Special Branch: The Execution of Vixen Goddard by SoulOfSerenity

The Man They Call Soul...

Here is the eleventh thread in the ongoing story of the Special Branch. The links to all of the prior threads are below.

Guide to Special Branch
http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=29509#515129

1.Special Branch: Unbound
http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=20504

2.Special Branch: The Chasing Of Wild Geese
http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=21730

3. Special Branch and the HUGE Hospital Bills
http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=23302

4. Special Branch: The Living Dead
http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=24558

5. Special Branch: Motherhood For Heroes
http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=26599

6. Special Branch: Secrets & Lies
http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=28546

7. Special Branch: Santos
http://fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=29910

8. Special Branch: Loose Ends
http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=34804

9. Special Branch: Lost Friends
http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=41828

10. Special Branch: Overdue Reunions
http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=46305

______________________

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 23, 2010 6:20 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

OOC: I made one of the character posters for Ciaran and posted it to the Blue Sun Room:

______________________

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 23, 2010 6:42 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

The big day finally arrived with a crisp autumn breeze and clear skies. The execution was scheduled for the even hour of noon with crowds expected to begin gathering from the early hours to get a good viewing point. The gallows were set, the parking was arranged, and stalls were being set up to provide refreshments with the execution. Wisp and the real guards were taken to the square at the crack of dawn. After a brief tour around the area of operations everyone took their positions. The square was about a quarter of a mile on all sides with cobble’s filling the space. The buildings stood around three stories on all sides and Wisp knew were filled with snipers and counter-snipers.

The gallows stood made of the traditional wooden timbers with the platform standing around six feet and the noose around six feet on top of that. Wisp was placed around the base among eleven other men, six more stood on the platform along with the executioner. For the first few hours the guards were all on high alert but after that before the crowds arrived they became lax and bored. Wisp took this opportunity to wander casually beneath the gallows, making an inspection on the timber supports. Of course what Wisp was actually doing was planting small smoke charges at several key places. When the time was right he would detonate the bombs and cover the centre of the square in a grey cloud. Hopefully this would give him the time and cover to free Vixen and escape. Three more hours stood until she would be arriving.

He stopped to consider what the others were doing at this moment in time. Had they also heard the announcement and come to rescue Vixen? Had they heard it and not come? It was no secret that Vixen wasn’t the most liked person in the group, and she hadn’t exactly given them many reasons to trust her. Were they coming not knowing it was a trap? No they were all smart enough to know this stank. Maybe they were here planning their own rescue? If only he knew how to contact them all? But he’d been trying for the past two years to find them to get in touch to no avail. It was too late now. He was on his own for better or worse.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 23, 2010 7:16 AM

NEEDY

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions

I've tried to put this as shortly and succinctly as possible - including an introduction to the Special Branch 'verse itself

Special Branch Intro
Here's how it is:
There's a parliament, a big bad government called The Alliance that seeks to unite all the worlds under its rule. Only some take issue to that policy, not to mention their methods. And so The Resistance was born.
They called themselves Special Branch - a group made up of fugitives, former soldiers, companions and a whole lot more. They became a thorn in the side of not only The Alliance, but a whole host of secret groups and private armies. And so they were hunted down, imprisoned without charge. Now the last remaining members are scattered across the verse, trying their best to rebuild their lives, or start over.
But one event will bring them back together, will force them to unite as they prepare for the oncoming storm.

Previously:
The crew are scattered to the winds.
But whilst they are left pondering of what became of their old friends, news travels fast that Vixen Goddard - the meddlesome rogue that had been a part of Wisp's life for longer than he can remember and had travelled with the crew - has been captured and is to be publically executed.
The individual members of the crew deduce that it's probably a trap, a means to lure in the rest of the group, but their loyalty to one another is stronger than fear, and they each make arrangements to get to Ariel before the girl is executed.

Whilst Wisp infiltrates the Alliance briefing room to learn of their specific plans, Safe regroups with Seryn.
Meanwhile, Soul learns more about Ciaran and her motives, before they too decide to head to Ariel,
Upon hearing about the impending execution and its implications, Kyra sends a warning message out to Needy's former friends and decides that its time to come clean to her new partner about her former life.
Elsewhere, the Crimson Squad's latest recruit Clayton Payne investigates the murders of former resistance fighters, and believes that Needy is responsible.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 23, 2010 8:01 AM

Safe sat cross-legged on the floor, pouring over Seryn’s detailed maps and adding marks of his own. Seryn perched on the bed reading Bernard/Needy’s obit for the fifth time.

“It’s definitely a message, all the times and dates match-up with the execution.”

“That’s what I thought too.”

“Who do you think sent it?”

“Does it matter, really? It confirms what I suspected and what you worked out. This is a trap, but what I can’t figure out is why? If we are all dead or presumed dead, why the sudden interest? Why the trap?”

“This means the others are alive! But how did the Alliance figure that little gem out?” Seryn tossed the Cortex Touch Pad (CTP) at the pillows in frustration.

Safe rubbed his hand over his face and grimaced at the stubble. “I wish I knew.”
He examined the map again. Buildings around the square marked with red circles indicated the towers where snipers were most likely situated. These over lapped, in some spot, Seryn’s blue circles which marked the building equipped with a landing pad.

“Here.” Safe jabbed at a building a little further out than the others. It was marked with only a red circle.

“Why there?” Seryn asked.

“It’s furthest out. The Alliance won’t put much in the way of guards there. They'll deploy most of their snipers closer. Remember they are there to pick us off, not a covert assassination.”

“So, you’re saying we take that building and try to pick off or lay down cover fire? You sure you can hit your mark from that distance? Wasn’t Grunt your sharp-shooter?”

“Ya, I can do it. Can you fly us in there, low and fast and still hit that building top? There won’t be much to land on.”

“HA! Can I?!? With my eyes closed.”

Safe stretched and yawned, “Tomorrow it is then. Can I borrow your shower? The barn I’m staying at doesn’t have one and I’d like to scrape the stink off.”

Seryn wrinkled her nose, “just don’t leave it here.”

“Thanks. We’ll meet-up tomorrow before dawn. I’ve got an old fighter, you should probably get acquainted with before trying to drop it on top a building.”

Seryn clicked on the TV. With the shower's white noise in the background and the drone of the news, she drifted off.

On his way out, Safe pulled a blanket over her. "It's good to see you again Seryn." He closed the door softly behind him.

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, December 23, 2010 1:06 PM

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

OOC: Bit of a long post, but figured it was better this way than splitting it up and dragging it out

---
The day before the execution:

Kyra hadn’t wanted to lie. Not to him.

She'd made a cup of coffee that morning. Real coffee, none of that synthesized gose. They’d been saving it for a special occasion, and what could have been more special than telling your partner that you’d been lying to them for over a year? She wished she could have savoured the taste, but it tasted like gravel in her mouth. Her stomach churned.

