Special Branch: Overdue Reunions by WashsYoungerSexierBr

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

I Never could stand up to Peer Pressure:

BTW Kurren is up

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Saturday, December 18, 2010 1:21 AM

Wonderful! That is a VERY red shirt Wisp! I shall be able to picture who I'm talking to now.

However as Jaz is having "coding errors" and Safe and Needy are suspicious by their absence shall we get back to the story? I promise no more requests for pictures.

(and this post was bought to you by being up way past my bed time.)

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Saturday, December 18, 2010 3:57 AM

SAFEAT2ND

OOC: HAHAHA!! Being in the authors protection program...
Nah, just kidding, just been busy. Here ya go.
Ok, that didn't work. How about this one http://wcdr.ca/wcdr/?p=4596 if you scroll down, I'm the one in the stripey shirt.

Check out my blog for info and updates on my novels
http://drlong67.wordpress.com

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Saturday, December 18, 2010 6:48 AM

Yey, faces.

I scrolled down to the guy in the stripey shirt, and my first thought was 'hmmmm... he doesn't write like he's that old...' Then i realised that guy was called Fred and your name was Dale. D'oh!

Ok, on with the story...

Seryn perched on the over stuffed hotel bed. One knee propping up he chin and the other supporting a steaming cup of tea.
From the outside she supposed she looked the picture of concentration but the truth was she'd spent as much time staring at the toes that held one corner of her map down as she had studying the map itself. It was a street guide showing the area around the building they were holding Vixen in. She was attempting to learn routes around, and more importantly out of the main city. She had a ship sorted, she just needed a place to put it.
Trouble was there were too many variables. Hell, thatere was at least one member of the Branch guaranteed to be here, and Wisp was 4 or 5 variable on his own.

A soft knock sounded at the and a thrill of excitement want through her. At last! Took him long enough to get here.

Softly opening the door she motioned him to come inside and shut the door.

"Safe!"

(and this post was bought to you by being up way past my bed time.)

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Saturday, December 18, 2010 7:35 AM

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions

OOC: I'm back, and no Seryn i wasn't hiding lol
Wisp - For Clayton Payne i pictured somebody perhaps average or below average height, bit dishevelled with stubble, scruffy hair, bags under the eyes, and pretty much a disorganized sort of guy
Doesnt really say much about who i pictured playing him but thought of Callum Blue today (from Dead Like Me and Smallville) who might suit it well

Safe - i had trouble posting comments too, had to log into the fff.net 2.0 to make it work http://beta.fireflyfans.net/main.aspx

and Seryn, ok how about this one of me
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs544.ash1/31828_101501930
51570492_767535491
or being bitten by Jonathan Woodward aka Tracey from The Message
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=16324156&l=4d9fbae869&id
=767535491

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My brand new writer's blog! http://dicksquinty.wordpress.com

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Saturday, December 18, 2010 8:33 AM

SAFEAT2ND

OOC: How about Tony Schloub (sp?) from Monk and Galaxy Quest for Claton or who's the actor that played in A Knights Tale as the king who jousted against Heath Ledger? Rufus Sewell.

Indiana Needy! Wisp, you are totally different than how I pictured you. And Seryn, your husband is one lucky man. (It is your husband/boyfriend in the picture right? Otherwise I feel like a total open mouth insert feet)

Check out my blog for info and updates on my novels
http://drlong67.wordpress.com

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Saturday, December 18, 2010 2:43 PM

Aw shucks *blushes* the guy in the photo is actually Simonwho, who you all know from the Serenitree if not elsewhere on the site. He's not my hubby yet (though not for lack of hinting) but we celebrated our 4th anniversary last Sunday. I'm very lucky, and loathsomely smug about it.

I cant see your photos Needy, can't sign in on the phone for some reason, will have to look tomorrow when on the real comp. Your mention of Jonathan Woodward made me laugh though - he once invited me to stalk him, and suggested that we could have sex in the jury box when he took me to court! Then he messily half snogged my ear. Not as romantic as it sounded either, as he was so drunk he could barely hold his pen and the whole event was witnessed by a lunatic Scotsman.

Ah, fun times at firefly conventions.

