for if he were to wake up that she could be notified. Once all of this was said and done, she looks back to Emilá and her entourage then back to Rae. "So what next? With him getting proper medical-care now, I think we need to get some rest before we do anything else."
-
"The whole reason I'm out here, is because I couldn't sleep, at least not anymore than I have."
-
Emilá pouts pointedly. “Bed already? Fine. If you’re tired. We’re staying at the Hyer Hotel.” The Hyer Hotel is the fanciest, tallest hotel in New Colorado. “I’ll get another room for you to stay in.” She sighs and starts walking.
-
(I'm lurking yanno)
Bronze is still sleeping, oblivious to whatever's happening outside.
-
"My ride here hasn't been the most pleasant and this was to be day-one of my vacation, but plans have changed. And if we're all on high-alert too long, we'll burn out. So yeah, we all could do with some rest after all the excitement here." she spoke with an exhale while she tried to explain, starting up to the direction of the hotel that Emilá mentioned. She checks into the hotel to find out that she already had a room reserved for her, the time of the reservation being made was right after the message was sent to her. "Guess they figured this to be a multi-day stay."
-
She nods. “Then let’s go.” She guides them to the hotel and then goes to her private room, getting ready for bed swiftly and then collapsing onto her big, fluffy, king size bed heavily. One day down.
-
Her room was modest compared to most other rooms in the building, but it was easier that way for her. She drops off the armor next to her bed, having it set-up to grab-up and put-on in an instant before she lays down on the bed, instantly crashing from exhaustion due to the day's events of stress and agitation along with the extra running around with the added weight of her gear.
-
(Cue the timeskip!)
Mesmerin awoke the next morning, and went down to breakfast, where he sat reading the local newspaper waiting for his meal. On the TV, a reported was on the news channel:
"Gunnison residents have been jolted by the mysterious disappearance of a man and his young son during a hunting trip yesterday. Buddy Benson, a repair supervisor for the Gunnison City Telephone Company, and his 18-year-old son, Sam, never returned home last night..." As the reporter went on, Mesmerin spotted an old friend. "Eddie," he greeted him.
The sheriff spotted Mesmerin and went to sit with him. "Good to see you again, Mesmerin," he said. "I'd have greeted you when you arrived, but... you know. Work."
"Yeah, I noticed," Mesmerin stated. "Any word on Buddy and his kid?"
Eddie held up his coffee cup at one of the waitresses. "Carrie? Coffee?"
The waitress came over with a fresh pot of coffee. "You guys were up all night, huh?" the waitress asked.
"No, we called it off at 2 AM," Eddie responded. Carrie froze mid-pour, a look of worry on her face. Eddie frowned. "Jay didn't come home?" he asked.
"Eddie, I thought he was out with you," Carrie answered. "I tried his cell phone, he wouldn't answer--"
"Carrie, listen to me; Jay was pushing real hard last night - I'm sure he's still looking. Cell reception out there--" Eddie began in an effort to comfort her.
"He always calls, Eddie," Carrie stated with a trembling voice.
-
"What else is going on?" Rae grumbled suddenly showing up in the hotel's entrance still in her armor but her helmet was off... "As If I already don't have enough problems." The vixen groaned.
-
"You aren't the only one weary from this already," Mesmerin commented to Rae from his table.
"You know this woman?" Eddie asked.
"Recent acquaintance," Mesmerin answered. "Rae, this is Sheriff Eddie Morales, old friend of mine; Eddie, this is Rae... ah, right - I never got your last name."
-
"You aren't the only one weary from this already," Mesmerin commented to Rae from his table.
"You know this woman?" Eddie asked.
"Recent acquaintance," Mesmerin answered. "Rae, this is Sheriff Eddie Morales, old friend of mine; Eddie, this is Rae... ah, right - I never got your last name."
" Citcra." Rae explained useing her fake name for now. "And i would have slept last night ,but something keeps waking me up." the white vixen grumbled, nodding to the sheriff.
-
Mesmerin gestured to an empty seat. "Feel free to take a seat - not gonna be the one to make you stand there." He sighed, closing his eyes and feeling the Force. "The Force grows dark, here... a shift in the currents..." He shook his head. "But I cannot make out what's happening." He opened his eyes and looked at Eddie, then Rae. "Something tells me we should keep in contact. Something feels wrong, here..."
-
Jayce blinked awake, the hospital fluorescent lights briefly blinding him. He glanced around as his memory flooded back. Swinging his legs over the bed, the Mongdrigan stood up carefully, collecting his effects with little trouble. A boon granted by tiberium infusion; quick recovery time. Jayce gingerly removed the EKG monitor pads, wincing as they pulled a few hairs. The monitor whined loudly as it stopped receiving a pulse. Jayce began fighting the machine, trying to turn it off.
-
Mesmerin gestured to an empty seat. "Feel free to take a seat - not gonna be the one to make you stand there." He sighed, closing his eyes and feeling the Force. "The Force grows dark, here... a shift in the currents..." He shook his head. "But I cannot make out what's happening." He opened his eyes and looked at Eddie, then Rae. "Something tells me we should keep in contact. Something feels wrong, here..."
"You already know how to contact me." Rae said sitting down next to Mesmerin. the back of her rifle hitting the back of the seat with a metal 'twang'
-
Emilá wakes up right at dawn, stretching with a deep yawn. "Good morning New Colorado!" She slides out of bed and gets dressed in a comfortable set of clothes. She walks down to Sora's hotel door and knocks loudly. "Commander Dazzel? Commander Dazzel???" She calls in. "You up?"
-
Sora did sleep well, stretching when she woke up. She had a bit of time to put on a fresh set of her casual clothes before the knock, opening up the door. "C'mon in." she spoke quietly as she let Emilá in, her armor still right nearby her bed as she put away the old clothing and was securing both bags together (one being empty) in response to move again. "I don't know, but if our friend... that one we met last night, she was decked-out in full armor, believes something is about to happen. What do you think? Do you feel like we should be prepped up and anticipate action?" she asked as she gestures to her N7 armor.
-
Already awake, he stretched his back and rolled his shoulders. At least he felt more refreshed than earlier. Having acknowledged that he have eaten only a few (or was it several? He haven't checked the time.) hours earlier, he couldn't help but eat again. Besides, this is a vacation, right? He slipped his shoes on and went downstairs, slipping the key to his hotel room in his pockets.
M want to grab some eggs this morning, and off he went. He asked for a glass of water and proceeded to drink, only to his surprise that he found the same people at the stakehouse again. He choked on his water and coughed, trying his best to minimize the noise he's making.
-
Mesmerin heard the coughing, and looked over to spot M. "Hey, you okay?" he asked. "You alright?"
-
"He's fine he chocked on his water seeing us again, dunno what's so suprizing about that, but eh." Rae shrugged, pulling out the compad Emila had given her ealier... "Expensive ,but still out of date...." She murmered, commenting on the compad.
-
They saw me?
"Well uh, yeah, I'm fine." the feline replied, his coughing fit gone as fast as it came. M wonders why they're here, but he thinks its best to keep his mouth shut.
"Sorry for that and uh, thanks for asking." M said as he stood up, wiping his muzzle. Jeez, what a mess. "I'm M. Err, hi?" the Caracal reached out his hand for a shake.
-
Mesmerin shook M's hand. "Mesmerin Argent, captain of the Starship Stella Draco," he introduced himself. He indicated the sheriff, a middle-aged Canine. "This is an old friend of mine, and the sheriff of this city, Eddie Morales."
Eddie nodded to M. "Good to meet you."
-
Jayce left the hospital room with little fanfare. He’d simply unplugged the screeching machine and headed for the front door.
Then, the receptionist stopped him.
“Excuse me, sir? Your bill?”
Jayce blinked dumbly. “Bill? What’s a bill?”
“You have to pay, sir. Either you or your insurance.”
“Insurance?” Jayce mimicked the word but did not understand it. “What’s that?”
The receptionist blanched. “You don’t have insurance? Oh...oh, dear. Do you have a card?”
Jayce nodded and reached into his coat, withdrawing a thick deck of playing cards. He’d traded for them a few years back.
The receptionist shook her head. “Debit or credit, sir.”
Credit. Jayce knew that word. “Oh! Right. Blackburn, Jayce.” Smiling, Jayce started for the door. Mongdrigo ran on a sort of name based accreditation system. And Jayce’s name was pretty powerful. It’s what bought his equipment and ship. He was out the door before the receptionist could stop him. She blinked at the seemingly brazen act by the stranger and signaled the police.
-
Rae shivered and turned to Mesmerin... "Did you feel that one?" She asked the dragon next to her.
***???***
"Well this is odd," Cobalt began "Someone seems to have walked out of the medical center without paying their bill and the cops are trying to find the person... might be a good thing for you, they'll be too busy looking for this person to look for you." Cobalt added
-
"Pleased to meet you, Captain Mesmerin, Sheriff, sir." The feline replied, nodding his head to the both of them. He turned to look at Rae, but didn't bother introducing himself. He felt ignored by the woman anyway. m still sees them as a weird bunch.
-
“I feel like you should be prepared for a spa day, you seem tense.” Emilá sits on the edge of Sora’s bed, examining the armor. She tries very hard to keep her gaze nonchalant, but she’s definitely concentrating. “You’ll be okay. Put everything you’d need for an emergency in the armor, so it’s all in one place.”
Edit: yikes, grammar
-
"Thankfully it's already there." she spoke as she puts the armor into the empty bag so she can carry it, detaching the 'pocket-pistol' to put into her own pocket as she picks up the single bag. "A spa, eh? You know this place a lot better than I do, this is my first time being here." Sora spoke with a shrug. "And no, I'm Systems Alliance. N7 to be precise."
-
“Any resort worth anything has a spa! Doesn’t take a New Colorado expert to know that, though I have done my research.” She smiles. “Let’s go! It’s down on the first floor, I’ve booked us up for the whole day! With a lunch break of course.” She starts heading out.
-
She hefts up her bag on one shoulder, extending her other hand to Mikala. "Lead the way then. But where's your entourage? The other girls that were with you?" she asked as she opened the door, peeking out to see none of the others.
-
She rolls her eyes. “I’m sure they’re around. My best guess is they’ve gone to scout the area. It seems that personally guarding me has been left to you. Rest assured, they’re still around to make sure I don’t go anywhere they can’t find me.” She takes Sora’s hand and gets up. “Either way, I see a massage and a full body comb in my future!”
-
"Heh, I'd rather have a shiatsu or a reflexology massage personally." Sora spoke with a bit of a chuckle, following Emilá's lead. The two of them made it down to the first floor, Sora keeping pace with her the entire way. "Hm. Sounds like something happened during the night." she mentioned as she overheard a news channel from a nearby television. "The one we had sent to the hospital left. I thought they could look up his information easily, but I guess he left too early for them to verify."
-
Mesmerin sensed a slight tremor in the Force, and looked over in time to spot Emila, nodding in her direction as a greeting. He then returned his attention to M. "Unfortunately, my ship is in the shop... overdue maintenance, repairs... that kind of stuff. Lucky for me, the bill wasn't bad at all. Might I ask what brought you here?"
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'Do I have to get into your head for you to answer me? Rae asked Mesmerin telepathically, her voice tone slightly annoyed. 'You never answered my question'. she finished, turning to look at M and then Emila as the she-wolf entered the room.
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'Yes, I felt it; I'm trying not to scare our friends here,' Mesmerin answered Rae mentally, knowing full well she'd hear him.
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'I don't think it will matter when the real Bantha Dung hits the fan...' Rae replied.
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"Yeah, vacation and all that. Not quite in the vacation mood if you ask me. Just wanna get back to my work, really, but I already have this 15-Day leave so might as well enjoy it." M replied with a shrug, sensing that there's something between the three mammals in front of him. Did his intrusion interrupt whatever important matter they're here for?
-
Emilá raised her eyebrow for just a moment at Rae as her metapsionics triggers at the psychics. A telepath... interesting. She makes a mental note to keep up her subtle shielding around her. She strolls up to the table. “Good morning, Rae, Mesmerin! Small planet, eh? Anything good here?” She smiles, sitting in a chair a waiter pulls up for her. Of course, they know who she is. “Commander Dazzel And I were just about to hit the spa!”
-
"Just small talk in the wake of that," Mesmerin responded, indicating the news report of the disappearance of Buddy and his son.
At an adjacent table, the panther woman from yesterday - Megan - was at a table with her husband, Tim, and their daughter. Plates of food had just been set on the table. "Molly? Honey, come eat," Tim called out to the daughter. Molly came running to the table. Megan looked over and nodded as a greeting to Mesmerin. Mesmerin nodded back, but didn't speak, not wanting to interrupt her time with her family.
-
If you don't mind me asking, who were Benny and his son, locals? Also don't say I told you but I think our rich vixen friend is a telepath..'
Rae told Mesmerin, through her thoughts. "There's a Spa in the hotel?" Rae asked. "you'd think they'd be at a Spa place.."
-
Sora follows Emilá's lead to the other two. "Hm... maybe we could have breakfast first before we hit the spa." she spoke as she gets a nearby chair as well to sit near them, setting her bag to touch her leg. She picks up a menu to look through it as she would glance to the other two.
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Emilá stifles a giggle. She can't intercept Rae's mental messages, but she can sense them. And its a fair enough guess that she's noticed something off about her. She orders some pancakes and an OJ. "Breakfast it is then. Should prevent us from being underprepared for the day!"
-
"And speaking of breakfast, here comes mine," Mesmerin commented. A waiter placed a plate of eggs, bacon, and a glass of orange juice before Mesmerin. Nearby, one of the waitresses - a feline, Carrie - was trying to call someone, looking decidedly worried.
-
Rae got up and walked over to Carrie," need a hand?" the white vixen asked sensing the feline's distress
-
Being true to her canid nature, she orders a steak-and-eggs meal as she puts the menu away, glancing over to see Rae getting up and going to talk to one of the waitresses. The chatter of the news had her attention for a bit, but she was mostly just listening for any sort of threats or keeping an eye out for any visible signs of a threat.
-
Everyone he saw at the steakhouse is here, and he's just a pace away. Should he leave? M is unsure. He would like to listen to whatever they are about to say. Even though he still feels a bit shy, he's very interested on what they do. In his perspective, they seem to just recently meet. A bunch of strangers that seems to have known each other for a long time. He stays and kept his mouth shut, his arms crossed.
-
Emilá notices M’s discomfort and smiles. “At ease, no need to be afraid around this bunch. I mean, I just met them yesterday, but they’re pretty alright by my measure.” She shrugs as her pancakes appear. She shoots a scornful glance at the syrup. “So dangerous...” She looks at her delicate, furred paws, each brushed to perfection along with the rest of her. “... so delicious...” she pours syrup all over her pancakes.
-
Carrie sighed worriedly. "I can't get ahold of my husband, Jay," she told Rae. "Last I heard, he was going out to the woods to look for that missing hunter and his kid."
It was then that Eddie approached her. "Why don't we go look for Jay?" he offered. "We could find Jay, see why he didn't answer. You know well sometimes phones don't work way out there."
Carrie looked between Rae and Eddie, then sighed. "Please find him."
Eddie looked to Rae. "Got transport, or you gonna ride with me?"
-
Carrie sighed worriedly. "I can't get ahold of my husband, Jay," she told Rae. "Last I heard, he was going out to the woods to look for that missing hunter and his kid."
It was then that Eddie approached her. "Why don't we go look for Jay?" he offered. "We could find Jay, see why he didn't answer. You know well sometimes phones don't work way out there."
Carrie looked between Rae and Eddie, then sighed. "Please find him."
Eddie looked to Rae. "Got transport, or you gonna ride with me?"
"My ship doesn't have room for a ground transport, so if you don't mind?" Rae replied with a slight nod, not liking the sound of this... people missing were never a good thing, she turned back ot Carrie; "If he's out there, we'll find him."
-
When people began staring at Jayce, as the warrant for his arrest made its rounds, he started hiding. When the police began chasing him, he ran in panic. He avoided the landing pads, with the security gate being right there. Jayce then decided the forest would be the best place to hide. And so he ran, through the thicket with reckless abandon. In fact, the Mongdrigan ran fast enough to spoof the field emitters built into his heavy coat. Every once in a while, the crackle of energy, a flash of orange, and the pang of ozone crept through the forest, burning oblong spheres in the bushes.
-
Eddie headed for his SUV and got in the driver's seat, waiting for Rae. "So... where you from, Rae?" he asked while waiting.
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Eddie headed for his SUV and got in the driver's seat, waiting for Rae. "So... where you from, Rae?" he asked while waiting.
Rae jumped in her armor making sounds as it moved "Dragon'taan system." She said plainly.
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"Dragon'taan, huh? New Colorado doesn't get dragon-shifters, ordinarily," Eddie said as he began driving. He sighed. "Something about all this seems off. Bad enough that Buddy and his son went missing, but now the husband of a good friend has gone missing in the same stretch of 24 hours? Seems... too convenient."
-
"I've had the same thoughts, but I'm no dragon-shifter, not everyone on Dragon'taan are Dragon-shifters, though that is where you'll find most of them, if not on the other planets in the system." Rae began "I picked up the familiar, radar signature of a Weyland-Yutani corporation ship, this is just speculation ,but that ship may be involved with our missing people, though I've never known them to kidnap people." The white vixen added. "All I know is I don't like this one bit." she finished.
-
Sora catches sight of Rae leaving, not really giving it much thought before her order arrived, then she starts eating into the steak and eggs. Her ears would twitch as she catches wind of some more missing-persons news before the owner of the hotel changed the channel. Something about all of this just felt off about all of this, but there wasn't much she could do for the time being. It did not take her long for her to finish, looking to Emilá to wait on her.