“What is it?” her partner asked, sitting across from her.

She closed her eyes and wished herself away from there, but when she opened them again, she was still there, the morning sun still low in the sky.

“I haven’t told you everything about myself,” she began, flustered. “I know you said that it was fine, that we could take time, but I specifically didn’t tell you everything because I was afraid of what you’d think of me.”

“Em, it’s okay,” he said, placing his hand on her shoulder.
She’d been tempted to tell him outright that her name wasn’t Emma, but that would have made him shut off instantly. She wanted him to understand. Still, she withdrew her body away slightly so that his hand dropped off her shoulder and rested on the top of the couch.

“I lied about Bernie, the friend I lost. He wasn’t just a friend, he was my...” she didn’t want to use the word soulmate, it wasn’t a word that she used. And yet it slipped out anyway. She shook her head.

“I‘m sorry,” he said sympathetically. Instinct told him to hold her hand, but after the way she’d reacted to him touching her before, he questioned whether it was the best move.

“No, that’s not it,” she tried to explain, her frustration threatening to erupt to the surface. He placed his hand on hers, calming her. “I didn’t lose him like... when I told you that he died, it‘s not that...”

“It’s okay,” he told her, holding her hand tight.

“He’s not dead,” she said outright. “The man I loved... he changed, became something I didn’t recognise anymore.”

Luthor began to listen now, so much so that his hand began to draw away without realising.

“He did things that the man I knew would never have done.”

“Did he hurt you?” he said, fearing where the conversation was heading, not realising how abrupt his words might sound to her.

“No,” she said carefully. “A friend who I’d worked with. He came to me, warned me that he was dangerous. But I didn’t wanna hear it. I didn’t want to believe him." She hung her head and breathed deeply into her chest. "But then I saw what he was capable of with my own two eyes and I... I couldn‘t stay”

Luthor wanted to ask what it was that he had done, but he knew she wasn’t ready, he just let her continue.

“My friend he knew some people, people that could help me get away, build a new life, start over. It was away from him, it was the only way. I had to take the chance.” She gently shrugged her shoulders. "It was a new start."
Kyra glanced up at him, hoping to see in his eyes some indication of what he was thinking: anger; sorrow; apathy. But she could never read him. Even as he opened his mouth, she didn’t know what he was going to say.
“Your name’s not Emma Roberts is it?”
She breathed out heavily through her nose and shook her head. “No," she said almost with an embarrassed laugh. "It’s... Kyra... McTaggert.” It pained her to admit it, like her name itself was something to be ashamed of, taboo.
Her throat had become dry. She sipped at the coffee. It tasted a little less like gravel now, more like soil. Her stomach rumbled. The two of them might have laughed in any other situation. In this moment they simply ignored it.

“Listen, i wanted to tell you, but i was 'fraid that if my name got out there, he'd track me down, he’d find me.”

“You think he’s still looking for you," Luthor asked her seriously. "that he'd hurt you?"

“I don’t know," she answered honestly. "He swore that he wanted to protect me - what he'd done was for me - that I had to stay with him. But after what he did to the others... I had to leave when I had the chance.” Kyra bit her lip. “I was afraid of what he might do to bring me back, of what he might do to those that I love.”

She reached out and grabbed his hand this time. He took a moment to look down at it and then back up at her.

“Em…” he began before stopping himself. It wasn’t just about the name, he wanted to make sure that what he said next was understood clearly, that there could be no mistake. “Kyra,” he said purposefully, the name sounding alien on his tongue, and yet he felt it was important that she heard him call her by her name, her real name. “I love you. I loved you the moment I met you. I didn’t know who you were, where you were from, but I loved you. I still do. Even more so. It doesn't matter if your name is Emma or Kyra or Clementine. I love you for who you are. And if this man’s still out there, if he's looking for you, then I will protect you...”

“You can’t...” she tried to object, but he wouldn’t hear of it. He shook his head and silenced her with his words.

“I will do whatever it takes, to keep you safe. f you want to leave here, we’ll leave. If you don’t feel safe here, we‘ll go - wherever you want. But I’m not leaving your side, not for one minute. Emma you don’t have to worry anymore, don’t have to hide.”

He smiled lovingly and clutched her hand tight.

Tears ran down her cheeks whilst she moved in close and threw her arms around him,holding him tight. She hadn’t told him the whole story - about their friends in the resistance - but for the first time she knew that she could, and that it would be okay. For the first time in a long time Kyra McTaggert felt safe.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 24, 2010 3:27 PM

OOC: Merry Christmas and happy holidays you wonderful story-tellers you! I have to say, and no it's not just the egg-nog talking, that I really enjoy this thread.

I hope the new year brings continued happiness and health to you and yours.

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, December 24, 2010 11:35 PM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

OOC: Merry Christmas all! May the new year grant new adventures for all of us!

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, December 28, 2010 6:23 PM

JAZAF

"You're sure the target is on Boros?"
"Yeah, Kurren." came the reply. "Your guy..." There was a pause and the sound of various CTPs. "Your guy, Dawei Jones is on Boros."
"A lot of other hunters are after him. You hacked him onto the earliest passenger freight off that rock, yes?"
"yes."
"and you added on the the secure feeds in the area showing him getting on the ship?"
"yes."
"Ok. so where do the undoctored feeds show him?"
"Looks like he's drinking in the bar called The Comet's Tail."
"Anyone else we know there?"
"No.. I don't see anyone...wait...Looks like Early is already there and is looking to make his move. You better go into hard burn, boss."
"Good work, Nate. I'm heading in."
Kurren cancelled the comm link and exited the Bounty Baby. "Great, I gotta deal with the gorram chatterbox."
ooc:Hope everyone had a merry christmas!

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

Navigator on Destiny

Kurren, Bounty Hunter

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, December 29, 2010 2:02 PM

OOC, this is starting to get exciting isn't it? Sorry haven't had much chance to put a post together. Just hope you all had good Christmases and hope you all have a wonderful new years, though hopefully I'm going to come up with something before then x

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, January 2, 2011 1:42 PM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

“Evening Wisp, or should I say Ensign William Spacer, Valedictorian. Congratulations by the way.”

“Cheers Carl”

“What are you doing down here in the ranges? Graduations tomorrow I thought you’d be finishing writing your speech?”

“No I’m going stir crazy sat staring at the paper, thought I’d come down fire off a few rounds let off steam.”

“Sure, sure there’s nobody down here it’s all yours. Also as you’re an ensign now I can let you into the enlisted gear.”

“Nice. Erm, I’ll take a look at the X-57 Widow Sniper rifle, Vindicator assault, and how about a Shuriken Sub-Machine pistol?”

