Special Branch: Overdue Reunions

POSTED BY: WashsYoungerSexierBr
UPDATED: Thursday, December 23, 2010 16:16
VIEWED: 23991
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WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Thursday, November 18, 2010 1:34 PM

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Thursday, November 18, 2010 2:29 PM

The first order of Business is a Recap of all previous Threads leading up to where we are now.

Our story begins back in May 2006 with Special Branch: Unbound

After a brief Hiccup in the fabric of space time Seryn and Wisp find themselves transported across the galaxy in the Nandi to above the orbit of Boros. Meeting the Crew of the Dagger dragging the ISSVC Epsilon the valiant crew of boy-whores, theives and ne'erdowells. Land upon the surface in a blaze of glory and ectoplasmic gloop. After an evening of drinking, feasting and inventing plant folk the crew set off in various directions for parts and spares Soul and his crew enter orbit as they are so desperate to join the fun times. We quickly meet Vixen who very quickly has an altercation with Needy resulting in Wisp falling off a cliff. We also hear about a group of young children: Truth, Ghost and Shadow being abused by their cruel adoptive guardian. Finally a woman named Kyra McTaggert, manages to charm her way into one of the cells, to talk to a prisoner named Milton Reeves, former Companion and assistant to one Needy.

Leading us fluidly into Special Branch: The Chasing of Wild Geese.

The scene opens with Seryn, Needy, and Vixen trapped in a holding cell for misdemeanour's. Seryn and Needy are released straight to the nearest alcholery whilst Vixen is shipped off to a high security facility. Meanwhile Safe, Soul and friends go about hiring a Hover-mule from the Carson family who just happen to be the guardians of the three young children. Wisp spends this time unconscious in a hospital bed managing to come round and escape just as everyone turns up to rescue him. Unfortunately the all walk smack dab into an ambush and find themselves locked away in a hospital ward by the mysterious Crimson Squad.

Next comes Special Branch and the HUGE Hospital Bills.
The Rag-Tag Posse are all interrogated separately by various government agents. Each person seems to have complex pasts that become revealed. Seryn finds herself shipped out of the hospital in a near-death coma by a member of the resistance. with more resistance help and alarms blazing the rest of the gang manage to fight their way out of the building, nearly getting shot by Kyra on her way in I might add.

Special Branch: The Living Dead
Upon escape they meet up with the rest of Safes crew and some more resistance fighters and after a thrilling car chase find their way into an underground facility where they are reunited with Seryn and ScorpionRegent joins the squad. We also go and see the Carsons and them a thorough what for. This thread also features many LOST style flash backs and sideways with various shady and dangerous characters.

Special Branch: Motherhood for Heroes
We open with young Truth suffering from hypothermia, whilst Seryn suffers through labour, And Wisp suffers a dog chase with a gunship. After a brief escape into orbit we run across an SOS from the Dwarf where things are not all s they seem. Especially the woman who appears to be Soul's long lost love who is now the captains wife. This turns out to be a shape-shifting psycho bitch from The Expendables coming to kill Soul and the mystery cargo of the Dwarf. Meanwhile wisp suffers serious head trauma and Needy loses quite a few more marbles than a person can cope with. After the Changeling assassin steals the epsilon alliances are tested to breaking point...

Special Branch: Secrets and Lies
As people struggle to board the vessel drifting away the astral beings who seem to be following the crew play a few dice and help them out. The secret of the dwarf begins to be revealed but little is know about the mysterious 'weapon'. A brawl breaks out upon the Epsilon as Needy, Milton, and Vixen confront the shape-shifting Assassin, unfortunately they don't do too well and in the final moments Needy cashes in his sanity card and strangles his former protege without warning. The Dwarf finally catches up on they attempt to retake the stolen ship. Meanwhile A bounty hunter appears on Boros intent on tracking down our heroe

SOULOFSERENITY

Thursday, November 18, 2010 3:48 PM

The bar was seedy, but not as seedy as it's clientele. The dancers looked to be one drink away from passing out, and the bartender was asleep behind the bar. The handful of patrons were so far gone that they wouldn't have flinched if a bomb went off in the next booth. All of this served as the perfect atmosphere for a man who didn't want to be found, much less noticed.