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Emilá takes a little bit longer, being very careful not to get syrup on her paws. She nods at the TV, which was carrying information about the missing people. “You don’t have to be a sailor to feel a storm coming.” She nods. “It’s unfortunate that you have an ulterior motive in regards to all this.” She dabs the edges of her mouth with a napkin.
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"Pardon?" Sora asked as she looked to Emilá on the mention of 'ulterior motive', this obviously struck a nerve with her. "And what, pray-tell, is my motive in all of this?"
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"Oh, I don't know... That whoever you work for has decided you can be bought by a glorified kidnapper with money? Just a thought." She mutters snidely. Just at that moment, one of Emilá's girls walks in. "Em, the spa's ready for you." Emilá hops up, happy as can be, not a hint of her former anger on her face. "That's the best news I've heard all day!" She skips off to the spa, and for all who observe her at that moment she would simply be another vapid rich girl on a father-funded vacation.
-
She had to restrain herself from pulling her back and chewing her out, a flurry of obscenities in Common and various Gaelic languages ran through her head (almost broadcasting them to those sensitive enough to read-minds at this distance from her) as she followed Emilá. If she were any more tensed-up, anything in her hand would've been crushed by her white-knuckled grip. This was caught-on by one of the masseurs, who guided Sora to remove her armor and to lay down on one of the massage tables. She kept the armor right next to the table but she would not put her face through the hole in the pillow, instead keeping her focus on Emilá with a rather seething anger that she wasn't going to be able to get rid of for a while.
-
Eddie drove to the woodland area, then parked at the turnout and started heading on foot into the woods. "Jay's last transmission put him heading for a ridge some ways from here," he told Rae. "Watch your step."
*** Back at the Hotel ***
And who should be at a nearby massage table but Mesmerin. He seemed to be enjoying his massage, as though he'd forgotten the disturbances in the Force he felt.
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Emilá places her head in the massage headrest, carefully obscuring her smirk. She can tell she got under the good Commander’s skin. Good. She’s allied herself with the enemy team, so having her off guard is a good thing. She opts not to bother Mesmerin as the high tech fur-lotion is rubbed through the fur on her back. This is designed to make the masseuse’s hands glide across the body, and will be washed and brushed out in the aftercomb, a necessity for fully furred creatures.
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Sora gets up off the table to stop the massage, still in her casual clothes and picks up her armor and bag before she gets to Emilá, motioning the masseur away before she intentionally sits the gear down in front of her loud enough to startle the staff in the next room. "Alright, reality-check for you, 'princess'." she spoke, the anger in her tone was more than enough to give her rate-of-displeasure. "One, I was not 'hired' to do this. My superiors gave me an ultimatum: Ensure you remain alive until your marriage, or return in handcuffs. My 'motive' for doing his is not greed, it's to save whatever is left of a 'career' I might have. Two: If it weren't for you being here, I would actually be enjoying my leave, but instead I have to put up with you and these games of yours until the job's done or until your demise. And frankly, the Article 15 is starting to become more and more tempting." she added. "Lastly, being a bodyguard is a waste of my talent and time, but they feel that whatever networking/connection you and your family has is worth their while."
-
She rolls her eyes. “And you’re upset with me... why? I’m not your boss. I’d be more than happy to see you doing your leave and not ruining my massage.” She rolls her eye and sits up to face Sora. “How about a reality check for you, Commander,” her tone is colored with disdain. “If you expect me to respect you, or be happy with you, having been hired to keep me prisoner for a businessman three times my age, then you’re more delusional than I took you for. Now, I’m going to have a massage, and if you intend on continuing to ruin my trip, I WILL have my personal guards escort you away from me, and see how your employers feel about THAT!” She motions for the slightly frightened masseuse to come back and resume as she goes to lay back down.
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"Don't you even move." she spoke with a growl to the staff, not done with Emilá. "You are still able to abandon this marriage. I have to keep you alive. So whether or not you or I like it, we're stuck together. And before you ask 'And how am I to tell my father that I don't want to do so?'... it's simple." Sora spoke before she inhaled and got close enough to her to be eye-to-eye. "'I don't want to get married'. No frills, keep it straight-forward. Don't even hesitate when you say it." She then backs up, her posture calming down before gesturing the staff back in, then she goes to a seat in the same room as the staff return to their massage on Emilá. "...and if you want an odd resolution that could get me out of your hair: Marry someone else. My files don't even tell me who you're supposed to marry, just to keep you alive until you do so."
-
“Wow!” She acts fake shocked. “You’re right! I completely forgot to tell my father I don’t want to get married! And he totally didn’t respond by assigning me a whole squad of bodyguards to make sure I don’t escape before the wedding!” She rolls her eyes.
-
Mesmerin chose not to interfere in the heated argument. It wasn't his place, and what would he say? He was just getting up from his own message, halfway off the table, when the Force again hit him with a disturbance - strong enough to cause him to groan, double over, and nearly fall on his face. He saw amber dragon eyes, on a creature he'd never seen before, as it spoke: "You all can argue over what to do and where to go, until the birds above obliterate us from orbit or we get ambushed by those things - whichever comes first - or you can take option B, and we get the hell out of here via a guaranteed option."
Anyone else seeing this would see Mesmerin, on his hands and knees, shuddering as though deathly ill.
Just before the vision ended, Mesmerin saw a black, humanoid, yet still insectoid creature, a creature he'd seen before, as it screeched and lunged for him...
... and Mesmerin leapt back, Force-pulled his lightsaber into his hand, and it went active with a snap-hiss and he held the weapon, ready to attack, the blade extending behind him with his Sith Shien style of Lightsaber Combat. His face portrayed a look of sheer terror, looking around for the creature he'd seen, but finding only his own twitchiness to contend with. With a shuddering sigh, he extinguished his blade, dressed, collected his things, and left, still visibly shaking.
-
Emilá has reached for Mesmerin when he fell to his knees. “Mesmerin, are you-“ And when he leaped up with the lightsaber she yelps and jumps back, avoiding being cut in half by the plasma hot blade. “Woah!” She grabs a robe from a terrified masseuse and follows after him, sensing his disturbance. “What was that?” She asks in a hushed tone.
-
"Then marry someone else and throw a wrench into his plans. You came here to celebrate a marriage, so why not have one? I hear they have a chapel on this world." Sora spoke, watching as the masseurs were working on the vixen. She was about to say more before she heard the sound of a saber turning on from a nearby massage table that startled her to attention, making her pull out both of her larger pistols. She looked about to see what was going on, her pistols aimed at Mesmerin. "The heck? Are you about to start something here?"
-
Mesmerin kept walking, and stopped just shy of the stairs, breathing rapidly, almost hyperventilating. He leaned, shaking violently, on a door frame, his breaths ragged and trembling. His right hand gripped the door frame, and creaking could be heard, tiny cracks appearing beneath his hand. His left hand went up to his forehead, between his eyes, and his eyes were closed. "Tell me... tell me it's not them... tell me it's not them... tell me it's not them...!" he kept repeating, the last one uttered in a hoarse, hissing voice.
-
Emilá follows, worried about Mesmerin and also cautious. A very canny observer would see something slide into her sleeve. “It’s not who? Mesmerin calm down, you’re safe right now.”
-
On hearing Emila's voice, Mesmerin nearly jumped out of his skin, but thankfully, didn't draw his weapon. He shook, staring Emila down with a wide-eyed terror. "Eight years ago... I nearly became their victim," he told her with a shaky voice. "Now they're here... in my lifetime, they're back... to try again. For a second time, I am within their grasp... I won't end up like the others... not like them..."
-
“Hey, calm down.” She says in a soothing murmurs. “Take deep breaths. Nothing is after you right now. And you will be prepared when they do. Calm down, and tell me about these terrors.”
-
Mesmerin couldn't calm down, but hearing Emila's soothing voice was enough to at least calm his mind down enough for him to gather his thoughts, then explain: "Eight years ago, while working as a mercenary for the UNSC... I led an expedition to a world. LV-656, as Weyland-Yutani called it... only WY didn't tell us of the bugs. Xenomorphs, they were called. Whole g*****n hive of them. Their hive was just half a klick south of the colony we were investigating." Mesmerin shuddered. "Over thirty of us went to LV-656... only I got out alive. I... I saw what they did to the others. I saw how they died... and I swore to myself I wouldn't end up like that. So I beelined it to my ship, and blasted off LV-656. I never went back. I... had hoped I'd seen the last of those things there..."
-
Emilá frowns. “You think they’re here, with us?” She offers Mesmerin a glass of water, seemingly out of nowhere.
-
Mesmerin hesitated, then motioned his head for Emila to come closer. The expression on his face said what he couldn't say aloud: What I am about to tell you is not to be shared with anyone else. What I know cannot be said aloud.
-
Eddie drove to the woodland area, then parked at the turnout and started heading on foot into the woods. "Jay's last transmission put him heading for a ridge some ways from here," he told Rae. "Watch your step."
*** Back at the Hotel ***
And who should be at a nearby massage table but Mesmerin. He seemed to be enjoying his massage, as though he'd forgotten the disturbances in the Force he felt.
(don't mean to be mean ,but sheese guys don't leave the others out of the party :P )
"This place looks oddly famliar." Rae pointed out as she got out of Eddies vehicle. "Was this not the location the reporter said 2 others had gone missing?" the white vixen asked.
-
Jayce had tailed Eddie’s SUV, using the trees and foliage as cover. As the sheriff and his cohort had exited the vehicle, the Mongdrigan probably would have given them a warning shot from the arquebus. But, his gear was back on his ship, which he was positive it had been impounded. As Jayce maneuvered around the trees, he fell. His coat again triggered, a horrendous, bassy thrum filled the air briefly, along with the tang of burnt ozone and orange light.
With his haphazard sprint through the bushes, Jayce looked mad and disheveled.
-
Emilá leans in close, merely a half whisper away from the forbidden knowledge.
-
Jayce had tailed Eddie’s SUV, using the trees and foliage as cover. As the sheriff and his cohort had exited the vehicle, the Mongdrigan probably would have given them a warning shot from the arquebus. But, his gear was back on his ship, which he was positive it had been impounded. As Jayce maneuvered around the trees, he fell. His coat again triggered, a horrendous, bassy thrum filled the air briefly, along with the tang of burnt ozone and orange light.
With his haphazard sprint through the bushes, Jayce looked mad and disheveled.
In almost an instant, Rae drew her Br-95 and aimed it in Jayce's general direction her helmet materializing on her head, "ALRIGHT COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD!" She shouted feeling the presence of someone else... though she couldn't tell who... the flashing orange light didn't help her pinpoint Jayce's location exactly but she had a general idea.
-
“T’ain’t no honor in shootin’ an unarmed man,” Jayce called back as he picked himself up. “Put the gun down and I’ll come out.” He had no intention of being shot, but still wanted to get things cleared up. Obviously he had done something wrong, but he wasn’t sure what.
-
While Emilá had calmed Mesmerin down enough, Sora put the safety back on her pistols before she went to get her armor back on, picking up the pack again before she reattached the pistols to her armor. "I'll stay in my armor this time. You can have your massages and what-not." she grumbled as she stepped out the door, sitting outside of it but remaining within earshot if something were to happen.
-
“T’ain’t no honor in shootin’ an unarmed man,” Jayce called back as he picked himself up. “Put the gun down and I’ll come out.” He had no intention of being shot, but still wanted to get things cleared up. Obviously he had done something wrong, but he wasn’t sure what.
"isn't honorable to sneak up on a lady either.." Rae grumbled back lowering her weapon. "Why are you following us?"
-
When Emila leaned in, Mesmerin put his snout next to her ear and whispered, "The Force is not always clear, but it never lies; those things are here. Where here they are, I cannot say, but I am certain of it. And there is something else; in my vision, I saw a man, a creature I had not seen before - and it is he that would get us off--"
Mesmerin was cut off by the nearby TV. "Breaking news for New Colorado, all travel to and from New Colorado has been suspended in the wake of a ship crashing there. Sources believe that the vessel was a Corporate Cargo Ship from the Weyland-Yutani Corporation, and was carrying, quote, 'Sensitive Cargo'. Weyland-Yutani has yet to tell us what that cargo is and they have suspended all travel, in order to keep their cargo from getting off-world before they can recover it..."
Mesmerin audibly growled. "This is too coincidental..."
*** Woodland area ***
Eddie also had a weapon drawn, but when he saw who it was, lowered his weapon. "You shouldn't sneak up on people like that," he said. "Especially armed people."
-
Jayce stepped out from around a tree with his paws up by his head. "How'm I supposed to know you're armed? I had to toss my stuff 'fore I got past the landing bay." He approached slowly, trying to judge the situation.
-
"I'm wearing military grade armor, is your vision that bad?" Rae asked, putting her rifle back onto her back.
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Eddie holstered his weapon. "Well, whoever you are, maybe you can help us - we're looking for someone out here," Eddie said. "Police officer. Maybe you've seen anyone in uniform out here?"
-
“Welp. No point in waiting. Let’s find that man. But first... we need to make a clean escape. There are guards around every exit. They won’t let me just leave.” She sighs. “I’ll summon the team!” She pulls out her compad and presses a button. Mesmerin, Rae, and M would all get an emergency summons on their compads with a secure, encrypted location code for Emilá’s location. “We need to be smart.”
-
"Did you not hear me?" Mesmerin said quietly. "The man I saw was a creature I had not seen before. However... I suspect we won't have to look for him. Given what he said in the vision... I sense he'll come to us. All we need to do... is survive." He looked around, then whispered in Emila's ear, "But if you want to slip away from your entourage without them realizing you've left... follow me."
-
“Well, maybe we should rendezvous with our allies in the forest. A big city is never a good place to be in an emergency like this.” She murmurs. “Or we could capitalize on being in the know by getting supplies before everyone panics? I doubt most people will view the temporary hold on interstellar flights as an immediate threat to themselves.”
-
"That's right," Mesmerin told Emila quietly. "But, as much as I hate to do it, we still need to ditch your babysitter squad. Are you familiar with PCDs?"
-
“No, I’m not. Enlighten me.” She listens intently.
-
"Not here," Mesmerin whispered. He looked over and saw a tourist get off an elevator. "Follow me," he told her, and started for the elevator as casually as he could, given the circumstances present earlier. If anything, Emila could play off accompanying Mesmerin to his suite to sleep off the adrenaline he'd had earlier in the aftermath of the Force-Vision.
-
Emilá nods and speaks at a normal volume, unlike their terse whispers. “You’re right. You just need rest. I’ll help.” She follows him just as casually.
-
Mesmerin would lead Emila to the elevator, ensure no one else was in the vicinity, and get on the elevator before anyone else could. He hoped Emila would follow before the doors closed.
-
Emilá slides in after Mesmerin, the doors sliding closed just slightly too fast for the guard to follow. “What now?”
-
Jayce slowly lowered his paws as he spoke. “N-No...can’t say I’ve seen an officer. Kinda new ‘round these parts.” He shrugged hopelessly. “Why? They AWOL or something?”
-
Sora managed to follow the both of them, taking notice of them entering the elevator so she would follow them using the stairs, keeping track and pace of the elevator as she made it to the last floor it would stop on. Once the elevator doors were to open for their last-stop, she was right in front of the doors to greet them in her full armor. "Really? If this were any normal job or mission, I'd say the risk outweighs the rescue, but I'm not going to trial over some games you two are playing."
-
As the elevator rose to the suites, Mesmerin told Emila, "I figure we got a ten, maybe twelve minute window before your squad figures out--" He stopped midsentence when the elevator doors parted and Sora was waiting for them.
Sora managed to follow the both of them, taking notice of them entering the elevator so she would follow them using the stairs, keeping track and pace of the elevator as she made it to the last floor it would stop on. Once the elevator doors were to open for their last-stop, she was right in front of the doors to greet them in her full armor. "Really? If this were any normal job or mission, I'd say the risk outweighs the rescue, but I'm not going to trial over some games you two are playing."
"Long story, not enough time; if you want to help out, great, but otherwise, keep your head down. At this point, Emila is the least of your concerns. If you want to know what I'm on about, look at the news," Mesmerin told Sora.
*** Woodland area ***
Jayce slowly lowered his paws as he spoke. “N-No...can’t say I’ve seen an officer. Kinda new ‘round these parts.” He shrugged hopelessly. “Why? They AWOL or something?”
"Something like that," Eddie said. "He's been missing since last night, when he was part of a search party looking for a hunter and his son last night. He--" Eddie paused when he looked at an area behind Jayce and spotted a uniform on the ground. "Jay! Jay, that you? You down there?" He moved for the uniform, only to see that the uniform was just that - a uniform, complete with badge, coat, and gun. And it was stained with blood that was...
Eddie realized blood was dripping, and followed the blood trail up to a body, hanging upside-down by his feet in a tree. "... Oh, my god..." The body was that of Jay Adams. He looked to Jayce and Rae. "Can either of you get him down?"
-
Emilá grins. “Welcome to the great escape, Commander Dazzel!” She turns to Mesmerin. “I can get us to a neighboring building, follow me.” She runs at a window and pulls off the glass pane, setting it gently to the side. “Jump out the window! Just trust me!” She nods and gestures out the window.
-
Mesmerin, deciding to trust Emila, goes out the window.
-
As the elevator rose to the suites, Mesmerin told Emila, "I figure we got a ten, maybe twelve minute window before your squad figures out--" He stopped midsentence when the elevator doors parted and Sora was waiting for them.
Sora managed to follow the both of them, taking notice of them entering the elevator so she would follow them using the stairs, keeping track and pace of the elevator as she made it to the last floor it would stop on. Once the elevator doors were to open for their last-stop, she was right in front of the doors to greet them in her full armor. "Really? If this were any normal job or mission, I'd say the risk outweighs the rescue, but I'm not going to trial over some games you two are playing."