(and this post was bought to you by being up way past my bed time.)

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Sunday, December 19, 2010 5:45 AM

I got to see your photo's. Very very cool. I friended you too but i'll warn you it's all pretty much drivel about my cat and peacekeeping christmas trees from my page.

(and this post was bought to you by being up way past my bed time.)

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Sunday, December 19, 2010 5:49 AM

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions

Seryn - That sounds like Jonny! lol. Been to a few of the Starfury Cons now, and he's shown up to 3 of them. Always keeps us entertained

Safe - Not sure about Tony Shalhoub but Rufus Sewell could be a good fit. I always thought of Clayton as a bit older than Needy and Kyra, and probably in his mid to late 30s. But because of his strange ideas, he's always been a bit of an outsider. A Kolchak or Mulder type-of character
The fact that he's now effectively joined Crimson Squad though has me thinking he's cleaned himself up a bit but is probably more distant than ever to others
So like i said Rufus Sewell although older that i pictured, would be quite good, but think Shalhoub isnt quite there.

-----
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Sunday, December 19, 2010 5:54 AM

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions

Seryn-oops, posted the same time as you. oh yeah i gotcha on there now. and dont worry, i think thats what facebook's all about

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Sunday, December 19, 2010 4:10 PM

JAZAF

Nate groans as he comes too from the hit Kurren gave him earlier.
"Oh good, you're awake."
Kurren is standing roughly five feet away but Nate can barely see him. The bounty hunter was a mess of fuzzy and distinct lines. Nate noticed the hunter was carrying some long object but could not make it out.
"Yeah, I didn't stop at just the one hit."Kurren admits, "Your vision should clear up eventually. But in the meantime let me tell you something."
As Kurren came closer his outline became clear, so too did the object in his hand. It was a stick roughly 2 feet long with a menacing blade attached to it. Kurren smiled, "Ah, I see you've noticed my crude Pudao." He places a hand on the flat of the blade. "In ancient times it was used in battle to cut the legs from under the horses."
The smile faded and his tone was grim. "Now, you made me relive some past failings which was none too pleasant. So, to make up for it I'm going to cut off your limbs until I feel better."
Nate's eyes went wide as saucers when he saw Kurren ready the weapon. Before Kurren took a swing he blurted out, "Wait, wait! I can help you get stuff."
"I know you can." Kurren replied, "And I tracked you down for just that purpose. But first, I want you to know the price of failure."
The blade's whistle as it cuts through the air mingles with Nate's screams.

ooc: when I saw the pic Wisp came up with it kind of inspired me to make Kurren a bit darker.

---------------------------------------
Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree

Navigator on Destiny

Kurren, Bounty Hunter

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Monday, December 20, 2010 6:24 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Wisp sat in a briefing room with about 50 other Alliance soldiers listening to a very tedious Major explain the plans for the next day. Vixen was going to be landing today and being transferred to a secure facility on the edge of the city. She was going to be in biostasis and security was going to be very tight. Transfer will take place in a ground vehicle convoy that looked very vulnerable to an ambush; this of course looked like a set-up so Wisp ruled out an attack till the execution. She would be transferred to the square the next day by a similarly obvious trap then straight to the gallows. The event had been publicised heavily so a crowd was expected, there was a brief lecture on controlling the throngs of people with a strict policy on no live fire. He then went on to mention several exceptions to this rule; he then passed the floor over to agent from Crimson Squad to cover this in detail. It was at this point Wisp bucked up and started paying more attention.

“Good morning soldiers. As stated by the good Major this will be a very public affair and we don’t want any unfortunate mistakes. However what the public don’t know is that this execution is a bait and snare for several members of a terrorist cell known as ‘Special Branch’. Firstly former Military Captain Seth Franklin aka ‘SAFE’ .” A picture of Safe was projected onto the wall. “Next Seryn Antares first lieutenant. Flew as a fighter pilot, we have air cover on this operation but be prepared anyway. William Spacer aka ‘WISP’ former Ariel Youth Military Academy private. Extensive technical skill and sniper training. This gentleman is only known as ‘SOUL’, his file is classified but he is an extremely dangerous individual. That’s it for those with military training there are several more individuals who are involved and their details are in the files you have been given. If you see any of these people do not engage, we have extensive sniper coverage of the area. Simply report their location and track them. Only if absolutely necessary to preserve life should you open fire. If anyone jeopardises this mission they will be personally dealt with by a member of my department. That is all for the briefing, there will be an orientation to the operational area this afternoon and I recommend you all become very familiar with the files in front of you.”