“Sorry Wisp you’re only allowed one at a time you know the rules”

“Come on Carl you know as much as I do that rules only there for stock issues. Im just trying to save you trips into the back. I’m not gonna pinch em.”

“Yea Suppose you’re right.” He stood up from the desk and headed into the back shouting over his shoulder as he went “It’d be one hell of a head line ‘Valedictorian steals Military hardware’ Hahaha. Here ya are. Sniper, Assault and a Machine pistol.”

“Could you pass me a body armour set? I wanna get the feel for a full combat gear.”

“Don’t get too comfy in that combat gear. With your record you’ll be lucky to see any ground deployment before they whisk you off to ship duty!”

Carl passed him the body armour which fitted over his undress uniform. Wisp then began fixing the two rifles to his back and the sidearm on his hip. As he reached for the last weapon he released a spray from a small aerosol covertly in his hand.

“We’ll I’ll probably shoot for about an hour then turn in. You look tired, maybe you should have a nap?”

“Yea.. I was feeling pretty beat. If anyone comes by just gimme a nudge.”

“Sure thing Carl, Night Night” Carl promptly fell asleep and began snoring heavily.

As soon as he was out Wisp headed for the emergency exit, picking up a rucksack of his clothes on the way. Before he’d covered half the distance he had a portable terminal in his hand which he used to disable all the alarms on the door for when he reached it. He stepped out into an area on the edge of campus where live fire trials were carried out. After a quick check on direction he set off towards town at a quick jog.

He’d planned this escape for month down to the last details, although he’d had the idea a few years previously. He didn’t want to be some military thug for the faceless alliance, he wanted freedom. At first all the guns and orders were exactly what a young teenage boy wanted, but soon he started finding the lectures and tactics went against his personal morals. Nobody seemed to care about people, in fact people seemed to be the biggest thing getting in the way of the grand scheme of Alliance control. He tried to talk to his parents about his opinions and after they’d changed their underwear told him in no uncertain terms to forget these silly ideals and fall in line. Well Wisp didn’t want to fall in line, and the more he sat through those lectures and read about how the cogs of the Alliance really worked he wanted to blow the whole line to hell.

He reached the fence exactly on schedule and began his next step. Unfortunately the security here wasn’t as easy to bypass as the door earlier so it required some creative thinking. Well the creative thinking had been done before time and all Wisp needed to do now was press a button and execute the whole thing. When he did every light-flyer on the base suddenly turned on and engaged their engines at full throttle, simultaneously every internal alarm on the base activated and one section of the outer wall went down for one minute. Of course the outer wall was entirely overlooked in the chaos and Wisp was over the wall and into the wilderness. The weapons he’d stolen were top of the line and should keep him safe until he could get off world.

But now he was free. No longer forced into service in the great conspiracy, his future was his own.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, January 4, 2011 1:37 PM

Seryn had woken to a completely empty room, and found herself to be a shade disappointed. Two years without any sensible - or even insensible - adult company and she'd been looking forward to seeing the others if for nothing other than a good natter about the bad old days.
She wondered how her son was doing. She'd been away before, often trips to find supplies would take her further afield, and when that happened he always seemed content to be left in the care of the grizzled old woman she'd hired to care for him. The woman was an angel with the boy, but her disapproval of Seryn herself was palpable. In the beginning it had been fine, then she'd let slip that her husband had died years before Fins birth. How to explain that one... She guessed the woman was a good sort, and had certainly proven herself trustworthy. Magda was a closed book in many ways, and that suited Seryn's situation completely.

Looking over the map again she couldn't think of any improvements in the plan but one - a change of getaway vehicle.

Safe had picked a good spot, but if they were seen it wouldn't stop every ship in the verse knowing what they looked like in under a minute. When things got hot, a second option would be just the ticket.

Donning all the daft skirts and restricting corsets was time consuming and dull, but by the time she left the hotel she fit right in with the local gentry. And not a one of them would have guessed at the number of weapons these things could conceal. She grinned - five knives was a lot even for her, and they were stashed in the most surprising places. The jacket was tight over her hips but loosened in folds above the waist, perfect for concealing her favorite gun. And the skirt had long splits in the folds leading to pocket bags that she'd filled with an ample supply of smoke cannisters and flash bombs - parlour tricks, but could come in handy. Even the stupid little handbag contained some 'helpful' items. She may just keep some of the wardrobe on her return to her little moon.

Suppressing the frown that idea prompted, she stepped out into the street and made her way through the throngs of people. Preparations for the execution were underway and even this far away from the site the millitary presence was noticably heavier. Overheard conversations seemed to be of nothing else - afterall, she guessed at some point or another various members of the crew had managed to p*** of a number of these people personally.
She set a lazy, sauntering pace and took time to reach her destination, once or twice quite welcoming the attentions of passing people. Men doffing hats in greeting was one of those revived customs that she was actually beginning to quite like.

Man, she had to get a lodger.

The repair yard she was looking for was tucked away behind a number of small shops selling food and various other consumables. Turning into what she guessed was the office she plastered on her best, most vacant smile.
The slightly greasy guy who seemed to be in charge ate up her cover story, greedily totting up the amounts he could overcharge her for what was actually a none existant repair. In reality she'd crossed the wires herself - even if they didn't fix it, it was the work of moments to put it to rights. But it meant her ship would be here, ready and waiting when she needed it.
She thanked him profusely and watched the towing cart trundle away, then made her way through the ever more packed streets to the execution ground.

OOC I found a picture of Claudia that I thought would be perfect for my avatar seeing as Saffron went for a burton - not to serious and not to silly, but shrunk down now she just looks very grumpy. So I apologise to all of you for the glaring - i'll get round to replacing it at some point. I also have to admit that i forgot the kids name. yup, i'll be that kind of a mother. So I went back and reread the Motherhood for heros thread - we were so funny! I'll aim for some of that again i promise.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 5:18 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

What do you choose for your last meal? Do you want your favourite food? Maybe you want a meal that reminds you of a happy memory? Do you want to make a statement and eat nothing? Do you respect the traditions of which ever mealtime happens to be your last?

Vixen Goddard was hungry for her last meal; the week in Biostasis had left her drained, weak and nauseous. But on this her final morning her strength and appetite had returned to her, so she was determined to make her last meal a hearty one.

“Steak. Rare. And I mean rare. If it aint swimming in blood im sending it back. Then I want Jiangyin potatoes extra spicy. Beer. Something hearty and dark. And chocolate cake. With Ice cream, And Fudge sauce. In fact every kind of chocolate you’ve got put it on there.”

The young chef left the cell with a bewildered expression staring at his precise meal plan. Most inmates don’t seem so excited about their last meal, but Vixen had been practically ecstatic. The truth was she was at some sort of peace this morning. She didn’t know why but getting a lot of her baggage off her chest had made her feel better. It had made the priest feel a hell of a lot worse. He had to run out to throw up at several of the graphic descriptions of violence, he left vowing to pray for her soul every hour he was left alive.