"Long story, not enough time; if you want to help out, great, but otherwise, keep your head down. At this point, Emila is the least of your concerns. If you want to know what I'm on about, look at the news," Mesmerin told Sora.
*** Woodland area ***
Jayce slowly lowered his paws as he spoke. “N-No...can’t say I’ve seen an officer. Kinda new ‘round these parts.” He shrugged hopelessly. “Why? They AWOL or something?”
"Something like that," Eddie said. "He's been missing since last night, when he was part of a search party looking for a hunter and his son last night. He--" Eddie paused when he looked at an area behind Jayce and spotted a uniform on the ground. "Jay! Jay, that you? You down there?" He moved for the uniform, only to see that the uniform was just that - a uniform, complete with badge, coat, and gun. And it was stained with blood that was...
Eddie realized blood was dripping, and followed the blood trail up to a body, hanging upside-down by his feet in a tree. "... Oh, my god..." The body was that of Jay Adams. He looked to Jayce and Rae. "Can either of you get him down?"
"Why, Sherrif? He's dead..." Rae sighed, her senses picking up something ,but nothing she could determine...
-
"He at least deserves a proper burial," Eddie said. "And we still have to take him to the coroner to figure out time and manner of death."
-
Rae’s compad, ignored in the heat of a tragedy, beeps away showing an indicator next to a window. That indicator takes a deep breath, and looks at Sora. “I’d hurry if I were you.” She leans back out of the window, falling backwards, eyes closed in concentration as the wind runs through her fur. As she and Mesmerin fall, time slows for her as she waits exactly 5 seconds for Sora to jump after them.
-
She taps on her helmet to bring up a transparent heads-up display, having it set to the local news while they were on the move. "I'll use my line I have with me." she spoke as she puts one of her pistols onto the attach-point on her leg, then she pulls out a line from her belt-pouch and stomps the tip into the floor before jumping out, turning herself about and descends in a military-rappel fashion. Once at the bottom, the tip prongs retract in and her line zips back down to the retraction point in her belt.
-
Emilá nods and focuses as two of the building’s sturdy glass panels slide off the building and beneath her and Mesmerin, moving with them to slide the pair over to the next building across, landing on the roof soundly. “Alright, lets go!” She nods and heads for the roof access door.
-
Mesmerin keeps up, keying in a combination into his gauntlet as he went.
-
Emilá hops onto the stair rail and slides down, a good 20 stories. She gets off at the bottom and exits the lobby casually, finding Commander Dazzel on the ground. “Oh ye of little faith.” She grins.
-
"He at least deserves a proper burial," Eddie said. "And we still have to take him to the coroner to figure out time and manner of death."
"I can figure that out right here." Rae noted as she approached Jay's body, though even as she did and odd, yet familiar feeling came to her once she got closer to Jay, ignoring the comm pad for now.
-
Sora was watching them along the way, drawing out her second pistol as she kept track of their progress. Once they were at ground-floor, she gives a nod to them. "I didn't think you had such powers, but good to know that now." she spoke. "So exactly what are we up against that we need to 'survive'? I didn't get anything on any local news other than missing people."
-
"I can figure that out right here." Rae noted as she approached Jay's body, though even as she did and odd, yet familiar feeling came to her once she got closer to Jay, ignoring the comm pad for now.
If the way Jay's body was strung up wasn't a dead giveaway, the two identical and parallel blade wounds in the man's chest cavity would tell the tale. Jay had been killed by an edged weapon that had two parallel blades, and only one race in the galaxy used such a weapon.
*** Outside Hotel ***
"I'll explain in a secure location, somewhere we aren't likely to be eavesdropped on," Mesmerin said. He looked to Emila. "And where your babysitter squad won't think to look." He hit a button on his gauntlet, and a duffel bag was beamed in front of him. He picked up the bag and moved for an adjacent alley, motioning his head for them to come with him.
-
"I can figure that out right here." Rae noted as she approached Jay's body, though even as she did and odd, yet familiar feeling came to her once she got closer to Jay, ignoring the comm pad for now.
If the way Jay's body was strung up wasn't a dead giveaway, the two identical and parallel blade wounds in the man's chest cavity would tell the tale. Jay had been killed by an edged weapon that had two parallel blades, and only one race in the galaxy used such a weapon.
*** Outside Hotel ***
"I'll explain in a secure location, somewhere we aren't likely to be eavesdropped on," Mesmerin said. He looked to Emila. "And where your babysitter squad won't think to look." He hit a button on his gauntlet, and a duffel bag was beamed in front of him. He picked up the bag and moved for an adjacent alley, motioning his head for them to come with him.
"He's been dead for about 9 hours now, and these wounds, could only have been from a Yaut'ja wrist blade..." Ra explained as she worked to get the body down, but something else was bugging her that she didn't let on. Yaut'ja don't just randomly show up in such a populated place like this without a good reason...
*** Outside Hotel ***
"Why do you need a secure location? Where are you three going?" asked the deep voice of a Sangheili in silver armor as his cloaking device deactivated, the silver armored Sangheili running up to the three unarmed "Because I'd like to help, if I can." The Sangheili had tried to followed the group outside he had been in the hotel and overhead the coversation, but had lost them when they went deeper into the hotel, and was a little surprized to find them, again by chance. (Tell me if this is too much please, i will edit as needed. also, check ooc thread for new chars bio)
-
Sora, without hesitation, aimed at the individual in the silver armor with one of her pistols before looking back to the other two. "A friend of yours?" she asked, wondering if they knew this person as she focused her sight back to the one that appeared near them.
-
"I'd advise you put the gun down - he's a Sangheili. They typically sport energy shields in their armor, and if he wanted you dead, he'd have gutted you with an energy sword before you realized he was there," Mesmerin told Sora. "And we have larger concerns than an unidentified Sangheili." His next comment was directed at the Sangheili that spoke. "I thought you Sangheili were busy on Sangheilios?"
-
"I'm with the one you call Rae, we were separated at customs, we were suppose to be on leave together, she and I work together a lot on missions, I'm sort of a Liasion ,but not in the literal sense..." Kyva explained. "Your friend's caution is wise, put down that weapon I'm no threat to any of you." The Sangheili said to Sora.
*elsewhere*
Rae huffed as she tried to get Jay's body down "a little help here?" She asked.
-
"Hnh... well, you picked a bad time to come here, pal," Mesmerin said as he resumed course for the nearby alley.
*** Woodland area ***
Eddie went over to lend a hand, trying to get Jay's body down.
*** Sewer Entrance ***
Miles away from Jay's body, K'Tath leapt from an overhanging branch and landed at a sewer entrance. The trail from the Xenos went inside. He accessed his radio. "Cobalt, track my position - I need a map of the sewer area ahead, feed it into my mask's neural interface."
-
"Hnh... well, you picked a bad time to come here, pal," Mesmerin said as he resumed course for the nearby alley.
*** Woodland area ***
Eddie went over to lend a hand, trying to get Jay's body down.
*** Sewer Entrance ***
Miles away from Jay's body, K'Tath leapt from an overhanging branch and landed at a sewer entrance. The trail from the Xenos went inside. He accessed his radio. "Cobalt, track my position - I need a map of the sewer area ahead, feed it into my mask's neural interface."
"I've been here for awhile... Kyva noted following Mesmerin, Emila and Sora along. "unless you mean now." he added.
*** Woodland area ***
"Can you cutt the vine holding his left leg?" Rae asked.
*** untraceable communication to Sewer Entrance ***
"Someday i'm really gonna upgrade your armor or at least the firmware, anyway map should be coming up now." Cobalt replied "I'm tracking you but i may have issues when you get deeper into the sewer depending on what's above the tunnel." She admitted.
-
Sora put the pistol to safe-mode as she puts it back to her side. "Missing people left and right on a resort-planet that's supposed to be secure. Unknown space-craft entering in without authorization... something is definitely going on."
-
"That's not all that's going on," Mesmerin told Sora as he continued into the alley. "The Weyland-Yutani Corporation has quarantined the planet - no ships are to enter or leave. I suspect that was one of their ships that crashed here, and I have a bad hunch as to what the cargo was that they were carrying."
*** Woodland area ***
Eddie got out his knife and started cutting the vine.
*** Sewer Entrance ***
"Understood," K'Tath responded. He viewed the sewer map, noting that this particular area had only one way in or out. Interesting. Sensors detected a lot of movement inside, and K'Tath figured it was the Xenomorphs. If he could set up laser barriers, then draw the Xenos into the central junction, he might be able to... yes, yes, that could work, he thought. He then moved inside...
-
Jayce squinted at the corpse, studying it. “A trophy,” he said after a few moments. “This wasn’t an accident...” He approached Eddie, walking backwards. “Officer,” the raccoon whispered. “Whatever’s killed your comrade is still here.”
-
"Before she left Rae informed me that she felt something big was going on, something she couldn't exactly tell ,but knew something was coming." Kyva noted.
*** Woodland area ***
"I said that." Rae said pulling Jay down and as his body fell onto her the armored white vixen fell down with a thump.."Get him off me!" Rae growled, her suit's power amplifiers that increased her strength having failed for some reason which left her on the ground pinned by the dead body of Jay....
-
Emilá shrugs at Sora. “Don’t tell. It’s a secret.” She turns to follow Mesmerin.
-
Once in the alley, Mesmerin dug in to the duffel bag, and took out what, at first glance, looked to be a door breaching charge, attacked it to the wall, unfolded it, and hit the center button. In an instant, the device lit up, and opened an aperture to what looked to be another location. "Anytime I'm away from my ship, I carry this - an access device to my personal armory aboard my ship," he said. He reached into the aperture, and retrieved a heavy-duty assault rifle (https://i.postimg.cc/MTpCP5qp/RX-Hybrid-H7-M1.jpg) and quickly retrieved some magazines of ammo. He reached in again, and retrieved a pair of gauntlets, extending them to Emila. "Remember what I was saying about PCDs?"
*** Woodland area ***
Eddie went to get the corpse off of Rae, dragging him off her. "Jeez... we're in way over our heads, here," he commented. Offering a hand to Rae, he added, "I think we'd better enlist the aid of our mutual dragon friend."
-
"i don't understand why you don't just use a materialization chip." Kyva shrugged, his 'carbine' appearing in his hands. "I assume we're going to need weapons?" The Sangheili asked holding out a 3 fingered hand to Emila, his plasma rifle appearing in his outstreached hand. "This should be simple enough for you to use, he offered."
*** Woodland area ***
"When was that made apparent?" Rae groaned seeming like she was disabled on the ground "Give me a minute, rebooting my suit's systems."the vixen explained, her suit's shield flared, the vixen pulling her legs up and using the force from her forcing them forward to jump to her feet. "I think we should meet with the others" Rae added nodding in thanks to the Sheriff.
-
She scoffs at the newcomer. “I’m actually already armed and armored. I just don’t like to advertise it like you walking attention beacons.” She turns back to Mesmerin. “Yes? What are these?” She grabs the gauntlets.
-
"Hmph.. not a wise idea to insult a Sangheili, most of the time that 'attention' is a deterrent..." Kyva replied with a similar scoff, looking to Mesmerin, as his plasma rifle dematerlized out of his hand, his now free hand returning to his carbine.
-
Sora returned her attention back to Mesmerin as she followed his lead. "You mentioned that Weyland-Yutani quarantined the planet, so I could guess that whatever it is could be a bio-hazard of some kind. Could they be working with the Cerberus organization? The Systems Alliance government have been trying to track them down for years but they are still creating illegal weapons, including bio-weapons."
-
"PCD," Mesmerin repeated. "Personal Cloaking Device. Very useful for slipping about unseen, especially at night. These will allow us to get away from that entourage of yours, but if my vision was correct, don't rely on them too heavily; they will not fool the Xenomorphs. They can track us by our pheremones, and regrettably, the PCDs don't conceal those." He looked to Sora. "I don't suppose you'll need one? I keep a few pairs on hand in case I need to help VIPs get to safety, especially in urban environments. And if WY was working with the Cerberus Organization, I never came across mention of it. As I said earlier, I suspect that WY ship that crashed was carrying at least Xenomorph eggs." He paused, waiting for Emila to take or reject the gauntlets. "But unless those things have a queen or empress here, it would be impossible for them to reproduce. The queen produces the eggs that contain... unless..." Mesmerin again paused, apparently something new occurring to him.
*** Sewers ***
K'Tath continued moving in the sewers, tracking the Xenomorph trail. So far, all indications were that they hadn't left this area. There were clear signs that they were still here. So why weren't they rushing him? Either they didn't know he was among them, or they didn't care. Still, K'Tath set to work immediately, setting up laser grids at all access points to the central junction, but not activating them. "Cobalt," he said quietly, "You still reading me?"
-
Emilá dons the gauntlets. "This will be useful. Thank you."
-
*** Sewers ***
"I can still hear you but I've lost your position." Cobalt explained "your probably under some dense urban buildings , not much I can do about that." the female Lucario replied chekcing in on something "AHH!" she screamed.
-
"If anyone needs any gear, tell me now before I shut the aperture," Mesmerin offered. "I want to get moving before the babysitter squad realizes where we are."
*** Sewer ***
"What? What is it? Cobalt?" K'tath asked, stopping in his tracks in fear.
-
*** Sewer ***
Cobalt let out a sigh "Damn bird hit the side of the ship right into one of the camera sensors." Cobalt growled...
-
"I'm good. Let's move out. We should head to the forest." She nods.
-
"That's a hell of a long walk, Emila. We'll need transport to just get there. Even so, we should probably wait till nightfall - find a place to hole up and wait for darkness," Mesmerin said. "We could hit a campus, maybe - or a residential area. A mall, perhaps. Vanish in the crowd."
*** Sewer ***
K'Tath breathed a sigh of relief. "Please don't do that to me again..." he requested as he went back to work setting up the laser containment grid.
-
"I reccomend the mall." Kyva chimed in on his opinion.
*** Sewer ***
"Tell that to the damn bird." cobalt replied. "odd that the police scanners have been pretty quiet...
-
Eddie returned Rae's nod. "We'd better get back into town, find Mesmerin," he said. Looking to Jayce, he added, "You'd better come with us. As far as I'm concerned, whatever you did is irrelevant at this point; we need to stick together."
*** Sewer ***
"Course they are - this is a sleepy town. And hopefully, we can keep it sleepy," K'Tath replied.
-
"What about Jay's body?" Rae asked.
*** Sewer ***
"But they've already reported 3 missing..." Cobalt pointed out.
-
"Yeah, I'll go for one." Sora spoke as she accepted one of the cloaking devices. "And I kinda want to get to the bottom of this. If WY has the planet quarantined, it'll be hard for me to get a transmission out to Systems Alliance government for recovery, and I know they're not going to be happy that a corporation is doing this."
-
She shrugs. "Let's go to the mall then. This all makes me uneasy..."
-
Jayce nodded. “O-Of course.” He returned his attention to the body, then the trees. “I’m not sure we should’ve moved the body. I’m sure our hunter wants it to stay...” He reached for the rifle that should’ve been on his back. “My hunting gear’s in my ship. Back at the landing pads.”
-
*** Woodland Area ***
"What about Jay's body?" Rae asked.
"We'll call the coroner to pick it up - we can't transport a dead body on a Police Cruiser," Eddie said.
Jayce nodded. “O-Of course.” He returned his attention to the body, then the trees. “I’m not sure we should’ve moved the body. I’m sure our hunter wants it to stay...” He reached for the rifle that should’ve been on his back. “My hunting gear’s in my ship. Back at the landing pads.”
Eddie looked to Jayce. "We'll hit the landing pads as we look for Mesmerin," he told him.
*** Sewer ***
"But they've already reported 3 missing..." Cobalt pointed out.
"Three?" K'Tath responded. "The hunter and his kid were two, who was the third?"
*** Gunnison, New Colorado ***
Mesmerin handed Sora her own PCD. "I suspect the quarantine is just the beginning," he commented.
She shrugs. "Let's go to the mall then. This all makes me uneasy..."
"You're not the only one, pal," Mesmerin said to her. He shut the aperture, and stored it. "Just key the combination 0-3-5 to activate the PCD, and it stays on till deactivated or shorted out. We can go together or split up to the mall, but I'd recommend going under cloak; no telling what reaction a group of armed individuals like us is gonna get."
-
*** Woodland Area ***
"Do you think that's a good idea?" Rae asked with a sigh.
*** Sewer ***
"some cop..." Cobalt replied.
*** Gunnison, New Colorado ***
"I imagine the UNSC nor our ship will like that." Kyva noted as he followed along..."Not to mention the faction i'm working for doesn't exactly have a good relationship, with the WY... either way I don't think things will end up good, planetside or in orbit...."
-
"I say we should go in pairs though the mall. It's easier to move about in that way along with being able to get what we should need to get a transmission out." she spoke. "My comm would work if we weren't getting a jamming-signal from whatever's guarding the planet. News stations are starting to have 'technical difficulties'."
-
“Commander Dazzel is right.” Emilá nods. “I’ll go with Mr. Tall-Dark-And-Armed.” She nods her head towards Kyva. “What do we need to get?”
-
"Might I recommend you and I stick together, Emilá? Not just for the sake of my own agenda, but I have things I wish to ask you when opportunities arise." she spoke, then she inhales before she pulls out her comm-data pad and taps on the side of her own helmet as if searching through the local bands for any sort of transmission-activity. "Weiland-Yutani can't attempt to jam the Guard channels normally used in crash-position-locators or else they would be lighting this planet up like a beacon, and if they want to avoid the Systems Alliance, they would avoid attempting to jam those frequencies from a ship. If we can get a CPL unit from a space-craft, that would be best, otherwise, a vintage cellphone or a children's walkie-talkie would be next to use and I'll provide the frequency-number we need to use. Next, we'll need something to make an amplifier with... a power-source strong enough to send out a two-astronomical-unit burst minimum. Lastly, something to use for an antenna. CPL's normally have one of their own, but they can also hook up to the ship's antenna. The ones on walkie-talkies or cellphones are not strong enough or tuned-right."