As everyone streamed out of the hall Wisp began processing the information that had been given. Snipers? Air support? This was turning into one very well planned trap, and Wisp had placed himself slap bang in the middle of it.

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Monday, December 20, 2010 6:43 AM

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions

OOC: Quick question, how do you set the picture as your sig Wisp?

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Monday, December 20, 2010 7:02 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

"You do realize that not only is this drawing us unwanted attention, it's also very creepy."

Soul loped through the croud in one of Ariel's markets, hands shoved deep into the pockets of his trenchcoat, a scowl on his face. Behind him, a second Soul skipped through the crowd, wearing a flower behind one ear and an extremely goofy grin.

"Why so serious?" the second Soul asked in a sing song voice.

"You know, the option to turn you in to the authorities is still on the table."

The second Soul jumped in front of the first Soul and planted a big kiss right on his lips. "You just need to relax, you big fuddy duddy."

With a yell, one Soul grabbed the other by the arm and pulled him behind a market stall. A brief but loud argument ensued and one Soul emerged, followed by a pouting redhead with striking green eyes.

"You are no fun anymore," Ciaran complained.

"Years of thinking that the love of your life was murdered only to find out that she's actually still alive and a murderer in her own right will do that to you."

Ciaran began to argue but Soul cut her off. "Later, if the others even let you live. Now tell me what you found out."

With a sigh, Ciaran relayed what she had heard at the briefing. Soul's eyes narrowed at every detail, and then widened at the mention of Wisp, but Ciaran was quick to point out that she wasn't even positive it had been him.

"Trap after trap after trap. What about the square? How did the recon go there?"

Ciaran grinned. "Well, besides the fact that people are going to be talking about the occasional sightings of the Governor of Ariel in a dress, that's going to be the best place to free Vixen. It's also going to be the worst."

Shaking his head, Soul paused in his walk and leaned against a wall. "We need to find the others. It's not going to end well if there are a half-dozen rescue operations occuring at the same time." He began to walk again, his neck craning to see above the crowd. "I need to find a Cortex terminal. Let's get the Special Branch back together."

______________________

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/

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Monday, December 20, 2010 7:13 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

Quote:
Originally posted by NEEDY:
OOC: Quick question, how do you set the picture as your sig Wisp?

OOC: I actually just figured it out myself. Go to the location of the image in the Blue Sun Room, right click on it and select "properties". Copy the address in there and paste that into your signature.

______________________

Mantichorus: "So is there a reason they call you 'Soul'?"
Soul (after a long pause): "Yeah. Because I have one."

http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23234&nid=32649

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/

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Monday, December 20, 2010 7:17 AM

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions

Quote:
Originally posted by SoulOfSerenity:
Quote:
Originally posted by NEEDY:
OOC: Quick question, how do you set the picture as your sig Wisp?

OOC: I actually just figured it out myself. Go to the location of the image in the Blue Sun Room, right click on it and select "properties". Copy the address in there and paste that into your signature.

Ah yes, cheers. And here was me trying to input the right code. Didn't realise a simple link would do it

EDIT: I've altered the pic so that its Marc Blucas as Needy, just to see how it would work. Had to keep the same pic though, it was too perfect. If i can alter other pictures as easily, maybe a comic would work
-----
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Tuesday, December 21, 2010 2:55 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

“Afternoon Sheppard how are you today?”

“Im good, thanks Officer. Where is the young lady?”

“You mean the condemned? She’s just down the corridor through some security checks.”

“I’d prefer if you didn’t refer to her as the condemned.”

“Sorry Father. If you’ll follow me I’ll show to her” The two of them set off down the corridor through a variety of scanners.

“I have to say Officer I’ve seen this girls file I didn’t expect her to be asking to see a man of the cloth.”