Soul sat, perched on a stool at the far end of the bar, covered in shadow thanks to the light fixtures that had been in disrepair probably longer than they had worked. He nursed a small glass of the best whiskey that he could find behind the bar, his eyes darting back and forth at the crowd of people that wandered past the wide doorway, not one of them even glancing inside.

He had been sitting there for several hours, and was prepared to remain until his quarry wandered by. Internally, he cursed at no one in particular. His mind was racing, and every calming exercize that he tried ultimately failed. Ever since Santos...

He shook his head, taking a gulp of the whiskey. He had to stay focused. He couldn't think about the people, the events that had blown apart the calm, collected Soul and created this new, emotion-driven Marshall. He had to focus. There would be time for resolution. Later.

A flash of a familiar face passed the doorway, and Soul smoothly rose to his feet and blended into the moving crowd. His target walked slowly, and gave no indication that he knew he was being followed. As he had done hundreds of times before, Soul moved through the throng of people like they were standing still. He passed through open pockets, around standing figures and through groups, leaving no more than a quickly fading memory of his presence. He drew up behind his target and spoke softly into his ear.

"Hello Ciaran. It's been a while."

His target gave off the smallest of shivers as he kept moving. Soul couldn't help bit grin a bit as he spoke again.

"Considering that you can pretend to be anyone, why would you choose to be me?"

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree, Captain of Destiny.

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

SAFEAT2ND

Thursday, November 18, 2010 6:39 PM

Safe sat at the base of an old tree in the small border-town's main square. An old dusty aviator's hat and a heavy gray streaked beard hid his face and blended with the equally worn clothing.

A battered tin protein can rested between his feet with a crude note, "Aerial surveys cheap".
From under the bill of his cap he watched the crowds pass. He hadn't had work in going on two weeks now; his belly reminded him of that loudly. But still he sat, just another vagrant, and he liked it that way.

No worries, no commitments, just the sun and his ancient fighter turned survey 'plane'. He had put her together with bits he could salvage or even occasionally steal from Alliance depots.
Still it wasn't the Dagger.

His mind shied away from that line of thinking; from dredging up old memories. But it went there anyways. Faces lost returned unbidden. Bear, Grunt, and Jennings had split up. It was easier to hide one person than a group. They had sold the Dagger, parted it out and with their share of the sale started new lives.

Bear opened a fight-club. Safe had participated for a while but the relentless pounding, took it’s toll. He ached in the morning, on rainy days and the alcohol was less and less effective in dulling that pain, so he moved on.

Jennings was teaching. Safe snorted, “Teaching? Who’dda thunk?” And last he heard of Grunt, he was guiding new settlers on some remote moon.
Soul, well, he wasn’t right after what went down over Santos. It was like something broke inside. He weren’t the same and seemed like he was chasing ghosts.

Safe briefly wondered where they were now. “Better off not knowing.” He mumbled drawing curious stares from passersby. “Not gonna get work if you keep talkin’ to yourself.”

Maxine, Amy, Seryn, his ex-wife... seems he couldn’t even keep women in his life either, not as friends or anything extra.

Concern overrode the grumbles coming from his gut. Where were they now? Seryn, Wisp, Needy? Why did things always go to hell...

He looked up as an Alliance shuttle roared overhead. “Well if I can’t earn an honest lunch...”

http://drlong67.wordpress.com

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Thursday, November 18, 2010 8:01 PM

The incessant beeping of the alarm dragged Wisp out of an entirely pleasant slumber. Swinging himself out of bed he rubbed his face trying to get his brain into some form of activity. He looked up at the digital board that took up all of one wall of his cabin, photos and text boxes lay randomly connected by threads of varying colours. Stumbling across the room he pressed a small green tab in the corner baring an icon of a speaking man:
“Comman, ‘cough cough’ “His voice wasn’t quite as awake as he thought it was “Command: Begin daily cortex search” The screen began flicking through each file in turn. At first Wisp used to watch the search happen; each name and photo would appear and the computer would scan all cortex entries over the past 24 hours for matches. Each time a near hit would be found his heart would jump with excitement but he’d seen too many 70% matches turn out to be people with the same last name or similar face structures. Every time he watched he got more and more damaged inside so he stopped watching. Now he spent the time doing a few sit-ups and stretches, enjoying a shower, checking the real cortex headlines. The search usually took about an hour and he’d check it when he was finished. Back when he was on the Epsilon he would follow up on any hits that were above 90% certainty, now he was on the Tranquillity He’d cut that down to 95%.