-
"It does not matter if we can get parts or not - the vision I had suggested the man we would encounter had a way off-world, which implies he has a ship," Mesmerin said. "And I would strongly advise Emila travel with myself or our Sangheili friend, at lest until we have a chance to get her better-armed." He looked to Emila. "The gauntlets also house a radio. We'll be using a ghost-encrypted channel, but try to maintain radio silence unless absolutely necessary." He motioned his head north. "Gunnison mall is the RV point. PCDs on, avoid populated areas."
*** Woodland Area ***
"Not much choice," Eddie said. He started for his SUV.
*** Sewer ***
"Cop...?" K'Tath repeated. "Oh, that WY guy I wasted..." The sun was beginning to sink toward the horizon as K'Tath put the final emitter in place. "Emitters are in place, trap is set. Any change in local radio chatter?" K'Tath asked Cobalt.
-
"i offered a plasma rifle...." Kyva pointed out with a shrug as he activated his advanced Active camo...
*** Woodland Area ***
"Then let's stop wasting time, something big is about to happen." Rae said as she followed Eddie into the Police truck.
*** Sewer ***
"Local files list him as a police officer, No it seems almost all radio traffic aside from highly encrypted military style communcations, I think WY has fully jammed all communications..." Cobalt explained "I don't think the UNSC will be happy if they find out."
-
Emilá sighs. “You know, I am perfectly armed thank you very much.” She shrugs. “However, this is enough talk. Sorry Commander, you’re outvoted. Me and the stranger will take the subway. Lots of people, not a likely place for an heiress to be. Commander Dazzel and Mesmerin, you guys can take surface streets. How’s that sound?”
-
"Let's get moving," Mesmerin said, heading out.
*** Woodland Area ***
Eddie got into his SUV and started the engine. While he waited for the others, he got his radio and tuned one of the channels he knew Mesmerin used. "Sheriff Morales to Asset Mesmerin One, if you can hear me on this channel, please acknowledge."
-
*** Woodland Area ***
"Unless that's a military transmission channel it's not gonna get through, Sherrif. Somebodies jamming all communications besides very high level military." Rae explained. "And very basic low level communications that have horrible range like kids walkie talkies." The white vixen added.
-
There was a pause as she glared at Emilá, then she inhaled deeply before speaking. "I'll probably get strung-up after all of this... Fine, but don't hesitate to call if things get out of your control." she spoke before turning on the PCD and following Mesmerin.
-
Jayce clambered into the SUV, watching the trees with unbridled paranoia. His paws clenched and shook, burning to grip the arquebus. “Officer,” Jayce said. “The thing we’re hunting, the cop killer. What does it fear?”
-
Emilá turns to Kyva. “Let’s go.” She starts walking. “You know, I don’t think I’ve made your acquaintance. My name is Emilá, pleased to meet you.” She gives him a genuine smile as she flips on her own PCD. She doesn’t seem bothered by the situation at all. In fact, she seems happy.
-
"Kyva" The invisible Sangheili said as he began to move.
*** Woodland Area ***
"I think you misunderstood, were not hunting anything we're getting the heck out of here before it comes back..." Rae noted as she took off her helmet....
-
Mesmerin headed for another adjacent alley, keeping an eye out for anything that would jump out at him. The sun was sinking below the horizon as he - and he would hope, Sora - headed for the mall. Darkness might come sooner than he'd anticipated.
*** Woodland Area ***
"If the creature that killed Jay Adams feared anything, I wouldn't know anything about it," Eddie replied as he started driving.
*** Sewer ***
The trap was set. Only one thing left to do.
K'Tath bellowed a roar that echoed throughout the junction as he leapt into the waters. The result was instantaneous: Xenomorphs converged on his position. Just like he wanted. He activated the laser containment grids, and entrapped them, raising both his plasma casters. One of the Xenomorphs leapt, and he fired. The shot hit the creature dead center, and sent him flying into the laser grid, which cut him to pieces. K'Tath fired, and nailed another, then another. One of them got to the ceiling above him, and K'Tath grabbed its tail and pulled it into the water, then fired on it with his plasma casters. Yet another jumped for him, but K'Tath easily deflected it and sent it to a wall.
This was too easy, he thought. Another jumped him, while the precious one did the same. But K'Tath held them both by the throat, and he prepared to...
An echoing growl signified the presence of another creature that K'Tath had forgotten about. It roared, and bashed K'Tath, causing his weapons to misfire and blowing two holes in the sewer, one in an adjacent wall, another that went out to the city above. There were no witnesses in the area, but the Xenomorphs were able to escape the confines of the sewer and get to the city proper. Not good. The Predalien glowered at K'Tath for a moment, before bursting through the sewer manhole and going to the city itself.
K'Tath growled in frustration, then made an exit himself. "Cobalt, warm up the ship - we might need to make a quick exit," he said as he got out of the sewer and activated his PCD.
*** En Route to City ***
Eddie's radio squawked, and dispatch came over it: "Sheriff, we have reports of a small gas explosion in the sewer under 16th, copy?"
"Roger, Dispatch, notify the fire department, and have one of the deputies meet them there," Eddie responded.
-
Sora followed Mesmerin, albeit not able to see Mesmerin due to the PCD he was wearing, but by the trail he was leaving behind. She tapped on her helmet when she passively-received some radio-chatter from the local emergency channels. "Hrm. Odd, gas-explosions under the city?" she thought in a whisper, trying to remain quiet as they were about to get close to populated sections.
-
Kyva would go as fast as he could without Leaving Emila too far behind, he had informed her on how to keep up with and know where he was before he headed down into the subway tunnels.
*** Sewer ***
"But K'Tath what about those in the city, especially the operatives I noted about, if they die here, the NCC and other factions will come here and start chaos in orbit if not on the ground causing more problems..." Cobalt noted. "I know we can't save everyone ,but we might need to save a few to prevent chaos from erupting from WY's poor choices."
*** En Route to City ***
Though not seen since her helmet was on Rae's ears perked at the conversation the Sherriff had over his Radio, "Sherriff, whatever you do do not stop,unless you absolutely have to or we reach our destination, Something has begun, I'm not sure what it is ,but it's not good."Rae finished loading her pistol and placing it back on her hip 'The crap has hit the fan.' she thought.
-
K'Tath didn't answer, following the trail left by one of the Xenos. It headed off toward a nuclear power plant, though K'Tath couldn't understand why they'd go there.
*** Gunnison City, New Colorado ***
"Gas explosion...?" Mesmerin repeated quietly. "Where? Did they say where?"
*** En Route to City ***
"I'm already flooring it," Eddie said. "Sheriff Morales to Asset Metal-Zero-One, do you copy? Repeat, Sheriff Morales to Asset Metal-Zero-One, please acknowledge, over."
-
Emilá keeps up with Kyva, weaving down the stairs to the train and hopping over the gate terminal unseen. She hops on the train that will take them to the mall, tapping her foot anxiously as the tunnel shakes for a moment, barely noticeable. “Somethings happening... something not good.”
-
"Sewers under 16th." she spoke quietly. "Whatever we're up against... does it have an affinity for humid and warm environments?"
-
"You don't need to tell me..." Kyva replied quietly, though no one was on the train....
*Sewer**
"What the heck did you do?" Cobalt asked "i've picked up an emergency call about an explosion in the sewers under 16th"...Cobalt sighed the humm of the ships engine could be heard in the background...
-
The train shudders into movement, and Emilá takes a seat. “Well... fortune favors the bold I suppose.”
-
"As a matter of fact, they do," Mesmerin replied to Sora. He consulted a map. "The 16th isn't far from here, and it's on the way to the mall; if we move quickly, we could get there before emergency responders do, and get a good idea what we're facing. Come on."
*** Gunnison Nuclear Power Plant ***
"I made my own exit from the sewer," K'Tath said. "Keep the engines warm; I have a feeling we may need them." He got to the top of a ridge overlooking the power plant. Zooming in, he saw a Xenomorph, and took a shot - which missed. K'Tath cursed under his breath, and moved for the plant; this was gonna be a hell of a hunt...
-
"We are in deep kimchi then. This world has all sorts of hot-and-humid places." she grumbled, picking up the pace behind Mesmerin as she gripped her pistols, read to disengage them from the attach-points on her armor. "Beaches, sewers, hot-springs... there're probably loads of others that could be favorable to... whatever is here."
-
"Xenomorphs," Mesmerin told Sora. "If you've heard of them, great; if not... let's just say I know from firsthand experience they're not a creature you want to face in numbers, especially in environments they thrive in." He was quiet till he came across the hole that went down to the sewers. Broken concrete was scattered everywhere, but not in a manner that suggested an explosion. "This... this isn't right," Mesmerin murmured. "This hole wasn't caused by your typical Xenomorph. This was done by something much bigger." Nearby was another hole, but man-sized.
*** Gunnison Nuclear Power Plant ***
K'Tath had succeeded in gaining access to the plant, and was scaling a wall to get to the level he saw the Xenomorph on. When he got there, he moved along until he came across a body, with a fatal wound to his head. B*****d's been here, alright... but where the hell'd he go? he thought. He scaled to another level before he heard footsteps, and looked down to see another of the plant's workers, who, upon seeing K'Tath's cloaked form, dropped his radio and ran. K'Tath decided not to pursue him, as all he saw was a shimmering ghost - if he survived, his story would be chalked up as just a hallucination or something to that effect.
K'Tath continued moving about the plant catwalks, but the ambient radiation and environment made tracking the Xenomorph difficult.
-
"Yeah, heard about them, mostly 'leaked urban myth' details though. Nothing too concrete in evidence since I never saw one. Vulnerable to high-heat weapons fire, organic-acid blood, ability to survive unaided in space. Not quite sure what to believe." she mentions quietly to him, examining the sizes of the two holes. "One definitely fits the bill for an explosion, and the other... weapons fire. Someone's fighting these things."
-
*** Gunnison Nuclear Power Plant ***
"The Ra...Dia.. is..giving.... me.....problems.... trac.. ing.... you... comm... fading... on.... yo... own...." Cobat's fuzzy transmission came through broken."
***Gunninson Subway in transit***
Kyva didn't respond, his thoughts and eyes focused on something else and his 'motion tracker' as well as current events and their current plans.
-
*** Gunnison Nuclear Power Plant ***
Just f***ing great, K'Tath thought. he continued moving about the plant, walking along one particular walkway. It was here that the Xenomorph he'd been hunting surprised him, leaping onto the railing and bashing him, throwing him off. K'Tath yowled, and landed on a flat surface with a hard slam! with the impact and the sudden rise of a sharp, jagged edge created by the impact causing a gash in his side. Phosphoric Green blood spurted from the wound. The impact also disrupted his cloaking device, and K'Tath, in frustration, rose to his feet and armed both Plasma Casters. he scanned for the Xeno, and as soon as he saw something that moved, he fired at it, trying to kill it. But the Xeno moved too fast, and one of the shots took out the power plant entirely, causing power for the entire city to drop.
K'Tath roared in a rage as the city was plunged into darkness. He then decided he needed to find a place to perform first aid before he could pursue the Xenomorphs further.
*** 16th Avenue, Gunnison, New Colorado ***
Mesmerin indicated the first hole, the large one. "This one was not done by an explosion; too small. Debris isn't scattered far enough; this was done by a creature much larger than a Xenomorph. And this..." he indicated the man-sized hole. "... This one suggests a man-sized creature. You are thinking what I am in that someone is fighting the Xenomorphs, but the enemy of my enemy is not always a friend. In this case, we may have a Yaut'ja on the loose, as well." He grumbled before adding, "This just keeps getting better and--" He was cut off when power suddenly died. "We need to move - now!" He told Sora, and resumed course for the mall.
-
***Gunninson Subway in transit***
Suddenly the lights went out, and the train lost power, screeching to a slow controlled stop, due to the automatic brakes activating at the loss of power. Kyva went to the door and grunted prying them open "Let's go! no time to lose,Ii fear that the loss of power is the least of our worries."
**Unknown location***
A Lucario like women looked out at the cameras of her cloaked ship watching all the lights in the city shut off all at once.... "Ahh spit..." she muttered under her growl....
*** En Route to City ***
Rae whatched as all the lights in the city turned off, Uhh, Sherrif? Is there a city wide power down or did someone cut the power?
-
Emilá nods and hops through the door. “The subway line won’t be electric anymore. Let’s go.” She starts running along the rails towards their destination.
-
"my suit will protect me from that ,but don't step on the line, it'll still be charged a little!" Kyva warned, as he got out and followed.
-
"Sounds good to me." she spoke, taking off in a run. "Let's hope the others make it safely still."
-
Jayce prayed silently, waiting for Eddie to stop. He knew, in his heart of hearts, that all things fear something. The trophy-maker was no exception. Jayce’s mouth curled into a cruel grin.
‘Hunting a hunter,’ the Mongdrigan thought. ‘First time for everything.’
-
Emilá heeds Kyva’s warning, continuing on as fast as she can without touching the lines until they come to the station. “I imagine Mesmerin and Commander Dazzel will beat us there, seeing as a power outage doesn’t affect the surface as much.”
-
"Not necessarily." Kyva replied "It may be darker down here ,but remember the lights are out up there too, the sun has set, down here we have an almost direct route to the Mall they may not." Kyva added as he ran along with Emilia.
-
*** En Route to Gunnison, New Colorado ***
Having no success contacting Mesmerin on the standard frequencies, Eddie switched to one that he knew wouldn't be jammed. "Sheriff Eddie Morales to Asset Merlin-Zero-One, do you copy?" As he proceeded with this latest attempt, a nearby sign read "WELCOME TO GUNNISON". Near it, there was a woman, dazed and confused, wandering toward the road.
*** En Route to Gunnison Mall, Gunnison, New Colorado ***
Mesmerin kept up his pace until he heard a clear transmission: "Sheriff Eddie Morales to Asset Merlin-Zero-One, do you copy?" It was enough for Mesmerin to stop in his tracks, giving a hand signal to Sora to halt.
"Merlin-Zero-One copies - go ahead, sheriff," he responded.
*** Gunnison Residential area, Gunnison, New Colorado ***
The power outage wasn't anything detrimental for young Molly. Just meant she had an opportunity to look outside with those night vision goggles her mother gave her for her recent birthday.
It was a mistake. The moment she looked over the yard, she spotted a black, humanoid yet insectoid creature in the yard, and it snarled at her. Terrified, she screamed, and ran to her bed, screaming for her daddy. Her mother and father both came bursting through the door, and when Molly tried to explain what she saw, they didn't believe her. Megan - her mother - tried to talk about how she used to have nightmares at Molly's age, but Molly insisted it was real. her father tried to prove there was no monster at the window, shining a flashlight at it as he said, "See? No monster."
Wrong. The Xenomorph had the father on the floor chewing on him in an instant. Unarmed, unarmored, and unprepared, Megan grabbed Molly and ran.
*** Unspecified location ***
K'Tath's voice would crackle over Cobalt's radio. "... Is this thing on? Tell me this frequency's not f***ed up as well..."
-
Sora picked up the signal, not needing Mesmerin to do the hand-gesture to stop her due to this. Out of caution, she pulled her pistols off of her belt, looking about as her helmet's heads-up display was showing an automatic-direction-finder while it was trying to best tune-in on the emergency frequency.
-
"Spotty ,but much better than it was before should clear up a little as i focus the comm system on your frequency..."Colbalt said followed by the sound of MIc Feedback quickly fading, followed by Cobalt cursing to herself...
-
Emilá runs up the stairs of the subway station onto the street. The mall looms in front of them, but people are in chaos from the sudden power loss. “Jeez people. It’s just power and communications.” She says sarcastically.
-
"Merlin! Look, things are going to s***, fast. You got an exfil strategy?" Eddie asked, seemingly oblivious to his vehicle approaching the dazed, wandering woman.
"We can discuss an exfil plan once we're all together - RV point is Gamma Mike, north of the station. Get there, ASAP. Merlin out," came Mesmerin's response.
*** Gunnison Cemetary ***
Perched up in a tree was K'Tath, with a medical kit before him. nearby, Megan and Molly were entering the area, but K'Tath seemed not to notice. "Cobalt, ignore the screams you hear for the next couple minutes," K'Tath told his lover. "It's just me doing first aid on myself." He grabbed one particular tool. "Kids, don't try this at home..."
Megan moved quickly through the graveyard, trying to keep Molly calm, considering they both left Tim to the "monster". She stopped suddenly when a man came up from behind one of the headstones. "Quiet!" he quietly exclaimed. He motioned his hands for them to approach, whispering, "Come on, come on..." Molly and Megan ducked behind an adjacent headstone.
"Mommy, I'm scared..." Molly whimpered. The man looked back at them.
"Did you see one?" he asked. Megan and Molly looked to him, but never responded. The man took it as an affirmation. "Me, too."
An echoing roar sounded as K'Tath used the device to cauterize and seal the gash in his side. The man cocked the .357 Magnum Revolver he was carrying. Molly began crying she wanted to see her father and go home. "Shut her up!" the man whispered hoarsely.
"Hey - put the cigarette out and get down!" Megan suggested.
"**** you! I'm not gonna die hiding!" the man growled.