“You and me both Father, but it’s been all she’s been saying since we gave her the antagonist and brought her out of stasis.”

“Do you have any idea what she wants to say?”

“Well my best theory is that she’s gonna try and pull something. I know it’s he who is without sin and all that but just be careful in there”

“I will don’t worry” The Sheppard hesitated for a moment at the door

“There’s two guards sat outside the door, four more behind a mirror and two more watching on camera’s with their fingers on silent alarms.”

“Right. Thank you.” With that he went through the doorway.

She sat curled up in a ball at the edge of the bed. A skinny young woman with a shock of wild hair as black as a raven’s wing. Her skin was pale with a tinge of a sickly green which he had been informed was a common side effect of biostasis. When he entered she looked up at him with expectancy, excitement and a little fear which faded in an instant to depressed disappointment.

“Expecting someone else?” The Sheppard asked.

“I… Well…I was hoping that someone was gonna come to rescue me. But then I thought that I don’t really deserve rescuing.”

“You think you don’t deserve rescue?”

“I overheard the guards talking when I was out. They said they were using me as some sort of bait to catch Wisp and the others.”

“And you think they’re going to rescue you and you don’t deserve it?”

“Please. Those guys were always trying to do good and help others and all that Samaritan Gosa. I’m bad news. Before I met them I was running a gang on Boros smuggling drugs out in recycled parts, and then after Wisp was healed after Santos I bailed and did over a few transport ships and then ended up here.”

“Why did you wait for Wisp to heal?”

“Sorry?”

“You say that your bad news, and that you don’t deserve saving but you took the time to make sure your friend was ok before you left. “

“Well… Wisp always did a lot for me, tried to bring out the best, I couldn’t let him just die”

“I had the chance to look at your file. You’ve been through some bad things and you’ve done some bad things. But it all seems like you’re always doing all these dangerous and violent deeds because people are always expecting you to do them. And then when this Wisp character tries to tell you you’re a good person you act like it. Do you really know who you are?”

“You did see the part in my file where it says I killed my parents?”

“I did see that part yes. I also saw the part where you called a helpline and said that your grandfather was abusing you sexually and then you ended up in hospital with two broken ribs and compound jaw fracture a few days later. The charges were subsequently dropped. I saw the part where you usually saw your parents once every few months and were raised by a string of nannies. I saw the police reports of domestic disturbances when you father got angry and hit your mother. You may have come from a well off family but it wasn’t a good family. You’ve spent your whole life in the shadow of this terrible childhood never being tempted to be anything better.”

“Well it’s a little late for redemption now Father. By this time tomorrow whether I was a saint or a sinner I’ll be just as cold.”

“It’s never too late for redemption my child. God works in mysterious ways. You seem to think your friends are going to rescue you. And that this is a punishment for your transgressions. So apologise. Not to any high power or omnipotent being. Apologise to yourself, accept that you got handed a bad hand and played it badly. Maybe next time round you can do better. Or maybe you can earn favour to save them. Just ask yourself if you’re happy leaving this mortal coil as you are? And If you’ll lose anything by spending your last few hours talking about your sins?”

“Ok father where should I start?”

OOC- I have a quote for Clayton but im at home and the computer is archaic so I'll put him up in the new year

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Tuesday, December 21, 2010 5:55 AM

KYRA

Who we are depends on the outcome of the struggle between who we were and who we want to be

Kyra didn't sleep that night. She wondered whether she ever would again. She supposed it depended on whatever happened next.

Luthor had been there when she'd come home. And he was there now, lying beside her in bed. She rested her head on his outstretched arm.
He barely made a noise when he slept, just laid on his back, silent and peaceful. It was very Zen of him. But that was him all over - she'd never known him to so much as lose his temper in all the time she had known him.
He'd once asked her to marry him, but she'd declined. It was the most frustrated she had seen him. He had certainly hinted at the proposal enough times and she had never indicated she would say no. But it was only in the moment that she realised she couldn't. She was still hiding too much. Not to mention the fact that she worried that the false ID she had been given might not hold up when scrutinised under the eye of a legal registrar.