But this was her last day alive. Nobody was coming to save her. She could leave this world without fear or guilt. And she could enjoy one last meal before she died. Hell it was more than she’d given a lot of people.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 5:18 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 5:19 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 5:30 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 5:30 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 5:31 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 6:17 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Has anyone else had any trouble with the new website? Because it seems ALL of my old posts have been deleted? Can anyone else see them/ have a saved copy of the old thread with them in?

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 8:51 AM

OOC: It shows you posted seven times, but I could only see the last two.

I'll post a bit soon.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 11:19 AM

I've no idea whats going on - i posted on the new site hence all the wittering about the CB photo.

It did show that you'd posted several times but like Safe i can only see a couple. Unfortunately i haven't been copying the threads sorry.

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Wednesday, January 5, 2011 11:20 AM

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, January 6, 2011 12:06 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

OOC-Its ok guys Me and my Posts are all back! Apparently when I logged into the Beta it shortened my username somehow causing a Hiccup between who the site thought I was. Luckily Haken in his holy glory has repaired the fault!! So im back with a vengance

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, January 6, 2011 12:45 AM

NEEDY

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions

OOC: That's great news! Glad you got it sorted :)

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, January 6, 2011 2:35 AM

Of course it does now mean that Vixen has had 6 or so last meals - what a porker!

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, January 7, 2011 2:16 AM

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

OOC: Lol Seryn. So true!

---

They had a visitor. After the story Kyra had told him the day before, the one they had talked long over, Luthor McNab could no longer be carefree about letting her open the door to unexpected guests. And so he answered the call, keeping a tight grip on the knife he had removed from the kitchen and concealed in his pocket.
The man at the door looked about forty, his dark, greying hair curled on his forehead but it was otherwise neat, much like the rest of his appearance. Luthor relaxed his grip on his weapon when he realised it wasn't the man he feared, but it was a stranger nonetheless. He looked like an agent, considering his garb, but his speech was casual and formal, as if he was a joe looking for legal aid.
"Mr McNab?" he said. "I'm Clayton Payne, an old friend of Emma Roberts, I wondered if i could speak to her. It's of the utmost importance."
"What's this about?" Luthor asked plainly, his deep voice and large stature intimidating to the former reporter.
"It's about a man, Bernard Needham," Clayton elaborated. "I believe she may have some information about his whereabouts."

He wasn't interested. After what they'd been through, the last thing Luthor wanted was for this man to reopen old wounds. "I'm sorry, we can't help you," he answered as he started to close the door.

Clayton put his hand out and pushed the door back, causing Luthor to glare intensely at the hand, the door and then back to the visitors face. The man had vengeance in his eyes. But he failed to notice Clayton slip his hand into his left pocket and pull out a card. If he had, he might have suspected it of being a weapon and knocked him out there and then. But instead, he caught sight of the revealed ID after the fact.
The red on the badge caught his eye immediately, so much so that he almost forgot to check the name on it to verify that the man standing there was indeed the man identified on the band.
Crimson Squad.
The name was something to be feared. He was an agent, or at least a consultant for them. Either way, Luthor McNab knew better than to refuse a man that worked for such an agency. The last thing they needed was trouble, especially with Kyra's now unveiled background.
Agent Payne seemed to be on the level, asking for assistance and nothing more. He had to take him at his words. If he was there for some other reason, and that he threatened Kyra's safety in any way, well then he'd deal with it. He'd figure the rest out later.

Luthor opened the door wide and invited him in, keeping a tight grip on that knife in his pocket once again.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, January 7, 2011 4:37 AM

(whoot! I'm so slow- how did I miss Clayton being Crimson squad? Oo eck, hope fictional Seryn is more on the ball or you lot are in trouble)

Seryn sauntered a little, then moseyed. She bought herself a lemon juice from a vendor and loitered just a little bit. Then thankfully Safe turned up.

Taking no notice of anyone around he nonetheless managed to cross her path and head into a small ally between two closed and shuttered shops.

She took her time, finished her drink and looked around, as though looking to throw it away, before heading for the alley and the trash trolleys Safe was now concealed behind.

"we were supposed to meet at dawn. At your hotel"

She shrugged, the silence stretched for a few minutes and then she grinned at the serious look on his face.

"oh Safe dear I did miss you! " she laughed and bear hugged him until a grin broke ruefully through the stony expression and he hugged back. " I had something to do, I put a back up transport in place - Wilsons Garage"
He frowned as she told him the location "unexpected" he grunted.
"Exactly. I also need to ask you something, a contingency plan, incase I'm... whatever. I need to let someone know where Fin is."
"Sure -it's sensible, but I really don't intend for either of us to get into harms way."
"You figure we let Wisp rescue Vixen then we rescue Wisp?" He nodded "Me to, hence the lurking out here, figured whatever he's got planned, we're probably best off outside of the heavily guarded areas." she looked up at him " Question is do we try to find him beforehand, or do we wait for the chaos to jump in?"

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, January 7, 2011 5:43 AM

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

OOC: Ah well, it's a fairly recent development. I'll let you off :)

---

“I don’t have any more secrets,” Kyra told her old friend plainly. Clayton had wanted them to speak in private, but Kyra made her point clear. “He’s staying.”
Clayton didn’t like it, not one bit. It could have been because he didn’t trust anybody. But if he had to admit it, it was probably because this man, this stranger, was standing by Kyra’s side, holding her hand. So what if she had told him the truth, even came clean about her real name, he didn’t know her. He couldn’t. At least not like Clayton did.

But if that was the way she wanted it, so be it.
“It’s Needy,” Payne said. “He’s killed again. Girl on Silverhold this time.”
He’d expected some reaction. A gasp, a headshake, even something simple like a blank expression.
What he got was a nod of understanding a stare, as if waiting for him to continue. Her eyes asked him to tell me something new.
It seemed one innocent life no longer mattered to her.
Clayton walked over to the video screen hanging on the wall and jacked his zip-file into the side of it. Switching the screen on, a series of thumbnails displayed on the screen - incident files. He tapped the first one on the screen. The video sped through the satellite footage taken outside the girl's home and zoomed in on the man leaving the house. Luthor had already palmed his personal laptop device and downloaded the data to his machine.
“He stole something,” Payne explained. “A stone the girl found in some caves. Experts say, based on shards they found in the same location, that it could be used as an energy source.”
“You can’t even tell who that is,” Luthor interrupted, examining and manipulating the image on his own screen.
Clayton was about to confirm it but he didn’t need to.
“It’s him,” Kyra said, without any doubt in her voice. But then she directed her next question to the man standing before them. “So?”
“So, it’s not the only thing he’s been up to,” Clayton told them, backing out of the file and selecting the next one, much larger than the previous file.
Seven photos were highlighted, crime scene photos of crisp bodies. One would think they were victims of the same incident, but the locations didn’t match, not to mention the dates. One body was laying outside, beside a riverside of all places, others were found in blackened rooms, the last one looking to be a church judging by the nearby pews. The latter was dated only a few days ago, the day Clayton had called her with news of Vixen’s execution.