He liked the Tranquillity he really did. The crew were solid and friendly, and it was a welcome change to have people to talk to. He’d been alone on the Epsilon for around eighteen months before he found the Tranquillity in distress and he’d been forced to cannibalise his own ship to save theirs. The needs of the many and all that. It was just, they weren’t his crew. He was always separate from them, they just didn’t have history together. The captain was very generous with destinations which would help Wisp unite with his own crew but He never found more than whispers and rumours. He’d come close a few times but he was always a few days too late, Chasing ghosts. On top of that he had Crimson Squad chasing him at every turn. He could tell that made the crew jumpy. It was nice having a neurologically enhanced genius on board but it wasn’t so good that the Alliance were intent on having him back for dissection.

Wisp finished his morning routine a little early today and only the scan wasn’t even three quarters through. ‘Screw it’ He thought to himself ‘I’ll get some training in’. Grabbing his quarter staff and a training rifle he headed down to the cargo bay. When the scan finished not long later a large red message filled the screen:
“100% Match located”

SOULOFSERENITY

Thursday, November 18, 2010 8:04 PM

OOC: Man...I have not been this excited about something I've been a part of writing in a very long time!!!

______________________

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

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/

NEEDY

Thursday, November 18, 2010 11:27 PM

OOC: Loving it!! I'll try to post something tomorrow :)

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

KYRA

Friday, November 19, 2010 8:25 PM

Things were perfect.
They had a house on Xiansheng, overlooking Lake Sho; they both had decent honest jobs and a steady income. And they weren't wanted by the Alliance. They weren't fugitives. They were settled on this moon, at the system core living the life that most people could only dream of.
But it was more than security that they had, it was love.
Kyra McTaggert was loved.

So why did things have to be so complicated?
Why couldn't she just let things be - to forget about the past and live in the now?

Kyra laid on the bed, staring up at the ceiling, the cool morning breeze gently wafting against her feet.
It would all end someday. She knew that. Which is exactly the reason why she couldn't relax now, why she could never relax or settle. Always looking toward the door, waiting for some intruder to burst in to steal her from this life.
Or in the market, for someone to sneak up and snatch her, like the bounty hunter had on Santos.
Truth was, maybe she wanted that to happen. Maybe this life wasn't for her. Maybe it never was.

Kyra sat up from the bed, and pulled the photo out - the one that was pinned underneath the dresser, hidden.

Needy. Bernie.
It was the only photo she had of him now.
All the others had been destroyed. But she couldn't bring herself to destroy this one. She had tried. She knew that holding onto it wouldn't do her any good. But it was all she had of him now. A photo of the two of them together, taken before Santos, taken before he'd even found out who she really was. When he was still the man she loved.
Now... Now he couldn't have been more different. The Bernie that she knew, the man that she loved, was dead. The truth was the man that she'd loved died in an alleyway on Boros years ago.

"Hey," a man's voice called out from the doorway. "You okay?" He said, stepping out from the shadows.
Luthor McNab was tall and well-built, a black man in a white shirt and neatly pressed trousers. He could handle himself in a fight, sure, but he was not a fighter, that wasn't his job, he specialised in law - it was how they met.

Kyra's cheeks shone under the light, her eyes red. "Yes." She answered him. "I'm just..."

"Oh..." He says, catching sight of the photo in her hand. "I'm sorry, I forgot. Today was..."

Kyra sighed and gently nodded her head.