She had wanted to tell him everything there and then, the reasons why she couldn't marry him. But she was too weak. And by the time they had patched things up, she didn't want to tell him because she feared losing him again. It seemed easier to keep quiet. In that moment she told herself she could never tell him the truth. He would never speak to her again. She would lose him like she'd lost everybody else.

Now, in the early hours of morning, she got up from the bed, careful not to disturb him, and made her way to the window.
The White Sun was rising in the west, casting the mountains in a beautiful silhouette.
She didn't want to leave this place. She hoped that she would not. But he would find her. Sooner or later, he would come for her, she knew it. And then what?
Luthor was going to find out, sooner or later. This was one secret she could not take to the grave.

She'd been here before. Same situation, only back then it was on Boros. She left Bernie because she couldn't face telling him who she really was. And it cost them both their time together. She couldn't let history repeat itself.
She had a choice. A second chance. The opportunity to do things right this time.
When Luthor woke up, she'd tell him the truth.
Then maybe they could figure this out, they could come to a decision, together.
They could put all of this behind them, finally.

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Tuesday, December 21, 2010 9:50 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Seven Years Ago

A light fog rolled through the tree line under an otherwise cloudless night. Millions of stars twinkled incandescently beside the two moons of white and grey light. In a break from the forest a roughly square compound sat fenced off, poorly constructed wooden guard towers stood manned at its corners. Lighting in the base was minimal as the archaic generator was already struggling keeping basic functions operational. Freezing guards leant in each tower kept awake by dreams of fires and warm beds, rifles stood lazily beside them. Again to save power there were no radios, the guards communicated by sonic cabling running between the towers. Occasionally brief snippets of conversation or dirty jokes would spread between them but overall they stood in silence.
In the centre of the garrison stood an old abandoned church with a new concrete bunker hastily attached to the side. The classic earth-that-was gothic architecture juxtaposed with an ugly block of shapeless grey rock. A series of radar dishes and antenna littered the roof of the newer building rotating lazily in the twilight.

Unbeknownst to the entire base a group of shadows skulked through the trees.

A hand was held up in the Mist and three men huddled to a stop beside a lumbering oak. “Stand by here for Rendezvous with Spacers team”
“Up here boss” Came a whisper from above. All three men swung their rifle skyward as they jumped of shock.
“Jesus Spacer! Do you want me to shoot your ass off? Christ you’re like a Wisp of smoke up there. Where’s the rest of your squad?”
Spacer tapped a log against the tree trunk and two more men dropped from neighbouring trees and joined the group. “All present Sir” Snapping off a perfect geometrical salute.

“The Snipers in your team isn’t he?” the group leader asked Spacer, a clear tone of disdain in his voice.
“That would be me sir. Hence the tree.” He replied with a boyish grin.
“Well Mr Wisp. We’re going to head to the edge of the tree line, when we get there we’ll give you the signal. How many guards have you spotted and how long will it take you to remove em?”
“The only guards we’ve spotted are in the towers. Four of em. I've been taking ranges and I can take em all out in eight seconds.”
“Spacer I've got no time for macho shit. Its Night they’re at least 400 yards away not backlit with a separation of 200 yards between each target. You can’t take em out in eight seconds.”
“Oh well if you say so Sir I’ll make it last a minute”
“Fine whatever Signal when you’re done. And this is going in my debriefing report. Ok team move out” As the group moved out a distinct mutter was heard insinuating very unpleasant things about Wisp.

A brief time passed as the squad stalked through the woodland. Wisp took up his Rifle and practised his four shots at the guard towers. The range was great, and the elevation was uneven, and it was dark, and his four targets were spread out. But Wisp was the best damn infiltration agent in the whole Ariel Youth Military Academy, this was child’s play. Lining up on his first target his headset muttered the word “Go”. In a lightning succession four pops rang out into the darkness. “You were right sir. It only took six seconds”
A grumble followed over the comm. And Wisp watched through his scope as the group entered the church. The target was a terrorist cell that had been hitting troop transports in the area, however recon reported that civilians were present on the base so an airstrike wasn’t possible. Instead a commando squad was sent in to exterminate the terrorists whilst leaving the civilians unharmed. Very difficult high end mission. Just the way he liked it.