This was enough to get K'Tath's attention. When he saw Megan and Molly hiding behind the adjacent headstone, he came to the conclusion the man was threatening them - which wasn't far off, given how he was speaking in evident hostility and pointing a 357 at them. Not gonna sit well with K'Tath. If there was one thing he'd kill someone for, it's when that person threatened a child.
A quick Plasma blast to the head cut the man's sentence short, before he could say what he'd do to Molly if she didn't shut up. Megan hesitated. If there was a sniper in the area, they knew she was here, thanks to the loudmouth plant worker. At the same time, however, she had to keep moving. So she took a chance. She gathered her remaining strength, and took Molly and ran for the exit. No further shots rang out.
*** Gunnison Mall Parking Lot ***
Mesmerin, after telling Eddie where to meet the rest of the gang, resumed course for the mall. Of course, he got a subtle hint in the Force that something was in there. And he wasn't gonna take chances. He loaded a round into the chamber of his rifle, and armed the integrated Disruptor.
-
"I've got a direction on that transmission." Sora spoke quietly, both pistols switching to armed mode. "Definitely from the center of the Mall. If you know enough about this creature, weaknesses would be ideal. Heat, cold, impact... anything would be useful."
-
"Merlin! Look, things are going to s***, fast. You got an exfil strategy?" Eddie asked, seemingly oblivious to his vehicle approaching the dazed, wandering woman.
"We can discuss an exfil plan once we're all together - RV point is Gamma Mike, north of the station. Get there, ASAP. Merlin out," came Mesmerin's response.
*** Gunnison Cemetary ***
Perched up in a tree was K'Tath, with a medical kit before him. nearby, Megan and Molly were entering the area, but K'Tath seemed not to notice. "Cobalt, ignore the screams you hear for the next couple minutes," K'Tath told his lover. "It's just me doing first aid on myself." He grabbed one particular tool. "Kids, don't try this at home..."
Megan moved quickly through the graveyard, trying to keep Molly calm, considering they both left Tim to the "monster". She stopped suddenly when a man came up from behind one of the headstones. "Quiet!" he quietly exclaimed. He motioned his hands for them to approach, whispering, "Come on, come on..." Molly and Megan ducked behind an adjacent headstone.
"Mommy, I'm scared..." Molly whimpered. The man looked back at them.
"Did you see one?" he asked. Megan and Molly looked to him, but never responded. The man took it as an affirmation. "Me, too."
An echoing roar sounded as K'Tath used the device to cauterize and seal the gash in his side. The man cocked the .357 Magnum Revolver he was carrying. Molly began crying she wanted to see her father and go home. "Shut her up!" the man whispered hoarsely.
"Hey - put the cigarette out and get down!" Megan suggested.
"**** you! I'm not gonna die hiding!" the man growled.
This was enough to get K'Tath's attention. When he saw Megan and Molly hiding behind the adjacent headstone, he came to the conclusion the man was threatening them - which wasn't far off, given how he was speaking in evident hostility and pointing a 357 at them. Not gonna sit well with K'Tath. If there was one thing he'd kill someone for, it's when that person threatened a child.
A quick Plasma blast to the head cut the man's sentence short, before he could say what he'd do to Molly if she didn't shut up. Megan hesitated. If there was a sniper in the area, they knew she was here, thanks to the loudmouth plant worker. At the same time, however, she had to keep moving. So she took a chance. She gathered her remaining strength, and took Molly and ran for the exit. No further shots rang out.
*** Gunnison Mall Parking Lot ***
Mesmerin, after telling Eddie where to meet the rest of the gang, resumed course for the mall. Of course, he got a subtle hint in the Force that something was in there. And he wasn't gonna take chances. He loaded a round into the chamber of his rifle, and armed the integrated Disruptor.
"EDDIE STOP!!!" Rae said almost attempting to slamm on the brakes herself.
*** Gunnison Cemetary ***
"What the heck was that all about, are people really that paranoid!?"
***Gunnison,Subway exit ***
Kyva 'threw' himself out of the subway exit, running for the mall he skidded to a stop, a large group of people blocked his way.
-
Emilá stares at the wall of people. “What now?” She hisses.
-
"Long briefing, not enough time," Mesmerin told Sora as he dashed through the parking lot.
Unbeknownst to him, K'Tath was a half-kilometer away, tracking another Xenomorph trail that went toward the mall. The sun had vanished completely, and the stars were blocked by a sudden rainstorm that had blown in from the sea. Emergency Radio chatter indicated that the Nuclear Power Plant K'Tath had been in earlier had caught fire, and the fire had spread through the entire plant, prompting evacuation. Surprisingly, WY agreed to evacuation, and called in the UNSC Colonial Guard.
Great, K'Tath thought. More meddlers. He had enough to deal with as it is. The Xenomorph outbreak itself was a handful.
*** Highway ***
Eddie barely stopped in time to avoid hitting Darcy. She screamed, almost coming into contact with the SUV. Eddie immediately and instinctively got out and went to her. "Darcy?! What the hell are you doing out here? What happened?"
Darcy was completely incoherent, sobbing something about the hotel, and Carrie's stomach being gone with so much blood, and kept repeating "she's dead". Eddie gently got her into the SUV and opened the channel to Mesmerin. "Merlin, we have unconfirmed reports of casualties in Gunnison, can you confirm?"
"Negative, but given what we're up against, it would not surprise me. I'll brief you all at the RV point. Suggest you floor it there and don't stop. Merlin out."
-
"i'm a telepath, do you want me to read her memories to figure out what she's trying to talk about, sherrif?" Rae offered "With her permission of course." the white vixen added.
***Gunnison, mall***
"I suppose we go over."Kyva said wrapping his arms aroind Emila. "I'm going to jump with you, you okay with that?" he asked.
-
"Fair enough, normal rounds until you tell me otherwise." Sora spoke quietly as she kept in the chase, attaching one pistol back to her hips to allow her a free-hand to ease mobility and yet remain able to fight. Her helmet's receiver picked up on several channels having currently-strong signal in the area. "Emergency services say there are fires in the local power-plant, they are currently in evacuation procedure. They will not be able to restore power until the fire is taken-care-of. A state-of-emergency message's been broadcast out, intended for UNSC Colonial Guard." She forced herself to not slow down despite something else being brought to her attention. "There're reports of shots being fired. Rifle or high-caliber handgun in description and also possibility of casualties. This place is starting to tear itself apart without that 'thing' adding to it."
-
Emilá wraps her arms around Kyva. “Yep, let’s go!” There’s definitely more of a sense of urgency in her voice now.
-
Kyva nodded and jumped over the wall of people landing near the entrance he lets go of Emila and points to the entrance as he hurries inside.
-
Jayce eyed Darcy as she entered the SUV beside him. “What happened? Who’s dead?”
-
"Not sure that's a good idea right now, given Darcy's current condition," Eddie responded. He then pulled into a parking lot, and parked near a rear entrance to the mall, and got out of the truck with his shotgun. He opened the doors to let Jayce, Rae and Darcy out, and motioned for them to head for the mall while he got on the radio. "Merlin, we're at the RV point - what's the spec for inside?"
"We'll be meeting at a sporting goods store just off the main entrance - I'm just now arriving on the scene. See you soon," Mesmerin replied. Mesmerin went through the conveniently-unlocked front door, and headed for the aforementioned sporting goods store. It was locked up, but Mesmerin knew a few tricks, and set to work gaining access.
And Mesmerin and Eddie were not the only ones arriving on the scene. Gaining entry to the mall via a rooftop doorway, K'Tath was getting into the mall, tracking a Xenomorph trail that lead here.
-
Jayce dismounted the SUV and frowned. “This isn’t the landing pad. Officer,” the raccoon turned to face Eddie. “I need my gear.”
-
"Rae rushed into the mall close to Eddie, her BR already drawn as she went inside, scanning the immediate area, she took one hand off her rifle and rolled her ellbow out while holding her arm straight, her middle and pointer finger pointed out with her thumb aimed upward silently signaling to move in and all clear to the others nearby her , if they understood her hand gesture.
"Kyva to team, just arrived inside Mall where's the RV?" he asked over his patched in comm...
"K'Tath I'm reading a crap ton of radio traffic with a good amount coming from the mall stay under stealth there's an armed group of people in the mall." cobalt notified K'Tath over their connection
-
Sora did not mind Mesmerin's way of access, instead she braced herself against the wall to keep an eye out for anyone or anything that might be coming their way while he was gaining entry through the locked doors, following closely in a breach-method to cover him while they were moving about inside. While they were in, the channels started to garble a bit. "No skylight in this section, signals are going to get weak." she whispered.
-
“Something’s wrong, Kyva.” Emilá hisses under her break. “I’m feeling a warm weapon nearby. Near the roof. Someone is here with us, also armed.”
-
"You don't need to tell me, thanks." Kyva replied his weapon already drawn,moving deeper into the mall , seeing that no one else was inside at the moment, he decloaked and began to sweep the mall slowly moving towards the sports shop.
-
Emilá draws a strange metal hilt, silently stalking towards the sports store. She moved faster than Kyva, so long as she senses a lack of people between her and the sports store.
-
"Maybe you can ask Mesmerin to let you use his emergency transport - go directly to your ship and back," Eddie suggested. "We still need to meet with him to figure out a game plan." he headed into the mall, and heard activity coming from somewhere toward the entrance. He went there and saw Mesmerin and a few others trying to break the lock on the gate to the Sporting Goods store. "Mesmerin!" Eddie called out. He ran for him. "Things are going to hell in a handbasket, man - fast," Eddie said when he got to Mesmerin.
"No s***, an d the longer we stay, the less likely we walk away from this place alive," Mesmerin said as he broke the final lock. He grabbed his assault rifle, and proceeded into the dark depths of the store. near the wall, lit up by flickering emergency lights, was an area rife with guns and ammunition. Mesmerin started for that spot. "We should stock up, just in case." Nearby, Eddie spotted an emergency radio, and immediately grabbed it. "Eddie, you got power on that thing?" Mesmerin asked.
Eddie turned on the radio. "Yeah, I just need some light," he responded.
Nearby, K'Tath tracked a group of Xenomorphs as they headed for the Sporting goods store. These b******s were smart - they were making no sound and giving no indication they were there. But K'Tath was onto them.
-
Meeting up with Mesmerin at the sporting goods store, Kyva went to covering him as he attempted to pick the lock heading in with him once the lock was picked, his carbine at the ready. "I'm seeing... something on my motion tracker." Kyva noted.'signatures look like infection forms, but how could the parasite be here?' The Sangheili thought to himself, turning to help the sherrif with his built in flashlight...
Rae did the same, her BR at the ready as well, loaded with 9.5x40mm rounds.... her own senses picking up something... "I think we should hurry."
"Be Careful K'Tath." Cobalt noted over their private channel.
-
“Oh my god...” Emilá whispers. “We should not be in the store. We should not be somewhere we can’t escape easily.” Emilá grew a size bigger entirely as her fur stood on end. She hops behind the sporting goods counter as the hilt she pulled out starts floating over her head.
-
"So, then, Mesmerin. I suppose, if you'll allow, I'll be taking your emergency transport to the landing pad." Jayce held his paw forth, expecting some form of card or key.
-
"I can safely break the windows in one second if we need additional exits." Rae noted, trying her best to keep calm, closing her eyes to focus on the situation and the area around her...
"The best thing to do in a situation like this is to remain calm and focused." Kyva added, despite his own heart beating quickly....
-
Sora looks over to see Emilá, then she glances up to look around for movement while hearing Eddie work. "Fourty-one-point-five megahertz. Most response teams use that." she whispered while still keeping an eye out for any sort of indication of movement. "Helmet's heat-tracker and low-light sensor are down... I should've gotten them repaired on my last debriefing."
-
Once Mesmerin was satisfied the immediate area was secure, he turned to Jayce. Digging into his cloak and retrieving a small device the size of his palm, he programmed the landing pads as the destination, then handed it to Jayce. "Press the red button while holding it to head there, get what you need, press the button again to return. Don't bother trying to break orbit: Weyland-Yutani ships have this planet locked down."
"Come on, come on..." Eddie muttered as he tried to tune the frequency on the radio.
K'Tath continued to monitor the Xenomorphs, wondering what the hell they were waiting for.
-
Jayce nodded and pressed the button. It only took a few seconds before the purple raccoon found himself at the landing bays. He dropped to a half-crouch and skulked to his ship. Jayce pulled the cargo ramp open, and was greeted by billowing scarlet smoke, and a deep guttural growling. Jayce whispered as he slipped inside. "Shh shh shh, brother. I know...I know. We'll be home soon."
Incense burners poured smoke, several runes scarred across the interior of the ship. Jayce whispered a prayer as he grabbed his gear, checking the cleanliness of the arquebus.
One shot, the raccoon thought as he exited the ship. S'all I'll need. A clear sight and a single round. He hefted a single, nearly forearm-length round from a nearby crate as he descended the ramp. Though one more couldn't hurt.
Jayce closed the ramp and whistled. Pressing the transport again, Jayce was quickly whisked away to the mall.
He quickly reentered the building, drawing upon the Smart Pistol. "Sorry for the delay." The Mongdrigan handed Mesmerin the control back. "Thanks. I'm a little more comfortable now. What's the plan?"
-
Kyva looked at the Purple racoon oddly. "guard the immidiate area from threats." The Sanheili spoke up.
Rae knelt down to get a better position and further brace herself from the recoil of her weapon, should she choose to use it.
-
Sora waited silently with the others, keeping her eyes and ears peeled for movement. When Jayce entered, she turned her attention to him, but she resumed the watch when she noticed it was him. "Alright Mesmerin, time for that briefing... exactly what are we up against that's with us? And most importantly, what're the most useful things for taking it down?"
-
Jayce scampered up to the second floor, taking position on an overhead crosswalk. The quiet thrum of the arquebus filled him with confidence. With nearly seventy millimeters of penetrating power, a single round from the weapon would liquify the crew of most armored vehicles and eject them from their steel coffins. But the cop killer drove no vehicle, and no amount of body armor would save him.
Jayce kept a cool eye on the area, the huge rifle sweeping in an arch.
-
Sora waited silently with the others, keeping her eyes and ears peeled for movement. When Jayce entered, she turned her attention to him, but she resumed the watch when she noticed it was him. "Alright Mesmerin, time for that briefing... exactly what are we up against that's with us? And most importantly, what're the most useful things for taking it down?"
"The first question is easy: We're up against Xenomorphs," Mesmerin explained as he set up his armory portal again on an adjacent wall. "I've had run-ins with them before. Enough experience to know that they come at you from literally every possible direction - including the walls and the ceiling. As for what weapons are effective against them... I strongly recommend high-caliber ranged weapons. 5.56mm Assault Rifles are good, 12-gauge shotguns... both acceptable and effective, but 7.62mm assault weapons and energy weapons are recommended as they'll put down a Xenomorph faster. Disruptors are best, as they'll disintegrate the b*****ds."
"Come on..." Eddie mumbled as he fiddled with the radio frequency.
Outside, Megan and Molly, wet from the falling rain and tired, needed a place to rest up. Megan lead Molly toward the mall, seeing a light there and hoping it wasn't looters or scavengers.
-
Rae nodded, pressing the mag realease, and pulled the magazine out "9.5x40mm too big for ya?" She asked as she slapped in an odd lookin glowing magazine that made the rifle glow as well, she had just changed her gun from a projectile weapon to a plasma weapon.
"I suppose i shall use my plasma rifles then." Kyva said, his carbine disappearing as two plasma rifles appeared one in each hand, the weapons making a buzzing sound as he activated them.
-
"High-temperature rounds it is then. These should burn right through them." she spoke as she switched her pistols. "So the rumors are true then... in that case, clarify for me, do these things have high PH organic-acid for blood?" Sora asked as she got back into defensive posture, looking around for anything that might be moving about, changing her position to be closer to where she can see out the window. "And furthermore, do these things have natural-projectiles: barbs that can be flung, spitting said organic-acid, or anything else to be wary of?"
-
"Organic Acid for Blood, I can confirm; I saw that much myself," Mesmerin responded. "As for spitting said Acid... if they can do that, I never saw it. Just don't let them get too close - they'll either rip you apart, or drag you back to their nest for incubation - which would make being torn asunder a mercy."
-
"Thank goodness for personal shields." Rae commented.
-
Jayce leaned over the railing of the walkway, to get a better look out of the mall, and spoke. “Hey! Survivors approaching the front!”
-
"Kinetic barriers are nice, so is actual armor meant to take a beating..." she started off before Jayce spoke up. "How many are there of them? Also how far off are they and is there anything with them?" she asked up to him, getting up and looking to the others set-up in the shop to assess what type of judgement-call she should make.
-
"Kinetic barriers are nice, so is actual armor meant to take a beating..." she started off before Ray spoke up. "How many are there of them? Also how far off are they and is there anything with them?" she asked up to him, getting up and looking to the others set-up in the shop to assess what type of judgement-call she should make.
"motion sensor shows quiet a large number of them... 5 or ten at the most" Kyva noted "unless something is messing with my motion sensor or they have something that scrambles my motion sensor into thinking one is like 5 of them"
-
Before Mesmerin could voice his own response, Megan came into the Sporting Goods store. "Hello?" she called out. When she saw the armed people before her, she gasped in surprise, before spotting mesmerin. "Mesmerin!" she cried out with relief.
"Are you hurt?" Mesmerin asked.
"No," Megan responded. "But Molly's seen more than she should tonight." Mesmerin motioned for them to come in.
"Come on in, pal - she'll be safe here," he said. He activated the armory portal, then turned to the others. "Anyone need an upgrade in arsenal? I'd wager we still got a ways to--"
He was cut off when Eddie proclaimed, "Got it!" He grabbed the mike and spoke, "Sheriff Morales to UNSC Colonial Guard... repeat, Sheriff Morales to UNSC Colonial Guard, come in, over."