The man took a seat beside her and wrapped his large arm around her, pulling her close to his chest. "Did you want to do something for him?" He asked.
He knew about the man in the photo - her friend, the one that she had lost. Granted, he didn't know the whole story. She couldn't tell him the whole story. She couldn't tell him what happened, he would never believe it. And besides which, that would mean coming clean about everything else.

She shook her head. "No, it's okay. I've got work to do." She pulled herself away and stood up, returning the photo to its not-so-secret hiding place. "I should probably get going."

"You know you can take the day off once in a while." He invited her warmly. "We can get away."

"Believe me I'm fine. Keeping my mind on other things, it's good."
She showed him a smile and made her way to the door.

"Okay, but anytime you need it - to get away, or whatever. You'll let me know. I'm all yours Emma, always have been."

Emma nodded.
Some things never change.

NEEDY

Saturday, November 20, 2010 1:01 PM

Clayton Payne had made a deal with the devil. He knew that. But he had made the right choice.
He just wished that she had understood. He knew it wasn't easy, but for her to leave? For her to run away into the arms of another.
This was for her. It always had been. For her and for his father - to restore his name once and for all.
But Kyra... he would have protected her, would have done anything, all that he could.
He still was doing, even thought she couldn't see it.

But Kyra would never agreed to it. The Crimson Squad could not be trusted. He knew that they were dangerous, but they could also be useful.

He understood that today more than ever. He may have made a faustian pact, but without it, he never would have been here, now, making this discovery.
As he stood over the burnt crisp body of a loyal soldier, Clayton could console himself in knowing that he made the right choice. Finally, he was in a position to make a difference.

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

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Monday, November 22, 2010 2:18 PM

Wisp re-read the news report for perhaps the seventeenth time. Mostly it was his previous acceptance of failure that made this success difficult to accept. It was an in house Military police memo detailing captures, trials, and executions of various wanted persons. About halfway into the report it stated that a highly wanted criminal had been captured and was to capital punishment without trial due to overwhelming evidence and confession for a variety of crimes. The name of this Criminal was one Vixen Goddard. Apprehended after a bait and sting operation on Beaumonde she was currently in biostasis being shipped to Ariel for public execution in four days.

Execution without trial. How Civilised the alliance were.

The Tranquillity had just left Hera bound for Athens, there was no way even at full burn they could make it to Ariel in time. But if they could drop him off on Persephone he could take a fast courier ship and make it there in time. Just. Wisp plotted the mental calculations of time vs. speed. If the Tranquillity went full burn from its present position it could be at Persephone in 28 hours if they docked at the orbital Transfer station. A class one courier could have him to Ariel in 15 hours, however it was unlikely a fast courier would be docked somewhere like Persephone just by chance. Figuring he’d need at least one day before the execution to put a plan together he needed a class three courier, four on the outside.

Stepping out of his quarters he found Captain Shadow in the galley doing his morning routine of cleaning his pistol whilst cradling some coffee.

“Captain. I need to speak with you”

“Where to this time Wisp? We’ve got perishables in the cargo bay so It’s gonna have to wait till we reach Athens whatever it is.” He and the Captain had had this discussion many times. It was like a monthly routine nowadays.

“Unfortunately it cannot wait but it’s not far out of the way” Wisp seated himself opposite “I need to get to Persephone”

“Hell that’s not much out of our way we can drop you off in no time and pick you up when were next in town”

“I won’t need a pick up. I’ve finally found something concrete but time is a major issue. I need us to go to full burn from here to orbit. It should take just over a day.”

“Your leaving? And… wait a second that’s a lot of fuel on the fire”

“I’ll pay for it. Think of it as a job. The last job we’ll do together.”

The Captain pondered a second then stood up and jabbed the intercom. “Pilotwash alter course to Persephone and go to full burn. Shiny if you can give us any more juice It’d be much appreciated” The Captain then turned back to Wisp “I don’t need to know but If you can tell me what your planning I’d be thankful.”

“I think your owed it” Wisp poured a cup of coffee from the pot sat in the middle of the table as Shadow returned to his seat. “Remember Vixen Goddard I told you about?”