Wisp watched as the team exited the building and checked his chrono. Three minutes. The outline was for at least eight. Was the squad leader getting back at Wisp for his display earlier? Pretty damn risky doing a whole infiltration in three minutes, or pretty sloppy. Wisp dropped from the tree and joined the convoy as it headed past.
“Everything go to plan?” He asked as they headed through the trees.
“Slight change. Tell you at the extraction.”

It took around fifteen minutes to reach the extraction zone. When they did the group leader looked at one of his men and said “Charges now”
“Wait...” Wisp interjected “Charges? What Cha...” an explosion erupted from the compound they were just at followed by a series of secondary blasts. Wisp felt the heat on his face as the simulation disappeared from around his eyes and he reappeared in the training room. He immediately took off his neural interfaces without wating for the techs and grabbed hold of the group leader by the collar.

“What the hell were you thinking! There were civilians in that base. Women and children! Which is precisely why we DIDNT just blow it to hell from low orbit!”
The group leader pushed him away groggy from the simulation interface and the barrage of questions. “When we got inside there was a much bigger weapon stockpile than recon told us there would be. I had to wonder if the rest of the recon was accurate, so I made a judgement call and saved my team.”
“You saved your own cowardly ass more likely! What if this had been a real drop? Would you still be so gung-ho at murdering dozens of innocent women and children?”

“That’s enough Spacer” boomed a voice from the doorway. A greying general stood perfectly at ease frowning down at the pair of them. “Come join me for a walk. The rest of you I’ll see you at debriefing.”

Wisp fuming with rage followed the General into the corridor and began walking with him. Nothing was spoken until they reached the outer doors to the campus. The training building was located down a woodland path similar to the planet Wisp had just seen himself on. Apparently this was to help the trainee assume the artificial reality. All it helped Wisp do in his experience was remind him how artificial the realities really were.
“I'm sorry about that outburst in there sir, But if that had been a real combat drop then he would have just killed dozens of innocent people to save himself some work”

“Actually” replied the general, his voice much calmer now “was save himself some risk. It’s not the same thing Spacer.”

“But were going to be commandos. Risk is what we do. Its better us risk our lives than innocents die needlessly”

“That’s a great ideal Spacer but there are a lot of people out there who hate the alliance and won’t hesitate to kill you no matter what your intentions are. That training scenario is designed to make the team leader make a choice. I'm not saying he made the best choice but it certainly wasn’t the WRONG choice.”

Wisp went to speak but stopped considering his words “But it wasn’t right sir”

The general stopped and turned to Wisp. “Right and wrong aren’t our call to make. Your heart thinks what’s right and wrong. A soldier thinks with his head. You’re going to be a great officer one day Spacer. Hell I watched you take out those four guards and I can easily place you in the top ten snipers in the whole alliance military. But you need to stop letting your view of right and wrong get in the way. If you keep thinking with your heart you’re going to find yourself in trouble one day”

“ I don’t know If I can sir”

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Tuesday, December 21, 2010 11:04 AM

SAFEAT2ND

Safe continued to ‘look’ at the newspaper held in front of him. He didn’t acknowledge the woman passing by, nor did he reach for the receipt she dropped on his table, he just folded the newspaper and placed it on top of the small slip of paper.

Finally, he reached for the coffee and took a mouthful, grimacing at its flavour.

Synth-coffee? Seriously?

Safe placed the cup back on the table and for the rest of the afternoon, watched the sky and watered the surrounding plastic plants with several cups of coffee.

The air traffic was minimal. In fact, the only traffic visible was the occasional government courier, not even a military ship. He also took that time to make a mental map of all the surrounding buildings before scooping up his newspaper; the receipt tucked in its folds.

Later that night, he slipped into the building in the wake of the laundry staff. He held the bag in front of him and just as the staff member in front of him entered the laundry room, Safe ducked off to one side and eased through the stairwell door.

Taking the stairs two at a time, he found the right floor and exited the stairwell. Standing in front of the room indicated, an irrational fear overwhelmed him. What if this, too, was a trap, another shapeshifter that had somehow seen through his disguise earlier?