“Five men and two women,” Clayton explained, rolling through the photos in detail one by one. “All former soldiers, all attaining positions in high authority within the government. All loyal to the resistance.”
Clayton stopped at the fifth photo, a burnt corpse barely visible atop the black sheets of his decimated bed. “This one, Walter Kinsen, Assistant Director at the CDA (Civil Defense Agency) on Osiris, had been on the Crimson Squad’s watch list for months. Turns out he’d been pulling some strings to have certain members of Special Branch pulled from their containment facilities. He’d been denied but the Squad had received word that he was collaborating with a group intent on having them removed to continue their work elsewhere. Before the Squad could make a move, somebody else got to him.”

Kyra barely raised an eyebrow, and so Luthor put the obvious question to him. “If he was under watch, surely they could have done something about it.”

“In the Assistant Director’s case, he’d been embedded with a device which we’ve learnt was used as a weapon. Made him spontaneously combust by remote. Of course it’s unlikely he knew what it was. We suspect somebody he trusted encouraged him to have it implanted, perhaps convincing him that it was for his protection, or simply was a means of disrupting bugs, enabling him to carry on with his secret meetings.”

“You’ve got nothing? What makes you think Mr… Needy has anything to do with his?”

Clayton ignores the man’s question and looks solely at Kyra. She’s sat there listening to him, looking at the pictures, but he can tell she’s not really been there. She might as well have not been there.

“Kyra,” Clayton says, “you know, deep down, he’s involved somehow.”

Kyra shakes her head. “No. And even if I did, who’s to say it matters? What do you expect me to do about it?”

“You were with him, you were alone with him after what happened, before you came back to see me. He must have said something.”

Kyra was blank-faced. “I don’t know anything.”

“These are innocent people being killed,” Clayton put to her.

“Innocent? You just said they were involved in illegal activity.”

Clayton couldn’t disagree. But it was the type of activity they were involved in. He was no fan of the resistance but he could hardly call these victims outright villains. “Still. If you know anything, you might be able to help us out, find out who the next target is.”

“I don’t,” she answers him. “I haven’t seen Needy in over a year.”
“Kyra, please,” Clayton appeals to her. But she doesn’t want to hear it. She doesn’t want to remember what happened. That’s exactly why she told Luthor the truth. So they could put it behind them.

Luthor is on the verge of telling the man to leave. Crimson Squad or not, he’s got to think of Kyra. Protecting her is his sole objective.
But it’s too late. Clayton had already dredged it up. Kyra was as good as back there.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, January 7, 2011 9:52 AM

OOC: Sorry, I'm in day two of a migrain. No writing for me what requires thoughts. All my coherant thoughts are scattered like broken glass.

Seryn, I am constantly amazed by how this little band of merry writers sees the story in each others heads and stay true to each other's charcater's voices. Nice post! That plays perfect.

I WILL post, please bear with me.

Loving all this back story and plot twists!

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, January 7, 2011 2:42 PM

OOC Oh, I do hope you get better. Migrains are the pits.

I don't get them but when I get bad headaches I find a cool cloth on the back of my neck as well as on my forehead helps. It may or may not work for you but i hope something does.

And thank you, glad I do Safe justice.

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Sunday, January 9, 2011 7:30 AM

“The way I figure, if we meet up with him, that’s what they’re expecting. But, if we wait, they’ll consider us dead or lost or whatever and focus solely on Wisp.” Safe scratched his boot in the filth of the alleyway while Seryn grinned at him, giving him a quick punch in the shoulder.
The second smile in a short period of time crept onto his face which made Seryn grin even wider.

“Seryn, you’re gonna be the death of my reputation, you know that right?” Safe looked at her sideways, the smile broadening.

“Reputation?” Her eyebrow ached.

Laughter finally broke through and Safe couldn’t stop it. It bubbled up from some forgotten place and overflowed like a shaken soda pop and seemed to go on forever.

Finally able to gasp a breath, Safe wiped laugh tears from him face and cleared his throat, “It’s been too long.”

“What about the others?” Seryn asked, finally sober.

“We don’t even know if they’re alive and if they are if they know about this. We can’t risk trying to find them either. That what they want.”

“So we play it by ear?”

“Exactly. It’s the part of the plan I’m none too happy about. I don’t like surprises.”

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, January 10, 2011 4:12 AM

Her expression read only too clearly that Seryn wasn't too fond of them either.

"Question is, what do we do with our selves in the meantime?"
Both of them looked out towards the square, scanning the crowds and buildings. She grinned and pointed to a building just in view. "how about we get a room with a view?" Most balconys were filled to capacity with people eager to get a look at the upcoming 'spectacle' but here and there were empty balconies - the rooms vacant or the owners having better seats she guessed.

"Do you fancy a little breaking and entering? "

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, January 10, 2011 7:50 AM

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

Above the moon of Xanthus, One Month after Santos:

“What’s on your mind?” Needy asked her from the cold corner of the ship’s bridge. Kyra had been sat in the co-pilot’s seat staring out into the black. She had flown in the past, but not this time, not this shuttle.
They’d taken it from a yard on Bellerophon. It seemed that Needy had a way of talking the owner there to trading their original shuttle (the one they had stolen from Santos a month earlier) for this one. It was an Encore class shuttle, once attached to the now defunct Ocean Crafts. It’s engine was good - it hadn’t failed on them yet - but it was the most basic ship she had ever flown on. She didn’t let it bother her though, she had other things on her mind.

Kyra didn’t answer. After what had happened on Santos, leaving everybody behind so suddenly, things had felt different. Before, it had been all she could have hoped for, all that she wanted - to be with him, just him. But there was something off. And she felt it wasn’t just what had happened with Clayton, there was something altogether different about the man she was sharing this shuttle with.
They had shared this vessel, they had shared a bed, but that was all. Kyra hadn’t shared her feelings. She thought that it was her. That she was worried about leaving everything behind, too anxious that Needy’s past would come back to haunt them, that they might not ever be able to truly settle down without looking over their shoulder. She thought that all her concerns weighed upon her to the extent that she couldn’t relax, couldn’t look to the future, to any future, without being filled with some sort of dread.
But those thoughts had passed by her now. Instead the nagging feeling that she had ignored for so long now rose to the surface. Maybe it wasn’t her. Maybe she was feeling this way because her subconscious knew that something was wrong… with him.
Needy had been warm and considerate, always looking for opportunities to prove to her that she was loved, that she didn’t need to think about these things as long as they had each other; that somehow they would make it through together.
But that man that she knew - Bernie - was absent. This man may have occasionally said the right words, words that would have brought her comfort in another life, but they were not heartfelt. They were cold, formal, rehearsed.
As if the man was simply repeating words he’d heard before. Words he had hoped would work.