“Old flame? You met her in the Academy. She was a pretty dangerous lady from what you mentioned”

“Very dangerous. Anyway she’s been arrested and is being executed in a little under four days on Ariel. With a bit of luck I can get to Ariel in three days, maybe two with a lot of luck. My ideal plan would be to snatch her as soon as her ship lands but If I cant get there in time I’m gonna have to spring her off death row.”

“That’s one ballsy plan.” Shadow took a long drink “you sure she’s worth it?”

“She may not be a nun but she’s an old friend. The oldest I’ve got. And If I can find her then maybe I can find the rest of em.”

“You’ve got friends here ya know? We’ll all be mighty sorry to see you go.”

“I know. But I have to know what happened to them. Our separation on Santos was…Messy. But I owe them all a piece of my hide. Even Vixen”

“Well then you better get packing. And if your doing something as silly as breaking into death row then you’re gonna need all the firepower you’ve got stashed down there”

“Oh don’t worry. I’ve spent the past two years making sure that when I finally got the chance I’d be ready. And boy, Am I ready.”

htt

SAFEAT2ND

Monday, November 22, 2010 3:15 PM

Safe crouched behind a stack of crates. A group of dock hands unloaded the Alliance shuttle, while a pair of guards stood off to one side, smoking. Safe inched closer to their position. If they didn’t go inside for coffee, he’d never get his chance to ‘aquire’ a few items to pawn. Taking the Alliance goons out, was out of the question. Not only were there too many eyes, but it would draw undue attention to his little neck of space. He was happy they only came occasionally.

“Did you hear?” The shuttle pilot was talking to the dock master.

“Hear what?”

“They caught another one.”

“Another one what, a cold?”

“Oh you’re funny. No, another resistance dirtbag.”

Safe stopped and hunkered down, suddenly very interested.

“Ya, so? I got enough problems keeping the sticky fingers what live here in check to worry about core planet problems.” The dock master ground out his cigarette.

“Oh, this ‘un was a real thorn in our side. Remember that chicky, Goodard?”

“That name sounds familiar...”

“The hospital break a few years back? A right massacre it was.”

“Oh, right, I do remember that. My brother was part of that crew. What they gonna do now that they have her?”

“She’s gonna hang for her crimes. Out in Ariel main square 5 days from now. A lesson for the others still out there.”

“They’re gonna come for her.”

“That’s the idea. Use a little honey to catch some flies, know what I mean?” The pilot laughed elbowing the dock-master.

“Can’t say I’ll be sad to her swayin’ at the end of a rope.”

Safe crept away; no longer interested in any cargo the shuttle had to offer. Back at the ruin down hanger where is ‘plane’ was parked, Safe leaned against the fighters side.

“Dammit.” He climbed into the cockpit and sat for a moment. “What the hell am I doing?! You never really like that back-stabbing... Prolly gettin’ what she rightly deserves.”

But they were right. Wisp, wherever he was, was bound to find out. He was walking into a trap. Safe chuckled. Chances are Wisp knew it as well, but the Alliance were waiting for him. They’d seen him in action, were wise to his tricks, hell they were wise to all our tricks.

“Dammit! You stupid girl!!” Safe slammed the canopy down and prayed that if the rest were still alive and free, that they’d stay away.

http://drlong67.wordpress.com

SOULOFSERENITY

Monday, November 22, 2010 4:56 PM

The two Souls sat silently, staring at each other. The double takes done by nearly everyone that passed by would have been humerous if either of them had bothered to notice. Only the intense look on the identical faces prevented anyone from approaching them. It was obvious that an immense amount of unspoken communication was passing between them, but with no one able to translate, the bartender and the other patrons of the establishment they were currently seated in eventually lost interest in the spectacle.

Finally, after hours of this unusual public display of oddness, the eyes of the Soul on the left flashed from hazel to emerald green, and back again.

"I was wondering how long you could hold one form before you had to revert back for a while," said the Soul on the right. "Ready to change back?"

The Soul on the left nodded. "Bathroom," he stated.

The two rose, much to the surprise of everone in the room and made their way to the small restroom at the back of the bar. Soul emerged a moment later, followed by a striking redhead with emerald green eyes. They were nearly out of the bar when the bartender finally asked the question on everyone's lips.