The heavy metal under his left arm clicked softly as he released the safety.

He raised his hand and knocked softly, once.

The door eased open a crack and those eyes peered out at him. Caught off guard, he was dragged bodily into the room; the door closing quickly behind him.

“Safe!”

He wanted to hug her fiercely. The relief he felt, the joy at seeing her alive and the sudden optimistic flutter that if she was alive, maybe the rest were.

Outward he showed none of the whirlwind that raged inside him; instead he thrust the Cortex touchpad at her, Bernard’s obituary showing on its screen.

Seryn paled and took a half-step back. “That’s impossible, he can’t die...” Her eyes narrowed and the small gun appeared in her hand before Safe had time to blink.

A small grin, curled his lip, “you haven’t changed. How’d you know it was me?”

Seryn let out a long slow breath and lowered her gun. “Didn't at first but somethings don’t change. You have quirks... but that smell...”

Check out my blog for info and updates on my novels
http://drlong67.wordpress.com

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010 8:47 AM

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions

Five Weeks Ago, Silverhold

Jak Dalia was on everybody's lips. And for once, it wasn't landing her in trouble.
She'd found the stone in the mines, embedded in the rocks. It had glimmered like a star in the night sky. Lawrence had wanted his piece of the reward too, but she had convinced him that she should have been enough of a reward for him. The stone was hers. And yet she didn't know what she had, if she had, she might have given it up. She didn't know how important the stone was.
In time, they'd come to call it the Dalia Stone, in memory of her.

The knock at her door beckoned her. Through the one-way window she could see the man that stood there, waiting. He'd been at the bar the week before. Before she'd even found the stone, and she'd invited him into her home then.
If Lawrence had known what the two had gotten up to, he would never have wanted to see her again. But what Lawrence didn't know didn't hurt. The man at the door certainly wouldn't have been the first, but he would be the last.

"Robert," she said with a smile, drawing him in. He didn't hesitate, he knew what he was there for. He shut the door behind him.

She kissed him passionately before abruptly walking away from him.

"I suppose congratulations are in order," the young man told her, as he stroked his stubbled beard.

She smiled suggestively as she made her way towards the kitchenette and turned around to face him, leaning against the counter. She didn't say a word, merely signalled him over.

Robert smiled. Approaching her he rested his hands on her body, his left hand by her lower back, his right stroked her neck. He held her close, their foreheads touching as they each focussed on the others lips, the moment lingering, the tension palpable.

She didn't need to speak, he knew what she wanted. But more importantly, he knew where she had hid it.

Robert drew his left hand up the side of her body and let it rest above her shoulder.
Enough waiting, she thought to herself, and moved in to kiss him. But he prevented her. Before she could try again, he tightened his grip on her and in one quick motion snapped her neck where she stood.

The twenty year old girl collapsed to the floor, dead.

Needy did not linger over the body, nor question his moral standing. "Robert" was just a means to an end.
He made his way over to the Chinese Urn that sat on the fireplace, and emptied its contents into his hand. Human remains poured through his fingers before the heavy Dalia Stone landed in the palm of his hand.
He snatched his hand shut and left the house, shutting the door behind him.

---

Clayton Payne studied the photo.
The image was taken via satellite and from the angle there was no way of verifying the man's identity with one hundred percent accuracy.
But Clayton knew. He'd seen it before, as had Kyra. It was Needy, unmistakeably.
He placed the photo with the others - photos of former soldiers burnt to a crisp.
Logically, they didn't seem to be connected, but instinctively he felt it. Needy was involved, somehow.
Payne turned his attention to the list of known resistance members, still wanted. Amongst them: Soul; Safe; Seryn; Wisp; SR; the list went on. And amongst the list of accomplices, one Kyra McTaggert.
What if they were next?
No. He wouldn't let it.
Kyra may have turned her back on him. But Clayton Payne refused to respond in kind.
The Crimson Squad be damned. Clayton owed them, sure, but his loyalty was to Kyra. He wouldn't see her end up like the others.