Much to Mesmerin's surprise, he got a response: "This is Lieutenant Woods, 89th Troop Command, UNSC Colonial Guard. Go ahead, sheriff."
"What's you're location, Lieutenant? Over," Eddie asked.
"We're on Main Street," Woods answered.
"Listen, Lieutenant, I don't know what your men are walking into, but our situation is getting worse--"
An anguished yelp cut him off. "We have a missing man!" someone said over the channel. There were a few moments of silence before the radio chatter went haywire with screams, shouts, and gunfire.
"FIRE!!!"
"It's a f***ing ambush! Ahh!!!"
"What the hell is that thing?!"
"Fall back! I repeat, fall back!"
This went on for about ten seconds, and then, silence.
-
“Oh my god.” Emilá murmurs, fidgeting with the hilt of her weapon. “Ohhh my god. We’re all going to die, aren’t we?” She mutters, chuckling nervously under her breath. She’s not a soldier, or a trained warrior, she’s a civilian. And what’s more, she’s never had something like this happen before.
-
"Hey. Hey!" Mesmerin spoke to Emila, trying to grab her by the arms. "Listen to me, Emila! We're gonna get through this! You hear me? We'll get through this! The Force did not warn us of what's coming and lead us here just to die! We will find a way out of this mess! We're not gonna die, got it? We'll get through this. Just stick close to me, and you'll be okay."
-
Sora inhaled then she looked up to Jayce. "Monitor them and keep an eye out for activity around them. Both eyes open, not just one-down-the-scope." she spoke then she looked to Kyva. "Continue monitoring, use thermal-imaging as well to help assess the numbers if you have the capability." The wolf then turned her attention to Emilá, walking over before her and waiting for Mesmerin to let her go before she gave a slap to the back of the fox's head. "Snap out of it! We're not going to die if I have anything to say about it. Now stay close to someone who has a barrier of some type. Keep a first-aid-kit handy and grab some baking-soda if there's any around. If these guys bleed acid, we'll need to neutralize it if we get any on ourselves. Our best bet is to cauterize any holes we put in'em and stop them from attacking us. If we can get the survivors in here, fine, but we need to make sure they have a good head-on-their-shoulders to help defend or to help treat any wounded."
-
Emilá starts to look reassured by Mesmerin before she is smacked, then rubs the back of her head ruefully. “Jeez, alright, not necessary.” She shakes out her fur before heading to the back of the store and making a quick first aid kit out of what little it had in sports medicine, before heading back close to Mesmerin.
-
"Panicking is the worse thing we can do right now." Kyva said stepping near the younger girl, Molly, crouching down to her to not seems so 'intimidating' "Relax, Young one, you're safe here..." he told the young Panther, grabbing something off the nearby store shelves, a makeshift poncho to keep, Molly warm and slowly wrapping it around her.
"I have to agree with the Sangheili ,we need to focus, Do you want a gun, now?" Rae asked, Emila, offering her pistol, she then turned to Megan "Do you need anything Ma'am?" she asked
-
"... Honestly, I wouldn't know how to use it." She mutters. "I'll keep this." She waves her hilt.
-
Mesmerin closed the armory portal and stored it, then approached Megan and Molly. "You two look pretty shaken up," he remarked.
"It hasn't been an easy night for her," Megan responded, drying Molly with a towel.
"What about you?" Mesmerin asked. Megan paused.
"I'll live," she said.
Mesmerin nodded, then spoke again, "We're gonna head out in five minutes, try and link up with any survivors and get off-world."
Megan nodded. As Mesmerin started for another part of the Store, Megan spoke up: "Thank you."
Mesmerin looked back at her. "That's what friends are for." He headed into an area of the store that was not hit by the light, making sure no hostiles were in the vicinity, when a cloaked hand grabbed his snout and knocked him over the head. A loud thump! was all that was heard before Mesmerin seemingly disappeared. His weapon, the RX Hybrid H7M1, lay nearby, as though he dropped it.
-
Rae heard the thump her ear flicking, moving to figure out what happened when she saw nothing, but Mesmerin's gun laying on the floor seeing nothing she aimed her gun down the hallway. She growled aiming her gun in the general direction of where she though she would stand if she was in the other position.
Kyva, hearing the thump and seeing some action on his motion track immediately went to high-alert, trying his best not to scare Megan or her daugher, Molly as he scanned the area , guns ready to fire at a moments notice. Kyva attempted to warn the others that something was up with his hand, whatching Rae go out to check on things.
-
Emilá, following Mesmerin closely after he said to stay close, is startled by his sudden disappearance. She stiffens up and slips into a predatory crouch, casting out her mind to feel up the area to try and find him. She backs away for the moment.
-
Sora looked to the survivors, making a bit of a mental-note on their health and well-being before she starts looking around as well to make sure they weren't alone in this temporary-sanctuary, eventually finding Emilá backing away. "Easy." Sora spoke calmly towards her, looking the same direction into the darkness with one pistol raised, her other hand still free as she crouches a little bit to pick up Mesmerin's firearm. "Where'd he go? It's not like him to take off without his weapon."
-
(Uh, Vosur... Mesmerin didn't drop a pistol. He dropped an assault rifle.)
Not far, hanging by his feet from an overhead ceiling beam that was creaking under his weight was Mesmerin. He groaned and mumbled, then asked, "What the hell...?" He looked at his feet, wondering how the hell he ended up like--
When Mesmerin looked to Emila, Rae and Sora, he saw a dark shape crawling along the ceiling behind them. His adrenaline spiked. "Give me the gun... now! Give me my gun!"
-
Hearing Mesmerin's voice, she tossed-up the rifle without hesitation towards him, her other hand aiming her own pistol around to see if there was something else up there with him. "Alright, who's the wise-guy up there?" she called out, the flame-rounds still active as she was watching for movement.
(Fixed it.)
-
Emilá's fur stands straight on edge as she turns around and looks up, following Mesmerin's gaze and her sense, her saber buzzing to life and flying out of her hand. The saber zooms up to the ceiling and embeds itself a quarter of an inch into it vertically and then zooms at the shape, drawing a burnt line in the ceiling in between her and the shape.
-
(Uh, Vosur... Mesmerin didn't drop a pistol. He dropped an assault rifle.)
Not far, hanging by his feet from an overhead ceiling beam that was creaking under his weight was Mesmerin. He groaned and mumbled, then asked, "What the hell...?" He looked at his feet, wondering how the hell he ended up like--
When Mesmerin looked to Emila, Rae and Sora, he saw a dark shape crawling along the ceiling behind them. His adrenaline spiked. "Give me the gun... now! Give me my gun!"
Rae looked up aiming her rifle with one hand as her other reached for a hilt on her hip "Do i need to get you down!?" she asked quickly hand grasping the hilt.
-
Mesmerin caught his rifle and fired the integrated Disruptor at the rope, severing it and dropping him to the floor. Mesmerin's rifle clattered off to the side, and another of the black figures dropped to the floor in front of him. There was no mistake.
The Xenomorphs had found them.
Molly started screaming, but before Mesmerin could react, the Xenomorph before him was suddenly screeched as it was stabbed from behind by a pair of blades, lifted off its feet, and slammed down on it's head, before a crimson lightsaber went active and decapitated it. The shimmering figure de-cloaked, revealing a crimson-furred Anthro Lucario, adorned in what looked to be armor pieced together from various sources, and a hunting mask reminiscent of Yaut'ja Hunters, but custom-tailored to fit his face. The laser sight on his mask went active, and plasma casters rose up behind both his shoulders, but instead of targeting Mesmerin, Sora, Emila or Rae, it fired on two more Xenomorphs on the ceiling.
Mesmerin was tempted to flee, but something about this hunter made him stay. The Lucario Hunter made no motion to stop Mesmerin as he got his rifle and stood up. There was a hiss and footfalls as the Xenomorphs pulled back.
"We don't have much time," the hunter said. "The Xenomorphs will be back soon, and in greater numbers; and believe me, there are many more than what you may think. I'd advise we get the hell out of here before they come back."
-
"I'll second the notion. Grab any supplies and weapons we can and go." Sora spoke, spotting a couple of black-figures similar to what they just saw before she took several shots with both pistols at them, dropping the creatures to the floor. "Stay visible to each other and be ready for anything."
-
Rae's helmet materilaize onto her head and almost as fast as Mesmerin fell, Rae's hand went back to her rifle as she aimed at the Xeno that had dropped to the floor, before she could even pull the trigger though the odd Lucario hunter killed it, she raised her rifle into a stand down stance for the moment.
"I don't really appreciate you using my friend as bait." Rae noted, able to piece together the situation "but we can talk about that later let's get the heck out of here before more of them find us." Rae said pausing to shoot anther Xeno. it's dead burnt through carcass falling to the floor the plasma blast from her rifle cauterizing the hole it created in the Xeno,so it's blood did not leak from it's dead husk. "These things are thicker than Molasses, Dangit!"
Kyva stayed with Molly and Megan guarding them. "I agree with Rae and the Hunter we need to get out of here." assisting sora in shooting more down, his plasma rifles remarkably more accurate than the standard Covenant plasma rifle.
-
Emilá's blade zooms around her, cutting through a few Xenomorphs while she concentrates. "I told you this was a death trap. But no." She backs up behind the shooters, using previously underused telekinetics to swing her sword around at range.
-
The Lucario nodded to Mesmerin. "You take point; you know this town better than I. We need transportation - something large enough for all of us," he said. Mesmerin nodded his agreement.
"Everyone, lock and load! We're heading out!" he called out to the others. Looking to the hunter, he asked, "What the hell do we call you?"
"Who I am is a long story, and one we don't have time for. But for the sake of names, mine's K'Tath," The hunter answered.
(Think we need to wait a bit for Ray.)
-
Jayce grunted as he hefted his rifle, slinging it across his shoulders. “And I was just getting comfortable...” He started towards the atrium, hoping to bump into the others.
-
(you were saying?)
"What the heck is going on there K'Tath!?" Cobalt asked, having lost connection for a bit, and just now having regained it.
"Don't need to tell me twice." Rae commented.
"Let's get ourselves and the three civvies out of here before more of them come." Kyva said keeping his eye on Megan and her daughter.
-
Sora kept her eyes peeled for any more oncoming xenomorphs while she started to help guide the others out of the building with her empty hand. "C'mon. We need to get to the spaceport first. I'm sure there is a ship still there that works... if Weiland-Yutani hasn't already disabled them somehow." she spoke. She let-go so she could grab her other primary-pistol now that she could tell the others were on the move without watching them. "When this mission is done, I may consider retiring... or maybe joining that SPECTRE program I've heard so much about."
-
"If Weyland-Yutani locked down the planet, it's unlikely they'll allow anyone off-world that knows of the Xenomorphs," Mesmerin said as he headed for the exit. "I know how these corporate types operate - they can, at times, be as sneaky as those spooks in the UNSC Office of Naval Intelligence. What we need is a vessel with a cloaking device, something that can slip past the ships in orbit. If we're lucky, WY will think we all died here to the Xenomorphs."
"I might be able to provide such," K'Tath offered. "But first, we need to link up with the UNSC Colonial Guard. Hopefully, they can put us in touch with orbit, and we can negotiate an evacuation plan."
-
"If Weyland-Yutani locked down the planet, it's unlikely they'll allow anyone off-world that knows of the Xenomorphs," Mesmerin said as he headed for the exit. "I know how these corporate types operate - they can, at times, be as sneaky as those spooks in the UNSC Office of Naval Intelligence. What we need is a vessel with a cloaking device, something that can slip past the ships in orbit. If we're lucky, WY will think we all died here to the Xenomorphs."
"I might be able to provide such," K'Tath offered. "But first, we need to link up with the UNSC Colonial Guard. Hopefully, they can put us in touch with orbit, and we can negotiate an evacuation plan."
"They probably locked down the Spaceport as well so any ships left there are out of the question." Rae noted "So we'll have to use the Hunter's ship..."
Kyva just nodded, keeping his eyes on Megan and Molly.
-
Megan and Molly still followed close, Molly even more shaken having seen more Xenomorphs, let alone seeing them get killed. Mesmerin had point, and K'Tath was close behind. "We still need to link up with the UNSC, find any survivors - we may be using the Hunter's ship, but others aren't; we need to find some way to evacuate them. And with the UNSC in orbit, we may be able to call them down for an evac. If nothing else, it'll be an effective distraction for WY while we slip away unnoticed," Mesmerin suggested.
-
Megan and Molly still followed close, Molly even more shaken having seen more Xenomorphs, let alone seeing them get killed. Mesmerin had point, and K'Tath was close behind. "We still need to link up with the UNSC, find any survivors - we may be using the Hunter's ship, but others aren't; we need to find some way to evacuate them. And with the UNSC in orbit, we may be able to call them down for an evac. If nothing else, it'll be an effective distraction for WY while we slip away unnoticed," Mesmerin suggested.
"that'll likely be a big target for the xenos though." Rae noted.
"Would the UNSC risk such a tactic?" Kyva asked.
-
"If I could get a burst-message out, we could have an SA ship within thirty-minutes to help with retrieval... especially considering my mission." she spoke as one of her pistols partial-ejected a heat-sink, swapping it to her back to let her auto-loader change it out.
-
"If I could get a burst-message out, we could have an SA ship within thirty-minutes to help with retrieval... especially considering my mission." she spoke as one of her pistols partial-ejected a heat-sink, swapping it to her back to let her auto-loader change it out.
"I don't think the UNSC would like the SA messing around in their territory which is why i haven't called in the NCC which would probably blow the WY ships out of orbit if they found out." Rae noted "If i could get a signal through, their jamming most off world communications."
-
"Too long," Mesmerin responded as he moved. "The Xenomorphs would overrun us before they got here. Our only hope for the other civvies is the UNSC, if they survived and are cooperative. Our hope is with our hunter friend."
K'Tath remained silent, keeping his mask scanning for any additional Xenomorphs.
Mesmerin paused to consult his map. "Eddie, where did those Colonial Guard guys say they were?" Mesmerin asked.
"Main Street," Eddie answered. "They may have walked into an ambush, but they may have survived it."
"Still begs the question of why they haven't radioed us, but we don't have any other place to go - let's move," Mesmerin said, and resumed course.
-
Sora put one of her pistols back on her hip as she now tapped her helmet with that free-hand. "All I'm getting is nonstop whining on multiple frequencies. WY is definitely jamming on all-bands now, which begs the question of 'how long does it take until someone notices the interference?' If it were possible, I'd say we find a way onto the WY ship and take it down. Or maybe use it to get out of here."
-
“I guarantee someone’s noticed the interference.” Emilá mutters, unamused. “Likely my father at least.”
-
"WY ship wouldn't be advisable," K'Tath spoke. "They aren't supposed to be handling Xenomorphs in UNSC Territory in the first place. Because you all know about their involvement in the outbreak here, you all are a threat to WY. Stealing one of their ships would only tell them you are alive, and they'll send mercenary hit squads at you till you surrender or die. It's the latter I'm going for - the only way you get off scot-free from the idiot corporation's f***up is if they believe you perished here - either to the Xenomorphs that got loose or whatever else they decide to do. The civilians here, they have made no connection between the Xenomorphs and WY, and given current circumstances, I doubt they will; we can evac them, maybe, without WY giving them much beyond an interview to see what happened. The lot of us are the threat to WY, because we know what they don't want getting out."
Mesmerin spotted red lights up ahead consistent with vehicles. No current sign of activity. Still, he spoke up: "Contact, dead ahead - might be our UNSC Colonial Guard. Eyes open, weapons up - if the Xenos are still in the area, we don't wanna get blindsided by them. Trust me."
-
"i don't like this." Rae muttered....
"smells like a trap." Kyva added as he followed along.
-
"It is definitely a trap." Sora spoke, trying to slow the others down as she redrew her other pistol. "All activity is silent ahead and the source of the interference seems to be stronger from that direction if my helmet's ADF is right. Mesmerin, do these creatures react to specific sounds or frequencies? Following some or staying away from others? I'm actually picking up something other than radio-frequencies. Ultrasonic ranges."
-
Even at the slowed pace, the party came across the group of military vehicles that had been the UNSC Colonial Guard. But, while there were no Xenomorphs, nor anything on motion trackers, the scene was too quiet, aside from the wailing siren in the distance and the rain storm. "What the hell...?" Darcy shuddered.
There were UNSC effects everywhere - shell casings, empty magazines, LBE Straps, but... "What the f*** is goin' on, Eddie?!" Mesmerin shouted.
"Where the hell are the bodies?" Eddie remarked, noting that, seeing as the Colonian Guard marines were dead, there should have been bodies everywhere. But there weren't.
"Oh, they're gonna kill us all!" Darcy despaired. Mesmerin looked to her.
"Hey! We're not dead yet!" he told her sharply.
"There may be weapons and equipment we can still use!" Megan said, and headed into the APC to begin going through the weapons, and soon equipped herself with an MA5D ICWS. She handed Eddie a fresh M45D Tactical Shotgun when he spotted something.
"Radio!" he pointed to a military radio sitting on the APC bench. Megan handed it to him, and he activated it. "Colonial Guard, come in! Repeat, any Colonial Guard Unit, please come in!"
-
Rae climbed into the APC and got up into the turret, then growled "this machine gun is very low on ammo!" she grumbled as she lifted the small belt up to show the others
Kyva climbed in after Molly and Megan got in determined that they would go before him, since he had decided to be their bodyguard, for now.
-
"Definitely some action happened. If Mesmerin's right, we probably won't find bodies." she grumbled as she started to scavenge around to see if she could find ammo for the turrets, putting one pistol away to allow her free-hand to lift-and-carry anything she might find useful for the APC. "Doesn't look like fuel's an issue for the time being, but I'd rather have a Mako than this ancient vehicle."