"Where's your twin?"

Soul paused and turned back. "I don't have a twin." He put his arm on Ciaran's shoulder and steered her out of the establishment.

When they were far enough away to lose any curious eyes, Soul pulled Ciaran into an alley and pushed her up against the wall.

"Tell me why I shouldn't kill you right here, right now. You killed people. Over Santos, and long before that as well."

He paused, and a look of pain crossed his features. "Why?"

Ciaran looked away for a moment. "Don't ask me that." She lifted her head and stared into his eyes, a fire burning. "You're the last person that should ask me that. How many people have you killed? How many have died because of you? How many? Don't you dare look at me like I'm any more of a monster than you."

Pushed away by the intensity of her response, Soul took a step back. "You died. In my arms. I lost EVERYTHING I cared about in that moment. I went to a dark place for a long time after that. I make no excuse there. It took a while, but I did come to my senses, and ever since then I've been trying to make things right. I don't know if I ever will."

With renewed determination, he walked closer to her again.

"I thought you were gone forever. Yet you were alive the entire time, and you let me believe you were dead. WHY?"

She continued to stare back. "You may not believe this now, but I was protecting you. You think you can live for as long as you have, never aging, never staying dead and no one would notice? They sent an Operative after you. I made sure he killed me instead."

Any remaining sense of calm and order Soul had held onto was blown apart at that statement from Ciaran, and Marshall emerged.

Ciaran closed the distance between them and continued. "You had no training, no marketable skills, nothing that would be worth keeping you alive for. I did. I told you then, and I told you above Santos, I'm like you. When I woke up a few worlds away, I hunted down the Operative who killed me and convinced him that you were no threat, that I was the real one they had been tracking. I showed him I could change faces, and in that moment they forgot you even existed. I did what I had to do to protect you." She closed here eyes, tears beginning to form. "I thought you would move on alive and well, and when the Alliance was done with me I would find you and we could be together again. I never expected you would become this. I'm sorry."

It was as if they were back in the bar staring at each other, for all the unspoken communication that was passing between the two. Ciaran finally broke the silence.

"We have more to discuss, but we can talk on the way." She handed Marshall a printout. "We need to save your friends first."

Marshall lowered his eyes and read. By the time he had reached the bottom of the page, his eyes had regained their steel, and Soul lifted hi

KYRA

Monday, November 22, 2010 11:58 PM

Kyra was dropped to the floor like a ragdoll.
She may have regained consciousness, but not yet her strength. The bounty hunter didn't even need to bind her, he knew she didn't have it in her to fight.

As Kyra looked up she could see the two men standing in front of her, but struggled to focus in on their faces.

She recognised their voices though, they were unmistakeable. It was Bernie, Needy, he'd come for her. And the other man beside him, the Captain - Safe.

Her entire body shivered, no doubt it was a side-effect of whatever gases the bounty hunter had pumped into the suppression chambers. But now they were here, they would take her home. She could forget about this whole ordeal.
Only, the bounty hunter was a formidable foe, even for her friends. But Bernie, she'd seen him do incredible things. Whatever this man had to throw at him, Bernie was more than read to handle it.

Kyra tried to snap out of it.
This was all in the past. The last thing she needed was to think about it, or what might have been - what she could have done to change what happened.

Maybe it would have been better if he hadn't come for her. Maybe none of this would have happened.
There she went again, letting her imagination run wild

She tapped on the work screen with her pen, flicking through the newspages with complete disregard for the articles and images they featured.
Every day now for the past couple of weeks, it had been the same. She'd not been constantly thinking of him, but she had been distracted nonetheless, imagining another life. Sometimes with Luthor, sometimes with Bernie, sometimes simply on her own. Maybe that was the only life she deserved.
At least then, other people didn't need to get hurt. Or worse.

"You've got me. That's all you need."

She wished Bernie's words had been directed at her. But instead they were meant for the bounty hunter.

"You can let her go now."

If they had been the last words she had heard him say, she probably could have lived with that - to hear him sacrifice himself honourably on her behalf. At least then, she could have moved on, eventually.
The alternative was so much worse.
What happened after she couldn't bear think about.