-----
My brand new writer's blog! http://dicksquinty.wordpress.com

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010 9:25 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Private William Spacer sat on a bunk in the Medical bay at Ariel Youth Military Academy. His leg lay in a cast suspended in front of him as a General stood at the edge of his bed.

“You knew the safety limits for this exercise Spacer and you know more than most about light-flyer capabilities what the hell did you think you were playing at!”

“Sir with all due respect on a six vs. six exercise when my squadron suddenly disappear and all six opposing fighters appear on MY ass it smells like they sold me out. This was a graded exercise and they’re Bloody jealous that I was going to be Valedictorian so they set me up to lose! You know Viper’s had it in for my ass for years and he just happened to be the enemy squad leader? Bullshi- “

“That’s quite enough Spacer! You’ve already submitted your request for special dispensation and it’s already been approved. Also you know how the ramped grading works. You were attached by six fighters and you took out two so you get points for twelve, so don’t say you did it for the grades you bloody well knew as soon as they appeared what was happening and that you’d get more than full marks for the exercise you just wanted to teach that son of a bitch a lesson. You’ve got this unfortunate streak of always trying to do the right thing. But this service isn’t about doing the right thing it’s doing what you’re told! And If you can’t do what your told in an exercise how are you gonna do what you’re told in the field? Now I let the last one slide but this has to go in your file. You’ll still get that Valedictorian your after but you’re gonna have to sit down and shut up for a while. Understand?”

“Yes sir”

The general moved to the next bed behind the screen.

“And you Miss Goddard, I’ve lost count of the notes in your file. What the hell happened this time?”

“Well Marcus Stables must have been confused because as we were getting geared up he grabbed my ass instead of his own. I politely told him this and he got upset and pushed me into a bench where I hit my head.”

“Really? Because he’s unconscious with a broken nose two beds down.”

“I have no idea how that happened sir.”

“Come on now Valerie-“

“I prefer Vixen, General”

“Fine go by your call sign. But if you don’t develop some self-restraint then… Actually I don’t know why I bother. It’s like this Goddard keep your nose clean till the end of the semester and we discharge you and your time is served. If your name crosses my desk again then you go to jail for a full sentence. Understand?”

“Certainly General. Is that all?”

“Stay here until the doctor gives you a clean bill of health then you are confined to quarters”

“Yes sir”

The general left with a growl checking on private Stables on his way out.

“Wow Wisp you really are a little ponce.” She came round the dividing curtain and sat on the edge of the bed. She made a fake crying motion and muttered “ooh the other boys all picked on me because they’re all jealous of how smart I am”

“Yea cos your conversation sounded a whole lot better. You think its good that Im fighting to come top of my class and you’re fighting to get kicked out of yours? And I’m the one who you wanna pick on?”

“Please I eat little geeks like you for breakfast. I’m sure you’ll have lots of fun commanding a cruiser by the time you thirty and maybe one day you’ll get so desperate you’ll pay some girl to take your virginity but I’ll be having much more fun”

“Yea im sure you will, in prison. I hear they have lovely cells nowadays nice and comfy. And anyway I don’t really think I’ll be in the service as long as the General thinks.”

“Really? Little Boy Blue planning a little excursion from the military? Didn’t think you’d have the stones. Any chance of a spare ticket on this?”

“For a lovely renegade like yourself? Please you’d sell me out at the first opportunity”

“I could turn you in now? Maybe get myself a few notes removed from my file.”

“Like they’d believe you?” The Doctor came round from Stable’s bedside with two MP’s.

“Excuse me Miss Goddard. The General told me to have these gentlemen escort you to your room as soon as we were done here, and we are so If you could…”

“Looks like we’re done here William. Till next time.” She blew him a kiss as she headed to the door, a guard on each arm.

“I don’t think there’ll be a next time Valerie but this was nice.” He waited till she was safely out the door till he muttered to himself “Jesus Christ she is crazy”

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Wednesday, December 22, 2010 10:55 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

OOC: DAMN. Holy crap, Needy!

______________________

Mantichorus: "So is there a reason they call you 'Soul'?"
Soul (after a long pause): "Yeah. Because I have one."

http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23234&nid=32649

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/

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Thursday, December 23, 2010 6:16 AM