“Nothing,” she told him, continuing to stare out into space.

She could feel the man approaching her from behind. And even though she had wrapped herself in an thick old blanket - some desperate attempt to keep warm - she felt him rest his hand upon her shoulder.
It fell upon her like the hand of a stringed puppet, resting awkwardly on her.
Yearning for some sort of consolation, some emotional satisfaction, she rested her head upon the hand, her cheek pressing up against his cold dead fingers.
There was nothing there. He might have looked it, he might have acted it, but this man was not alive.
He was a shadow of the man he’d used to be.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, January 10, 2011 9:40 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

OOC: I'm not sure what anyone has planned for rescuing Vixen, but I had a thought to put out there involving Ciaran. She wants to redeem herself, she can look like other people, even Vixen, and she can be "killed"...

______________________

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, January 10, 2011 9:40 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, January 10, 2011 12:34 PM

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

OOC: Well if it does turn out that way, it looks like the story could get even more interesting.

---

“Kyra,” Clayton said, snapping her out of her daze. He was crouching, facing the two of them on the sofa. “I know its not easy, believe me I know the last thing you want is to put yourself back there.”

“Then why come here Payne?” she snapped at him suddenly. “Why do you always do this?”

Luthor was about to speak out but Kyra was urged to continue. He let her.

“I can’t do anything, you know that,” she told him straight. “You’re in a better position than I could ever be. What can I do that you can’t?”

Clayton shook his head in disbelief. “You know him.”

“Not anymore,” she quickly retorted.

“You knew him. You were with him.”

Luthor shifted uncomfortably in his seat, considering whether to end this conversation right there and then.

“No,” she replied. “I clearly didn’t.”

Clayton bit his lip and stood up, beginning to walk away from the two of them in frustration, before stopping and quickly turning to face her once more. Luthor had his head down, as if concentrating on remaining still and quiet. Kyra stared at Clayton intently, waiting for his inevitable reply.

“Then why bother? Goddard, Spacer… the others.” He shook his head. “I know you say you want to stay away but why bother in the first place?” He pulled out a scrap of printed paper and unfolded it, slapping it down on the table before them, open.

Needy’s face and the notice that went with it - the obituary that she had put together - now sat condemning her.

“You really think this was helping them?” he said.

“You asked me,” Kyra said, biting the air.

“You thought plastering his face on the signal would help? If anything you just glazed the squad’s trap with a cherry. Were you trying to encourage your friends to show their faces or what?”

“What did you expect me to do?” she bit again.

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “I had to believe that you had some means of contacting them. Some means that didn’t involve a message being broadcast to the whole gorram verse. A stunt like this makes me think that maybe you want them to get caught, maybe that way this can all be done and dusted.”

Kyra scoffed and shook her head, “You have no idea what you're talking about.”

“I dunno,” Payne continued. “Maybe they deserve what they get. After all, its their fault what happened to Needy, right?”

Kyra stood up and faced her old friend. She wanted to hit him. But by this point, he would have expected it. And where was the satisfaction in giving him what he wanted?

“You should go,” Luthor said as calmly as he could. He was still looking down at the floor but as both Kyra and Clayton looked at him, he raised his head up and slowly got to his feet. He stared at Clayton seriously, not backing down. “I think that would be best.”

Payne looked at the woman then back to her partner. He wasn’t going to win this battle.
“Okay,” he said, nodding reluctantly. He walked around the table and removed his zip-file from the video screen, placing it in his pocket. He left the obituary on the table though - something for Kyra to mull over.
Kyra remained where she stood whilst Luthor followed Clayton out the door.
“I didn’t come looking for trouble,” Payne said to Luthor as he walked, out of earshot from Kyra. “I just wanted to make sure she stayed out of it.”

“Sure,” Luthor replied.

They reached the door and Clayton turned about. “If she doesn’t want me here then I won’t come back,” the Squad’s consultant said. “But it doesn’t mean that he won’t.”
Clayton stepped back, onto the outer door step. “He’s dangerous and if he finds her, there’s no telling what he’ll do.”
“I can take care of her,” Luthor told him plainly.
“I hope so, for both your sakes,” Payne answered. “But you sense anything wrong, anything off. Don’t think, don’t try to stand your ground and fight. You take her and you run. You’ll stand a better chance that way.”
“Thanks for the advice,” Luthor said as he shut the door in front of the man’s face.
Clayton stared at the fine wooden door for a few seconds, mulling everything over. He just hoped Luthor was as good and smart a man as he made out.
And with that he took his leave.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Monday, January 10, 2011 2:08 PM

I'm not sure - wisp seemed to be in control but he's not been around for a few posts. If you have an idea (and its a great idea Soul!) maybe email him?

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, January 11, 2011 12:41 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

OOC- I've had this post written a while I was just waiting till everyone was in position before starting the show. So here we are boys and girls. take your places at the starting line up for The Execution of Vixen Goddard:

“All units report to positions. Prisoner is inbound” The klaxon blared across the square and surrounding area. “Repeat all Units to positions.”

The armoured car pulled up to the edge of the square at a path lined with soldiers on either side. The crowd hurled abuse, stones and rotten matter at the vehicle as it passed through the narrow passage towards the gallows. Wisp watched with great anticipation as the car got closer and closer. Occasionally someone would break through the guard’s lines carrying a placard or sign of some kind usually saying something along the lines of ‘Hang nǐ shì shénme dōngxi”. This would slow the procession as they were forced back into the horde so the Car could continue. Eventually the vehicle pulled up in the centre of the square and Vixen was manhandled from the back. She was shackled at hands and feet dressed in a fetching orange jumpsuit.

“Timing is everything” Wisp muttered to himself. This was the wrong moment. He had to wait for the perfect opportunity or all was lost. Vixen was marched up the stairs with a guard in front and behind her. She was positioned in the centre of the gallows as the executioner, hooded and dressed all in black, measured the noose around her neck. The Planetary mayor of Ariel took to a microphone on the stage calming the audience as the wailed and roared demanding the young woman’s blood. It was well known the Mayor had designs on running for Parliament and was using this execution to promote his hard stance on crime. As he began to make his speech Wisp wished deeply that Soul would appear from the shadows and slit his pompous throat for all to see, or that Safe would put a bullet in his chest from a mile away.