Her phone buzzed suddenly, taking her out of her headspace.
She stared at the screen and let out a heavy sigh. He was the last person she wanted to talk to. But she couldn't ignore his call again. It could be important this time.

"What?" she said into the mouthpiece, not caring how it came across.

"And a hello to you too." Clayton Payne answered on the other end.

"I told you not to call me here," she told him.

"It's important."

"It always is," she answered with a sigh.

"Well, you're going to want to hear this."

JAZAF

Tuesday, November 23, 2010 2:42 AM

The Bounty Baby drifted lazily in orbit over Whitefall. Two years Kurren thought. Two years since the 'bounty of a lifetime' fell into my lap, willingly. The male companion allowing himself to be taken in troubled Kurren.
"No. Do not fall into the past, that's what got your old man killed." he reminded himself.
He left the dining area and dropped down into the cockpit. Flipping a few switches he activates the maneuvering jets and begins his descent. He runs a hand over his recently shorn head and slightly regrets cutting off his dreadlocks. With a sigh he brings up the information on his next target and begins to plan the capture.
The always go the the 'Rim.

---------------------------------------
Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree
Navigator on Destiny
Kurren, Bounty Hunter

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Wednesday, November 24, 2010 1:01 PM

Wisp stood at the airlock dressed in a finely tailored grey suit as the crew assembled to share goodbyes. In full credit to the ship and its staff he’d reached Persephone six hours earlier than he’d estimated. He’d just had time to pack, sleep and enjoy one final meal before docking at the transfer station. Beside him lay two pieces of luggage: one a grey rucksack and the other a long case sealed in blue plastic bearing a high parliament customs seal, (well an excellent imitation of one). The party came up one by one exchanging hugs and messages of farewell plus luck. A few tears were shed but overall the tone remained happy, eventually Wisp was left alone with Shadow.

“Take care out there. Don’t do anything too stupid”

“I can’t guarantee that” Wisp replied with a smirk.

“It occurs to me that you’ve dropped everything for this girl mighty fast and this might be some sort of trap.”

“Shadow, the alliance spent a lot of money and time pumping my brain full of radiation and stem cells to make me one of the smartest son’s of bitches in the verse. Of course it’s a trap, and they’re expecting me to go in all cautious and stealthy which is where they’ll spring it. But I’m sick and tired of this gosa. I’m smarter, faster, and a whole bunch deadlier than they are. Im glad this is a trap as it gives me the chance to go up against the bad guys on their home ground with plenty of warning and make em sorry”

Shadow stood silent for a moment pondering his words. “You’ve got balls Wisp I don’t deny it. But for being such a smart guy this sounds like a boat load of stupid”

“Yea I suppose your right. Take care of the old ship, I might be back one day” The pair shook hands and Wisp entered the airlock dragging his belongings behind him.

The transfer station was a relic from an older time when most ships couldn’t land as easily as today. Therefore ships coming in would dock and passengers would move to an orbital shuttle. Nowadays they were primarily used by couriers who stayed in orbit to save time with transfers. Even with faster than light communication couriers were as widely used as ever, especially by parliament, the military and organised crime. Any broadcast of information could be intercepted, altered, or stolen given the right equipment. Therefore highly sensitive material was still sent in sealed folders from place to place aboard high speed shuttles.

As Persephone wasn’t particularly important for neither politics nor crime the transfer station hadn’t been replaced in years and was still lacking artificial gravity. This was a boon to Wisp at present as his cargo weighed an absolute ton. Floating along the docking tube Wisp entered the central chamber which consisted of several arms leaving a sphere with a booth in the centre. Doing his best to look formal in zero G Wisp orientated himself upon the axis of the lone attendant inside the booth who was engrossed in some space opera on his monitor.

“Good day Sir” Wisp spoke with authority. The man startled turned off his monitor and tried to salute. Unfortunately as he was tied into his chair with a harness he merely flailed slightly.

“Hello Sir!” Although Wisp born no rank his neat dress indicated a parliamentary courier which was a rank all in itself and not one to be trifled with.