-
Contrary to a jamming signal, Eddie got a response from the UNSC Radio. "This is Colonel Stevens, UNSC Army. Identify yourself." Came a gruff voice with a southern accent. The name caught Megan's attention, frowning and turning her head as though she recognized the name.
"Sheriff Eddie Morales, Gunnison, New Colorado," Eddie replied. "You have to help us, Colonel. There's some sort of infestation, and if we don't get help soon, there won't be any of us left. What's the Army's evacuation plan?" There was a pause, and there was no immediate response. "Colonel?" Eddie spoke again. Still no response. "Colonel, we need immediate evac!"
Finally, Stevens replied: "Sheriff, all ground routes have been compromised; there is a dropship evac to orbit in thirty minutes from Gilliam Circle." This made Megan's frown deepen.
"Confirm: Dropship Evac, Gilliam Circle. We'll be there in twenty minutes," Eddie responded.
"Confirmed, Sheriff," Stevens affirmed.
"But that's right in the center of town!" Megan protested.
"We'll be there, Colonel," Eddie assured him, then turned off the radio. Megan knew not to argue at present. They had been here too long. Only one thing to do. "EVERYONE!" She called out to the party, in case there were any that were distant - and so she would be heard over the siren, "GET IN THE STRYKER!" She then went up to the driver station, and waited.
(RP will continue after everyone has posted.)
-
Sora's helm-radio kicked on and the ADF tuned to the UNSC radio to show the general direction of where it came from. "Ah. Good ol' Anti-jamming. That tech's still somewhat reliable." she thought to herself as she managed to load in a couple of salvaged ammo-cans worth during the talk. "All I could find in the other turrets... at least they have some small-arms still in this one." she spoke before the call for everyone to get in. The wolf hops in the back and starts doing a count of how many shots she has to work with while the auto-cooler was at work on the spent heat-sinks.
-
"UNSC doesn't use fossil fuels anymore prefering to use Fuel cells that can use water, and usually boast a very high range, i doubt this will need refueling for a few days." Rae explained, throwing the small belt of ammo down below prefering to use her battle rifle instead since she carried more ammo for it.
Kyva nodded in response "Indeed water will be the least of our fuel worries, our biggest worry will be ammo and our lives." the Sangheili noted. "But what really worries me is that their funneling everyone into the center of town....that's a big target for this Xeno infestation." he added.
-
Jayce scrambled up the side of the Stryker, his weapon simply wouldn’t let him inside. He knelt low, behind the remote gun, his own rifle cradled in his arms. As he scanned the horizon, Jayce compiled his thoughts. The things running amok had acidic blood, if he heard right. It’d wash off his shields, but the emitters would overheat eventually. Ranged weapons were the way, unfortunately. The arquebus would draw attention for miles, easy, and only carried a single shell at a time. The smart-pistol was better, but it only carried twelve rounds per magazine, and Jayce only carried three mags at once. Jayce silently prayed that the creatures would ignore his brother. Acid-blooded monsters were one thing, but a daemonically possessed death-machine was another.
-
Emilá remains uncharacteristically silent through all this, watching and waiting. "Will 30 minutes be enough time?" She mutters, joining the others.
-
Once everyone was in the APC, Megan closed the rear hatch, fired up the engine, and headed for the supposed evac point. About five minutes down the road, she stopped the vehicle with a nervous sigh.
Eddie noticed this, looking up to the panther and asking, "Why are we stopping?"
"It doesn't make any sense," Megan said. "Gilliam Circle is right in the center of town; we'll be surrounded by those things!"
Mesmerin looked over at her. "Wait a second - what are you saying?" He asked.
Megan inhaled, as though getting ready to share something she shouldn't. "I think the Colonel was lying," she stated.
Darcy shook her head. "That's crazy; the UNSC Army doesn't like to people!" She protested.
"This isn't the work of the Army; Colonel Stevens isn't UNSC Army... He's from ONI. I know him well enough to know that he thinks about containment first, regardless of casualties. He won't risk this getting any worse."
"Help is a few miles down that road and they're waiting for us; now, if you won't drive us there, I will," Eddie said.
"Eddie, if she's right, the only thing down that road is more of those things," Mesmerin said.
"You're not seriously considering this?" Eddie queried in disbelief.
"I'm considering whatever keeps us alive!" Mesmerin responded.
"Which means getting off this planet - undetected," Megan said. There was a brief pause after this, before Darcy spoke:
"There are only two places with shuttles that can reach orbit; one is the spaceport--"
"Too far at this point; we'd never make it in time," Mesmerin cut her off.
"And the other one is the Hospital," Darcy finished.
"The people at the hospital probably used the shuttles already to get out," Eddie said.
"That's a chance we have to take," Megan replied.
"If you're wrong, and the shuttles are gone, we're all dead!" Eddie exclaimed.
"If I'm right, they're dead if they follow you!" Was Megan's response.
K'Tath, who had been silent until this point, chose that moment to speak up: "You can all waste time arguing this tactical scenario - until the birds above nuke us from orbit, or the Xenomorphs find us again, whichever comes first - or we can take the option I provided, and take my ship off-world, avoiding detection and, in some cases..." He looked to Emila. "... Escaping the clutches of others. Weyland-Yutani and ON I won't have any proof any of us are alive. They'll assume, along with... Certain others... That we died, and we'll just slip under the radar unnoticed. But we have to stop fighting among ourselves and make a decision, fast, before we get vaporized."
-
Once everyone was in the APC, Megan closed the rear hatch, fired up the engine, and headed for the supposed evac point. About five minutes down the road, she stopped the vehicle with a nervous sigh.
Eddie noticed this, looking up to the panther and asking, "Why are we stopping?"
"It doesn't make any sense," Megan said. "Gilliam Circle is right in the center of town; we'll be surrounded by those things!"
Mesmerin looked over at her. "Wait a second - what are you saying?" He asked.
Megan inhaled, as though getting ready to share something she shouldn't. "I think the Colonel was lying," she stated.
Darcy shook her head. "That's crazy; the UNSC Army doesn't like to people!" She protested.
"This isn't the work of the Army; Colonel Stevens isn't UNSC Army... He's from ONI. I know him well enough to know that he thinks about containment first, regardless of casualties. He won't risk this getting any worse."
"Help is a few miles down that road and they're waiting for us; now, if you won't drive us there, I will," Eddie said.
"Eddie, if she's right, the only thing down that road is more of those things," Mesmerin said.
"You're not seriously considering this?" Eddie queried in disbelief.
"I'm considering whatever keeps us alive!" Mesmerin responded.
"Which means getting off this planet - undetected," Megan said. There was a brief pause after this, before Darcy spoke:
"There are only two places with shuttles that can reach orbit; one is the spaceport--"
"Too far at this point; we'd never make it in time," Mesmerin cut her off.
"And the other one is the Hospital," Darcy finished.
"The people at the hospital probably used the shuttles already to get out," Eddie said.
"That's a chance we have to take," Megan replied.
"If you're wrong, and the shuttles are gone, we're all dead!" Eddie exclaimed.
"If I'm right, they're dead if they follow you!" Was Megan's response.
K'Tath, who had been silent until this point, chose that moment to speak up: "You can all waste time arguing this tactical scenario - until the birds above nuke us from orbit, or the Xenomorphs find us again, whichever comes first - or we can take the option I provided, and take my ship off-world, avoiding detection and, in some cases..." He looked to Emila. "... Escaping the clutches of others. Weyland-Yutani and ON I won't have any proof any of us are alive. They'll assume, along with... Certain others... That we died, and we'll just slip under the radar unnoticed. But we have to stop fighting among ourselves and make a decision, fast, before we get vaporized."
"That will not go well with the NCC and the Sangheili ,but I see no other options, but Kyva and I will need to find a way to contact our respective governments before they freak out, so something we'll cover when we get off this rock." Rae explained
Kyva nodded to Rae's responce "It seems fate has decided our path, so let's not waste our time where is your ship, Hunter?"
~-Unspecified location, New Colorado-~
" K'Tath what is going on I'm getting all kinds of traffic even OnI comm traffic and codes for Shiva tactical nukes, I don't think their messing around, I'm working on a countdown timer for ONI's nukes, but it will take a bit to gather the data.
-
Emilá looks at K'Tath and nods. "He's right. That seems like our best bet, but we should still make haste."
-
Jayce lifted the hatch near him and poked his head into the APC.
“I’m guessing the powers that be aren’t just gonna let us leave. I don’t know how you all feel about it, but we need a distraction before leaving. A decoy, something to draw fire.” He looked at all the faces, studying them.
-
Sora went silent for most of the trip, checking over her equipment and pulling out her data comm-pad to have a look at what was still stored on it, then she hands it over to Emilá. "I no longer care about the mission, but here's the details. Use it as leverage against the corrupt." she spoke before standing up and grabbing one of the support rails in the APC while they were stationary. "If I can find the planet-side source of the interference, I think I could redirect it to their ships to cause them to be focused on me and allow a burst-message to be sent-out too. That could not only be your distraction, but buy you enough time to get off the planet. They won't expect someone to be messing with their equipment like that."
-
Emilá grabs the compad and flicks through it, a small smile growing on her face. “This will do nicely. Assuming we don’t all die here.” She places the compad securely on her person. She pulls out her own compad. “I can probably triangulate the source of the interference for you.” She starts typing, pulling up maps and interference patterns.
-
"My ADF will work better. Points me in the direction where the source of the signal is the strongest." she spoke as she tapped on her helmet. "It is ahead of us, but I think you guys should go find the ship our Hunter friend has in store for you."
-
"Whatever we decide, we better do it fast," K'Tath said. "We will need a landing zone so I can bring my ship here - high elevation so we can see any Xenomorphs coming at us, defensible, but sturdy enough to withstand my ship long enough to get everyone aboard."
Mesmerin blinked once, remembering something he had read in a pamphlet of the Hotel he and Emila and the others had been staying at, something about it's historic significance to New Colorado:
During the Second UNSC-Covenant War, against the Covenant Resurgence, this hotel had served as a base of operations for a joint UNSC-Sangheili task force during their liberation of New Colorado; the very rooftop was where Sangheili ships set their gravity lifts to offload troops during the final battle.
Mesmerin looked to Emila. "Emila... did you ever read the pamphlet of the hotel we had been staying at?" he asked.
-
“Of course, but I highly doubt it’s important now how their spa is rated 4th on New Colorado and it’s a historical site from the-“ Emilá’s eyes light up. “The roof! The hotel roof is a landing pad!” She looks at K’Tath. “You can land on the roof of the hotel in the city, that’s genius! But is it safe to return to the main city?”
-
"Safe or not, that hotel would provide an excellent, defensible position, and can withstand the weight of a starship long enough for us to get aboard and get off-world," Mesmerin said.
"If we're thinking of the same hotel, then that hotel is only a few minutes from here - we can get there, set up, call for K'Tath's ship, and get off-world with time time to spare," Megan added.
"I know the hotel you speak of," K'Tath admitted. "I've landed there myself, long ago. Long story."
Eddie looked between Emila, Mesmerin, and Megan. "That's not bad... that's not bad." He looked to K'Tath. "How fast can your ship get here?"
In response, K'Tath accessed his Radio. "Cobalt - get the ship ready for takeoff, and stay cloaked; when we call, track my signal and land quietly; I'll take controls once everyone is aboard."
While the plan was being set in motion, Megan turned the Stryker around and headed for the hotel.
-
"I'm sorry, but this is my stop." she spoke as she popped the vehicle's rear-door open with a quick-release. "I'll need to get to the jammer before you can leave or else you'll be gunned down. And you can't take off and get the jammer redirected at the same time." Sora added as she hopped out, heading in the direction her ADF was tuned-to, the door closing automatically while it was in motion.
-
"You won't make it!" Rae warned Sora...
Kyva sighed... one more to the slaughter pit..."
"ships been warmed up since you took your little hunting trip, but alright i'll be there heck i might even be flying nearby...." Cobalt replied.
-
“Oh come on, there’s gotta be a better option!” Emilá gasps and a rope flies out, attempting to wrap around Sora and tie her back to the outside of the vehicle, the other end tying itself cleanly to a handle. “We can figure something out that doesn’t include hasty self sacrifice!”
-
"Even your abilities have range-limits. There's no way for you to be able to operate it and take off within a viable time." she spoke as she ducked under the rope to avoid it, taking off running. The direction the direction-finder and the source of the interference on the ground seemed to be coming from one of the nearby hotels. "Hm... so they managed to set-up base right under our noses while we were distracted."
-
"Enough!" Mesmerin shouted. "We're all going together! Forget the signal, it's gonna go up when this planet does! We need to make for that hotel, get to the roof, hold off the Xenomorphs till K'Tath's ship can evac us, and get the hell off-world without tipping off ONI or WY!" He looked to Sora. "You jump this APC again before we get where we're going, and you're on your own! We have come too far to throw all our chances away playing hero!"
"Settle down, Mesmerin," K'Tath said calmly. "But he is half-right. Forget the signal, forget what you're trying to sacrifice yourself for. There will be other chances. For now, we have to get off-world. The sooner, the better. And unless you have a better plan for getting us all outta dodge, and keep us off WY's radar, then you should stick with us."
-
"Leave her to die if she so wishes." Kyva said. "I will not stop one who is so set on commiting suicide." the Sangheili sighed.
Rae didn't say anything instead making sure her weapons and equipment were working either way she knew they would need to be used.
-
"I said GO!" she spoke before drawing her pistol out to aim into the APC. "If we don't take out that jamming array, then we are toast anyways. So this is your final warning. Get to the ship and wait for my call before take-off. You'll be able to hear me. If you take off too early, trying to exit the atmosphere will make you light up like a beacon no matter how much cloaking or heat-stealth you have. If I point them to me then you actually have a chance. So go. No discussions."
-
“I mean if she wants to die for attention, whatever.” Emilá mutters.
-
Both Kyva and Rea pointed their weapons at Sora. "Then Die there or shoot and die here." Kyva growled...
-
A deafening roar stole the very air from the area briefly, the echo a dull roar.
Jayce, over ringing ears, shouted while loading a new shell, drawing the arm-length brass casing from his rifle.
“I just sounded a fifty mile dinner bell. Now that we’re on a timer. Get in the carrier. We’re all going, or we all die.”
-
She kicks the APC door up to lock it in. "Thanks for the motivational rush. I didn't need it." Sora spoke before going back into a sprint towards the array.
-
"Keep going," K'Tath sighed to Megan. "She wants to kill herself, let her. No sense in us trying to talk her out of it at this point."
"Not much choice if we wanna get off-world before ONI nukes us from orbit," Megan agreed, and she continued driving toward the hotel. Mesmerin didn't say anything, but gave Emila a sympathetic look.
-
Emilá frowns slightly as Sora disappears into the dust, but quickly clears the expression upon seeing Mesmerin's glance. "Well, travel light I guess. So what's the plan?"
-
"Simple: Get to the hotel, access the roof, hold off the Xenos till K'Tath's ship arrives and gets us all off-world," Mesmerin responded. "But whatever happens inside, the only one who can't get hurt is K'Tath. We all cover his back."
"Don't worry about me," the crimson-furred Lucario said, tapping one of the two lightsabers on his belt. "I can handle myself against those things. I've seen them many times before."
"As have I," Mesmerin said. "So I don't need to tell you... don't let them get too close."
"And if they do... don't let their blood splatter on you," K'Tath added.
Mesmerin looked to Emila and mouthed the words "Acid for blood."
-
Emilá grimaces. Her hand fidgeting with the weapon now secured to her waist is the only indication of her anxiety.
-
She makes it to the outside of the hotel away from the intended landing zone (the one pointed out by the ADF as the source of interference), loading in her grapnel hook into one of her pistols before firing it. "I really wished I would've gotten the jump-assist jets on my armor." she grumbled before she disabled her radio, starting up in climbing while she was recording a message.
-
"Simple: Get to the hotel, access the roof, hold off the Xenos till K'Tath's ship arrives and gets us all off-world," Mesmerin responded. "But whatever happens inside, the only one who can't get hurt is K'Tath. We all cover his back."
"Don't worry about me," the crimson-furred Lucario said, tapping one of the two lightsabers on his belt. "I can handle myself against those things. I've seen them many times before."
"As have I," Mesmerin said. "So I don't need to tell you... don't let them get too close."
"And if they do... don't let their blood splatter on you," K'Tath added.
Mesmerin looked to Emila and mouthed the words "Acid for blood."
Kyva and Rae pointed to theselves and said "Energy sheilds."
-
This comforts Emilá a bit to know that her energy shields will also probably work to deflect the acid.
-
Not long after, the APC arrived at the hotel, and Megan lowered the door. Mesmerin was the first out, pointing his RX Hybrid H7M1 this-way-and-that, making sure the immediate area was secure. Eddie was next out. Once they were satisfied that the immediate area was secure, Mesmerin motioned for the others. "Come on - we need to get to the roof. Sooner we're off-world, the better."
-
Not long after, the APC arrived at the hotel, and Megan lowered the door. Mesmerin was the first out, pointing his RX Hybrid H7M1 this-way-and-that, making sure the immediate area was secure. Eddie was next out. Once they were satisfied that the immediate area was secure, Mesmerin motioned for the others. "Come on - we need to get to the roof. Sooner we're off-world, the better."
Stairs or elevator?" Rae asked as she ran down the ramp followed by Kyva.