“Ladies and Gentleman please, would you bring your attention to me? For a feast for your eyes to see. An explosion of catastrophe” He waved his hands in all the power gestures that politicians loved to make, as if the will of the people could be swayed by a chop and slash of the hand. “We have before us an example of what is wrong with Society. And we’re here to make an example of she!” He swung his finger round pointing darkly at Vixens throat. “For too long these people have held our lives to Ransom, made us feel unsafe whenever we leave our homes. We draw a line here today with this rebel’s life. We send a message to every other criminal out there who seeks to ruin our way of life. We Will Tolerate No More.” He paused between each word for emphasis. “We will protect our lives, and our homes, and our children! TOLERATE NO MORE” By now the crowd were at fever pitch, roaring the words back at the mayor as he gave the signal to begin the execution.

Now was the moment. Now was the correct time. Wisp detonated the smoke bombs.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, January 11, 2011 5:45 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

OOC: I tried to post something here, but it doesn't fit yet. Go with what you have planned, and I'll post when the rescue goes south in the square. It will get interesting.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, January 11, 2011 5:50 AM

Back at the building on the edge of the security perimeter, laughter filled the empty apartment as Safe and Seryn ate. The food they had ‘aquired’ from the ornate press box with the balcony with a view, spread out in front of them. They reminisced about the good times, as few as there seemed to be. They laughed at the crowd gathered below as grapes and other various fruit rained down upon them.

But even through the laughter, a nervous tension added an edge to it.

“Did you see the look on that usher’s face?” Seryn blurted out.

Safe’s responding laugh was cut short.

“All units report to positions. Prisoner is inbound” The klaxon blared across the square and surrounding area. “Repeat all Units to positions.”

Instantly the food and the embarrassed usher were forgotten.

Safe looked through the site of the large rifle set-up in the window. Seryn stood at his side.

“So they aren’t coming?” She stated sadly.

“Doesn’t look that way. No movement in the square. Some politician is grand-standing, using Vixen to promote himself, no doubt. You know what to do right?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll lead them here, if there is anyone to lead that is.”

“And I take them to the shuttle on the roof. What happened to your fighter anyway?”

“I followed your lead. It would be too conspicuous. Traded it in on the shuttle.”

“Any sign of Wisp?”

“Nothing yet... wait! Someone set off smoke grenades.”

Seryn bolted for the door.

“Seryn!” Safe called.

She paused.

“Be careful, ok?”

“Is there any other way to be?” Seryn winked at him and descended the stairs to the building’s front door to wait for any arrivals.

Safe squinted through the sight again; the crosshairs lined up on the executioners head. It was all up to Wisp now, all Safe could do, is buy him some space and Seryn to cover their retreat.

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, January 11, 2011 7:32 AM

NEEDY

The road to Hel is paved with good intentions

OOC: This sure is getting exciting. Nothing to add as of yet storywise, but i have just posted something in the blue sun room
http://beta.fireflyfans.net/bluesun.aspx?bid=23263

I was thinking of maybe adding it to my recap post at the top of the thread. I would say i'd like to post one for each story, but to be honest this took me a lot longer than expected

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, January 11, 2011 8:13 AM

OOC:

Quote:
Originally posted by SoulOfSerenity:
OOC: I tried to post something here, but it doesn't fit yet. Go with what you have planned, and I'll post when the rescue goes south in the square. It will get interesting.

I suspect I know where you were going with your idea, Soul. Like Seryn, I think it's a great idea especially if Wisp dosen't suspect a thing. But then all the ideas on this thread turn out awesome, so I'm sure Wisp plan will be spectacular too.
Can't wait to see how Kurren fits into all this.

AWESOME poster Needy!

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Tuesday, January 11, 2011 8:13 AM

OOC: This is not the blank space you were looking for, nor is it the crappy moon where you are a gorram hero. Move along.

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, January 13, 2011 4:41 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

The past four days had passed at such pace. Every thought and action was planning for this next minute in time. There was no time for second guessing or pondering, now was the time. This was the moment. All that had passed had lead him here. He had to make it count cos there sure as hell wasn’t a second chance.

The Gallows were now coated in a cloud of thick black smoke. It was impossible for any of the snipers to pick off anyone on the stage through the fog and nobody wanted to risk hitting any of the civilians in the crowd. Wisp activated a Thermal imaging contact and began the first step of his plan.

Step one: Misdirection and Misinformation
“This is Jenkins I think I saw one of the Terrorists north Quarter. Moving to investigate” Of course Wisp hadn’t seen anything of the sort but now all eyes would be focused on that point. To add to the confusion He set his radio to scramble all transmissions on this frequency slowing down any real information that may be being given out. He quickly vaulted over the fence into the plume of smoke and headed up the stairs.

Step two: Cut off reinforcements
This was simple to do as the gallows had been designed with a single stairway. It was Childs play to drop a grenade on the steps as soon as he was on the top step preventing anyone from following him up for a few seconds.

Step three: Eliminate Resistance
Of course as soon as the smoke screen had come up the four guards on the stage went to full alert but they couldn’t see a thing. Wisp’s thermal contact lens allowed him to lay head shots on all the guards and the executioner in a matter of seconds. He considered tapping the smug mayor who was now screaming, crying and generally filling his expensive trousers with something smelly, but he would tie up any forces with his whining.

Step four: Covering the escape
Wisp had used up about fifteen seconds so far. He had reckoned for about thirty seconds before the helicopters got the smoke cleared and/or dropped in more troops. And Vixen was stood in a bright orange jumpsuit in the centre of all this. As soon as the smoke dropped enough to see any glimpse of that orange it would be like a bulls eye for them. So the Orange had to go.
“Vixen its Wisp” He unlocked the manacles at her wrists “Arms out don’t breathe” Wisp hastily sprayed black fabric paint all over the jumpsuit, taking care not to leave any orange patches exposed. It wasn’t perfect but It didn’t have to fool people for long. He took the executioners hood off the dead body and placed it over Vixens head completing the disguise.
“You’ve been shot sit down and shut up”

“You shouldn’t have come”

“Thats not shutting up is it?” Wisp placed her against one of the pillars just as a helicopter appeared overhead fanning the smoke away and several guards dropped in.

“Don’t Shoot! I'm a guard! They took the girl over the side heading east. The executioner’s injured I need to get him off this stage.”

The paratrooper checked his ID and was about to remove the executioners hood but the good Mayor took that moment to enter a hysterical breakdown. As two guards restrained him the captain who was talking to them was called over to help.

“Sure get him out of here to a medic but I want you to come straight back for a report”

Step five: Exit the area of operations calmly and quickly
Wisp helped Vixen up and towards a ramp they were hastily erecting up to the gallows. The Paratrooper had obviously radioed ahead as none of the streams of soldiers heading up to the gallows questioned him at all. Heading in a South-Westerly direction they had made it about halfway across the square. Wisp was checking his radio listening to the progress of the search. He had to get them out of the line of snipers as quickly as possible but too fast would draw attention. Suddenly a transmission caught his attention over the radio
“We’ve accounted for all four dead guards and the executioner now that someone shut up that whiny son of a Bitch”
“Wait? All the guards and the executioner? But I sent one of the guards off with the executioner to find a medic?”
“Oh Gosa. All teams eyes up for a guard supporting a hooded woman dressed all in black. They’ll have my ass for this”

Wisp cursed under his breath, he’d hoped to get further before his charade was rumbled.
“Vixen keep your head down and move fast! We need to reach the edge of the square” People swarmed them on both sides but they were none the wiser of this escape, it was only the guards they had to fear. The edge of the crowd was in site when the shout echoed over their heads

“There they are! South west arc edge of the square all troops converge”

Vixen pulled Wisps sidearm from his belt as he swung down his assault rifle “Great rescue Wisp. You should do this stuff for a living” The two set off in a sprint for a side road heading away from the trouble but were quickly surrounded by guards on all sides. “Whats your next great plan?”

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, January 13, 2011 7:51 AM

“Gosa!” Safe swore between clenched teeth as the smoke obscured everything. His finger twitched over the trigger and he reluctantly relaxed it, resting it instead on the trigger guard, while he flicked the scope around the square.

“What the hell’s going on Safe?” Seryn hissed through the communicator in Safe’s ear.

“Dammit Wisp, where are you?”

People ran around like ants around a smashed anthill.

A shout caught his attention, and Safe swung the scope to its origins. Wisp and Vixen surrounded by guards.

“Gorammit, of all the stupid.. there’s no way I can take them all down and even as scrappy as Wisp is, one of them is getting shot, unless...”
Safe swung the scope around, “Where are you Mr. Mayor dude. Ah-ha there you are, now let’s see how loud you can be and how important people think you are.”

Safe breathed out slowly, relaxing and slowly squeezed the trigger.

The Mayor’s knee exploded in a cloud of blood as he dropped to the ground, screaming blue bloody murder.

Before the Mayor even hit the ground, Safe had his gun again trained on the squad commander nearest Wisp.

“Get ready Seryn, the gosa is about to hit the fan.”

From her vantage point on the ground floor, Seryn checked her gun again and took a deep breath.

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Thursday, January 13, 2011 9:56 AM

Her thoughts stopped their frantic jigging about, but it didn't help at all with the fact that she was almost totally blind to the situation. Her view, limited as it was, only contained milling, confused crowds and helicopter filled skies.
It was to risky to step out though, letting herself be recognised would be stupid without nothing to gain yet. Whilst the poncing about in posh outfits afforded her some measure of anonymity before, now that the guards were alert they'd be searching every face.

gosa. Patience was never one of her virtues. She moved back into the building to a window that gave her a view of a different part of the square. "Bingo!" In front of her, stood a crowd of guards, facing away from her and moving further away.
She retreaived several of the smoke bombs from her pocket bags and made her way back outside.
"Safe, get ready to cover me - I have to get closer, keep an eye out for interest on the rooftops"
Skirting the outside of the building as nonchalantly as she could she got within throwing distance of the guards and launched as many smoke bombs as she could in quick succession before moving to another spot and following them up with more smoke and a couple of flash bombs for good measure.

She moved again, hoping that no snipers had spotted her actions "Safe! Let me know which way they run!"
"Will do!"

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, January 14, 2011 12:52 AM

Inter Arma Enim Silent Leges

Wisp was pretty much out of options as he stood there looking down the barrels of six guns. He’d had a pretty lucky roll of the dice up to this point but his number was up and his credit was zero. His best plans right now were fight to the death or surrender and he wasn’t entirely keen on either option. Suddenly the pompous Mayor erupts into screams of agony as he collapses from the stage. The guards all around become suddenly very scared. Wisp had absolutely no idea who had fired the shot but they were on his side which is all that counted. The guards held position a few steps back from him and Vixen obviously waiting for orders from their superiors. It was then that Wisp spotted Seryn skirting her way round the crowd dressed up to the nines. If she was here then the others shouldn’t be far behind. The people he’d spent the past two years searching for had finally found him and their timing couldn’t be better. Wisp wanted to shout for joy but decided on a much more impressive option.

“I did that” Wisp said to the Guards “I just shot that pompous mayor like I shot all the guards on that podium without getting a scratch on me” The soldiers couldn’t decided if they or Wisp was crazy but decided that someone was. “You see I’m not just a man. I am the Avatar of Justice sent forth by the Mighty Thor himself. Don’t believe me?” Wisp threw his hands up in the air and shouted “Thunder and Lightning!” just as smoke and flash grenades rolled into the circle. Ducking and running through guards he dragged Vixen with him headed for where he’d last seen Seryn.

“Very theatrical” Vixen smirked as they ducked through the guards who were now fleeing in disorientated terror. “You should have been a thespian.”

“You know me. I like to please the crowd”

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, January 14, 2011 3:05 AM

OOC: BWAHAHAHA!!! The Avatar of Justice! Well done Wisp!

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

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, January 14, 2011 4:50 AM

The Man They Call Soul...

Wisp's act was only partially successful. The rank and file guards weren't paid enough to risk their lives for a madman, but then again they were usually just for show. Moments before Wisp and Seryn met at the edge of the square, a bullet wizzed through the air, carving a thin line in the skin of Wisp's shoulder as it passed. Wisp came screeching to a halt as he found himself surrounded yet again. He felt in his pocket for the remaining smoke bomb and was about to drop it when a figure collided with them, throwing both Wisp and Vixen to the ground. A shot rang out and one of the guards fell, quickly followed by another. Wisp took that moment to run low, pulling Vixen along with him when...Vixen screamed from behind him?

Wisp spun around in shock as one of the guards hauled Vixen to her feet. How had he left her behind?

"Enough!" The guard yelled. He began pulling Vixen back towards the gallows, the circle of guards tightening. When they reached the wooden platform, the Mayor stopped crying in an attempt to regain some sort of composure.

"This is the kind of scum we are dealing with!" He cried out through the pain. "They would kill innocent people to rescue a criminal." He held out his hand, and someone placed a gun in it. He knew he had the crowd now. "No more," he said, and fired two shots.

The first bullet went wide, but the second--

The second bullet buried itself in Vixen's head, and she dropped to the ground.

The croud roared, and Wisp screamed, surging forward when Soul appeared from nowhere and grabbed him.

"Go! Take Vixen and go!"

Wisp stared at him like Soul was crazy until a hand tugged at his arm.

"Let's go," Vixen said in Wisp's ear.

"How?" Wisp asked, eyes wide as he saw Vixen standing beside him, alive and well.

"Just go!" Soul yelled, pushing the two of them away and drawing out his dagger as a sea of guards descended upon him.

"GO!"

OOC: Let Soul be please...I have a plan...

NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | TOP | HOME

Friday, January 14, 2011 12:19 PM