-
Sora finishes her message to the suit's 'black box' drive before she starts making her way up the side of the array's hotel, the line retracting into her belt as she climbed the building. She eventually made her way to an exterior-cleaning-lift and set herself down on it, drawing out her pistols in case if there was movement going on. "This'll be faster, but a bit noisier. Everything around here is too quiet..." the wolf thought as she was ascending. She kept the grapnel-line attached to her belt as a safety as she was having herself pulled up by the cleaning-lift's mechanism, eventually making her way to the top. Once the mechanism kicked-on, she started hearing noise from within the building. "Now I've stirred the hornet's nest... I've got to get to the array before they leave the atmosphere."
-
"City's without power, so the elevator won't work," Mesmerin said. "We take the stairs."
"Agreed," K'Tath added. He activated both his Plasma Casters, and followed Mesmerin inside.
-
Kyva kicked the door to the stairs open, in case it had an electronic lock. "you first." he motioned for the others....
-
Once at the top, she stopped the recording and turned her comm back on before making her way to the portable jammer. "Not much time... got to change it." she thought out-loud as she rushed to it, using only one hand to change the settings while the other hand held her pistol at-ready. At the end, she managed to change the focus and start redirecting the jammer at the Weyland-Yutani ship in orbit, taking off the black-box of her suit and attaching it to the jammer before playing a wide-beam message on repeat.
"This is Sora Dazzel, Ex-Systems Alliance Commander in Combat Search-and-Rescue. Attached to this burst-message are the coordinates of New Colorado along with other pertinent documents. Do NOT come to this planet without proper precautions. It will be decimated by Weyland-Yutani's Quarantine-Order against escaped bioweapons called Xenomorphs. I will be Dishonorably Discharged postmortem, so my own fate matters not... but this message is to ensure that not only has Weyland-Yutani betrayed the people, but the Systems Alliance is not innocent either. To further their own agenda, they have not only allowed force-arranged marriages, but have taken advantage of them as well. And with that, I leave this message, my hopes that the message-relays in the stars continue to repeat this message beyond the next sunrise. Sora Dazzel, out."
With the message going, she drew out her other pistol in ready for any creatures or beings that would come to interrupt it, intending to hold out for as long as possible as the jammer was blaring at full-power at the Weyland-Yutani ship.
-
(Let's keep this going, people. Mikala, been waiting on your post.)
Mesmerin and K'Tath were the first inside, followed by Megan, Molly and Eddie. Darcy was close behind.
The interior of the hotel looked unchanged. "Where are the stairs?" K'Tath asked, cycling through various vision modes to try and spot anything the Xenomorphs might throw at them.
"This way," Mesmerin said, heading for one particular doorway.
*** Elsewhere ***
There would be faint hissing, but with the rain falling and the occasional thunder, one couldn't tell where Sora was. But there was one sound that did not belong - a deep growl accompanied by heavy footfalls coming from behind Sora as a Predalien (https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/avp/images/0/02/Predalien1.PNG/revision/latest?cb=20120526141758) approached, its tail lashing this-way-and-that.
-
Kyva and Rae entered last guns drawn in case anything was following them, they wern't taking chances anymore.
"Last i recall the stairs were next to the elevator." Rae replied as she caught up with the others, her and Kyva in the rear....
-
Emilá follows up behind Mesmerin warily, nodding at what Rae says.
-
Sora heard the movement, quietly shifting her position and adjusting so her aim would not hit the jammer or a lunging attack from the creature would not slam into the jammer either. "Easy does it, no loud noises. Could activate the suit-sealing to hide my smell due to this rain..." she thought, her pistols aimed at the creature. "Just keep it away from the device. Fire only to get it away."
-
The Predalien continued looking for Sora, seemingly unable to see or track Sora by her pheromones.
*** Hotel ***
Mesmerin and K'Tath approached the stairway door, and Mesmerin attempted to open it, to no avail. "Locked..." he growled. He took aim with his rifle, and fired a short burst at the hinges and the doorknob mechanism, then kicked the door down.
"You can draw their attention doing that," Eddie commented.
A distant, echoing hiss sounded. "They already know we're here - let's not give them a chance to reach us," K'Tath suggested. "Get moving up the stairs, double-time; I'll bring up the rear." Mesmerin nodded, and he moved to the stairway, followed by Megan, then Molly, Eddie and finally Darcy. K'Tath nodded to Emila, Rae and Kyva, indicating they should get moving. K'Tath's motion sensor painted a contact, and after cycling through a few vision modes, he confirmed it was a Xenomorph. He armed the plasma casters and opened fire, nailing the creature as it leapt for him. The acid blood landed well short of K'Tath, but hissing continued, and K'Tath stood his ground, to cover the others as they went for the staircase.
-
"you coulda asked me to kick in the door." Kyva noted as he hurried up the stairs
Rae was right behind Kyva keeping the rear whatched but just ahead of K'tath...
-
Emilá follows close behind, her energy sword lighting up and floating near her head, at the ready.
-
Sora waits and watches the creature as she moves quietly, being at ready to fire if it were to make any sudden moves. She intentionally kept her aim away from the jammer the entire time, knowing the longer it was up, the stronger chance she had of getting her message out. "C'mon... you're running out of time, Mesmerin. WY knows by now that someone's survived and I see no ship leaving." she thought as she kept up her stand-off with this creature.
-
Once everyone was headed up the stairway, K'Tath moved up it himself, following the group as they made their ascent toward the roof.
-
"So Tell me hunter." Kyva began "How long have you known these creatures?" the Sangheili asked.
-
"Long enough to know how they operate," K'Tath told the Sangheili. "Keep moving! We need to get to the roof!"
-
Jayce had some difficulty navigating the hotel. He kept the massive rifle brandished, but continually snagged it on door handles and abandoned detritus.
-
Emila comes up next to Jayce and gently nudges it out of the way of another door handle. "You know that's slowing you down..."
-
Sora eventually got her aim (and the Predalien's) away from the direct-line of fire to the relay, quietly inhaling to control her breathing before the helmet's seal opened. "C'mon! You want to hunt!" she yelled out at it to draw out the creature's attention before opening fire with her heat-based shots. In the process, she anticipated the creature to lunge, getting ready to drop to her back so she could leg-throw if needed.
-
It took some time to get to the rooftop, but once there, Mesmerin kicked the door down and motioned for the others. "Come on! We're almost out of here!" K'Tath was the first out, scanning the area for any signs of the Xenomorphs.
*** Elsewhere ***
The Predalien snarled when shot, and immediately, its tail lashed out at Sora.
-
She dropped fully onto her back while firing some more shots at the Predalien, now aiming less on vitals and more on the thighs, arms and head for attempts at disabling the creature. She knew the noise would most likely draw more attention, but she was still only buying as much time as she could for her message to be heard.
-
The shots would wound the Predalien, but it would not stop it. It would lash out again with the tail, and then charge.
(Waiting for others to post.)
-
"Anything?" Rae asked K'Tath.
Kyva looked around studiing the area
*unknown transmission*
"K'Tath are you ready for me com traffic is getting really heavy in orbit.... We might have a slight problem when leaving the planet."
-
She rolled to avoid the tail before she started another barrage as best as she could, now trying for vital shots as it did not seem to be slowing down. "Why don't you just DIE!" she growled out, intentionally moving to prevent her aim from hitting the transmission-array.
-
Emilá follows onto the roof, and once everyone is through she would bend the door with her mind to make it unable to be opened ordinarily.
-
Mesmerin noticed what Emila was doing, and came back to her. "Uh, Emila, whatcha doin'?" He would go to grab her arm and try and bring her to the intended LZ. "These guys don't use doors..."
(Kudos to whoever gets the reference)
It was at a clearing on the rooftop that K'Tath stopped. "This'll work - set up, stay sharp!" He commanded. He then accessed his radio. "K'Tath to Cobalt - ready for dust-off. We'll be leaving under cloak, full silent running. When you get here, stay cloaked, and open the loading ramp. We'lll be running aboard."
*** Elsewhere ***
The Predalien howled again, but instead of pressing the attack, just paused, looking to another building, and then taking off for it. In its place, a trio of Xenomorphs went after Sora.
-
Rae's ears shot up her helmet designed to let her ears move around "Whatever you have planned K'Tath you better hurry i feel something just found us." She explained readying her rifle.
Kyva also readied his plasma rifles.
"Roger but I need to speak with you before we leave planet side i found a problem..." Cobalt replied warming up the ship and bringing it to a hover as she prepped for a landing at K'Tath's position.
-
(Mummy Returns)
Sora had a moment to swap out the heat-sinks in one of her pistols, keeping the other aimed at it as it made the noise. When it tried to flee, she managed to land a couple more shots on it before the trio popped up. "Well, this is it. Looks like this is where you get to test yourself. Last as long as you can." she thought out-loud before starting to fire on the Xenomorphs in quick succession.
-
Jayce's ear twitched. "Something howled. Big. Angry." He smirked, and brought his rifle up, watching the direction of the howl. "Rifle's bigger and angrier."
-
Emila looks at Mesmerin. "Well... Worth a shot?" She shrugs and prepares for battle.
-
Sora would find herself faced with one Xenomorph after another. One would go down, and another would take its place. Oddly - or perhaps, as one would expect - they seemed not to be trying to kill her, but rather grab her.
"Save your ammo," K'Tath advised Jayce. "That thing that howled... I know what it is. You will need your ammo for it's spawn. I will deal with the mother. Myself." K'Tath shut off his plasma casters and unclipped a small item from his armor, and held it in his paw. It was vaguely cylindrical in appearance, looking like a hilt. It would not take a genius to figure out what it was.
Mesmerin prepped for battle with the others, but... nothing happened. It was as though the Xenomorphs had their attention elsewhere.
And that wouldn't be incorrect; at Gilliam Circle, the town survivors that were armed were holding the Xenomorphs at bay - but barely.
At the rooftop, a black creature bashed its way through the doorway Emila had bent. K'Tath held out a hand, indicating the others to stay their weapons. "This battle is mine alone," he said. He walked over between them and the massive Predalien. An uncharacteristic growl came from K'Tath, followed by a defiant roar, then a snap-hiss! as the weapon in his hand went active with an Imperial Crimson blade. The Predalien roared back, and made the first rush. K'Tath leapt over the beast and landed a hit to the Predalien's back. The creature howled, and lashed out with its tail - which was dodged, and then subsequently cut off just a few inches from the spear-like tip. The creature again howled, louder than before, and lashed out with a hand and grabbed K'Tath, then threw him into a wall. K'Tath was quick to recover, and dodged as the massive creature charged - straight in to the wall. The impact caused a massive crack, and K'Tath landed another hit. The Predalien wailed, and lashed at K'Tath again, who was once again thrown. This time, he hit his head, and was momentarily stunned - and it was all the Predalien needed to gain an upper hand. It was quick to leap onto him, and pin him. It opened its maw, and that inner tongue-mouth was ready. But K'Tath had one more card to play. Summoning his power, he jammed his legs into the creature's belly, and his power lifted it off him and threw it over the edge. The creature screeched all the way down, and impacted with an audible thump! K'Tath looked over the edge in time to see the creature get up, glower at him, and take off toward the spaceport. "Yeah, good luck with that, ***hole," he muttered. He got up, collected the spear tail tip he cut off, then checked the time. After, he accessed his comm: "Cobalt, where the hell are ya? We got ten minutes to get outta here!"
-
"What you want me to decloak now? here? in front of everyone so they can see us and shoot us out of the air?" Cobalt asked, soon a strong gust of wind blew over the rooftops K'Tath's ship landed on the Rooftop, the only indication of it's position being the sudden appearence of a loading ramp.
"Is that our cue to leave before this place is glassed into a giant window?" Rae asked, pointing to the ramp.
"If they don't glass this planet they'll nuke it untill it's just as bad as the Uggoy homeworld!" Kyva noted.
-
Sora was now going for the kill-shots with these creatures as she was trying to conserve her shots, her radio-receiver picking up activity from another roof before her own transmitter kicks on. "If... you don't... get off... this miserable planet... I'll... personally... kick you... into orbit myself!" she was managing to speak out before one of the Xenomorphs landed in an attempted grab. This shocked the one that had got their claws around her and allowed her a chance to escape, but it wasn't without repercussions as her kinetic barrier went down to half. "Didn't like that, did ya! Got more where that came from!"
-
Jayce, not one to let prey live, tracked the Predalien’s movement, and approximated it’s location. He brought the gigantic rifle to bear, lined it up with the monster’s movement, and fired. The tongue of flame lashed out, pulled a foot away from the muzzle as the round passed through it at several times the speed of sound. Though Jayce was an expert hunter, the range and foliage obscuring his view definitely made the shot difficult. If the round struck the creature true, its innards would spool from its body in a semi-gaseous liquid, its bones reduced to dust. A glancing shot would hinder it considerably, hydrostatic shock pulling a good few pints of blood from the wound as the round struck earth. A miss would at the very least scare the thing, leaving a pile of carbonized dirt and molten rock.
Satisfied, Jayce turned on his heel, switching out to his final bullet. “Well, she’s either dead, dying, or scared to death. Let’s jump ship ‘fore the window closes, eh?”
-
Jayce was stopped at the ramp by a Female lucario woman "YOur not taking that On MY SHIP loaded!" she said to jayce.
-
"There's no time, Cobalt!" K'Tath told the woman. "We need to get out of here now!" He motioned for the others to board the ship, and step on it.
-
"Fine but don't blame me when he blows a hole in the ship..." Cobatl complained ,heading inside "But i have one more thing to talk to you about." she added.
by now Rae and Kyva were already on board talking with each other about something...
-
"Come on, everyone!" K'Tath called out to the others. Eddie was quick to board, then Darcy, Megan, and Molly. Mesmerin looked to Emila. He never said anything to her, just motioned his head for her to get aboard. He was not gonna board until everyone was aboard. In the distance, a lone Xenomorph appeared, and Mesmerin spotted it. "Contact rear!" he shouted, raising his rifle and opening fire. The Xenomorph took some hits and scampered away. Mesmerin looked to Emila. "Get aboard now! We're leaving!"
-
Emilá doesn’t need to be told twice, and hops aboard.
-
Once everyone boarded, Mesmerin and K'Tath dashed aboard, and K'Tath headed for the bridge. "Everyone, hang on to something!" he shouted as the boarding ramp closed, and K'Tath took over piloting the ship and put it on course for the atmosphere. Just before breaking the clouds, a loud whooshing sound was heard, and at Gilliam Circle, a Shiva Nuclear Missile struck, and detonated, the explosion being seen in orbit. Just before impact, however, for a split second, a ship was detected going to warp from above the spaceport. As K'Tath reached orbit, the blockade of UNSC ships was seen.
"What were you concerned about, Cobalt?" K'Tath asked.
-
Once everyone boarded, Mesmerin and K'Tath dashed aboard, and K'Tath headed for the bridge. "Everyone, hang on to something!" he shouted as the boarding ramp closed, and K'Tath took over piloting the ship and put it on course for the atmosphere. Just before breaking the clouds, a loud whooshing sound was heard, and at Gilliam Circle, a Shiva Nuclear Missile struck, and detonated, the explosion being seen in orbit. Just before impact, however, for a split second, a ship was detected going to warp from above the spaceport. As K'Tath reached orbit, the blockade of UNSC ships was seen.
"What were you concerned about, Cobalt?" K'Tath asked.
"Turns out the nuke actually fixed that" Cobalt explained "I was worried that some of the comm traffic would somehow ping off the ship, despite the cloak but with the nuke the radiation should scatter our signal enough." Cobalt explained...
-
"We're not out yet," K'Tath said as the ship sailed among the UNSC ships. After a tense ten minutes dodging patrols and capital ships, the Stryker cleared the blockade. Mesmerin came to the bridge.
"What now?" he asked.
"First thing we need to do is get you all away from here," K'Tath suggested. "You got a ship?"
"Yes," Mesmerin answered, plugging in coordinates to the computer. "She has a cloaking device, and I can get the others out of UNSC Space once we get there."
K'Tath nodded, and plotted a course. One road ended...
... but another was just beginning.
*** LV-1201 ***
A damaged starship dropped out of light speed and plummeted into the planet below, crashing into a canyon just shy of a Weyland-Yutani Research Complex. Only one creature survived the crash - and she was injured and missing the tip of her tail...
(Since no one else is posting, I suppose this concludes Coalition Operations II. Anyone wants to post exiting statements for your chars, feel free. Be on the lookout for the third installment, coming soon!)
-
"We're not out yet," K'Tath said as the ship sailed among the UNSC ships. After a tense ten minutes dodging patrols and capital ships, the Stryker cleared the blockade. Mesmerin came to the bridge.
"What now?" he asked.
"First thing we need to do is get you all away from here," K'Tath suggested. "You got a ship?"
"Yes," Mesmerin answered, plugging in coordinates to the computer. "She has a cloaking device, and I can get the others out of UNSC Space once we get there."
K'Tath nodded, and plotted a course. One road ended...
... but another was just beginning.
*** LV-1201 ***
A damaged starship dropped out of light speed and plummeted into the planet below, crashing into a canyon just shy of a Weyland-Yutani Research Complex. Only one creature survived the crash - and she was injured and missing the tip of her tail...
(Since no one else is posting, I suppose this concludes Coalition Operations II. Anyone wants to post exiting statements for your chars, feel free. Be on the lookout for the third installment, coming soon!)
Kyva and Rae stepped up after Mesmerin "We'll have to go to our ship that dropped us off in the system they're likely cloaked somewhere in the system to avoid detection , we can contact them, and they will pick us up as well as help you with anything you need before they leave the system." Rae explained.... (And with that my characters are out, Rae and Kyva return to the Borealis and K'Tath if he wants gets his ship resupplied.)
"We may have just earned ourself some allies, K'Tath." Cobalt noted once everyone else was off the ship. "You'd do well to remember that.