Wisp produced a key card and placed it in the slot on the counter. “With the authority of high Parliament I Request and Require transport to Ariel with all due haste and discretion.”

The attendant quickly grabbed a book that was floating somewhere on his desk and flicked to the days docking rota. “Err there’s a class two leaving core side in four hours they can make a stop on Ariel. You can be there in just under a day?”

“Excellent” Said Wisp with a smile. “Arrange passage and cargo transfer. Take care with this one” He waved a hand at the sealed parcel and the Attendant gulped forcefully against the lack of gravity.

SAFEAT2ND

Monday, November 29, 2010 3:36 PM

The traffic orbiting Ariel was more condensed that usual. The announcement of capture and pending execution had drawn the people in droves.

“State your business Mr. ?” The voice crackled over the radio.

“Talbot, John Talbot.” Safe responded. “I was hired to dust crops for the outlying farms. If you’ll check my credentials, you’ll see everything is in order.”

“Are you importing any chemicals?”

“No, I’ll buy what I need here.”

“Our scanners say your ‘duster’ is equipped with weapons...”

“Left overs. They were on this heap when I bought it. Most are so old, I’m not even sure they still work. The front guns have been rusted shut.”

“Just the same, please dock with the Dortmunder for inspection.”

“Do you really want to waste that much time? I’ve been waiting in orbit for over three hours and I’m a patient man. Sure enough those what follow and have better connections than I, won’t be in such a good mood. Look at this hunk of go se. It's a crop duster, nothing more.”

“Alright, Mr. Talbot. Ariel landing docks have been closed to regular traffic.”

“Well now, that would be worrisome if I was headed there. Thankfully the farmers have no interest in events such as these and neither do I. I have no desire to head there, thank-you.”

Safe guided his ‘duster’ to the coordinates outside of town. He set down in a farm field and rolled the ship into the barn adjacent. Jack had been reluctant to help. He wasn’t interested in getting dragged back into... things. He had a family now and a new life. Safe wasn’t entirely sure where Jack was and he didn’t offer.

“This is the last time.” He had said.

The outside of the barn worn a patina of dirt and sun-baked grime, but the interior was clean and tidy. Under a tarp in the second last stall, Safe found the chest Jack said would be there.

Inside were the ‘tools’ of the trade and Safe grinned to see that Jack had packed all his favourites. Taped to the inside of the lid was a note. "I haven't been able to find any of the others. Most are considered dead or lost to the black, and Soul's file reads like an ancient UFO dossier, there are sightings but unless he's developed the ability to be in several places at once, it's just the effort of the down-trodden to gain a few bucks."

Safe sighed and burnt the note. Maybe Wisp was one of those LTB's and this was chasing ghosts. His gut told him otherwise, but it had been wrong before.

http://drlong67.wordpress.com

JAZAF

Monday, November 29, 2010 8:25 PM

"Nate! You can't run forever!" Kurren called out after his target. He grinned as he chased down Nathan Gershun. Nathan was a small-time smuggler trying to make it big when he had stumbled upon some big time corporate secrets. The corporation in question wanted those secrets swept under the rug and for Nate to be brought back alive or dead.

Nate's file did not show a history of violence, just a lot of brave talk. His real expertise was ducking the law. But Kurren knew about skirting the law too.

"You should have chosen a better place to hide than that settlement!" Kurren shouted to his prey as he exited the small town close on Nate's heels.
Nate took a moment to look back to check the distance between him and Kurren. But in that moment he stumbled on some of the local bush and fell to the dirt. By the time he recovered Kurren was above him pointing a pistol into his eye.

"If you make a scene," Kurren pulled back the hammer on his gun, "The last thing you smuggle will be your soul."

"Now hold on man, We can end this without anyone getting hurt..."

"We can end this without anyone getting hurt. You wanted me, you got me. Now let Kyra go." Needy said matter-of-factly.
Kurren had never seen anyone give up with such a calm demeanor. A chill ran down his spine.
"How civil of you." Kurren turned to Kyra. "Get up." Kyra struggled to get to her feet, Kurren roughly picked her up and shoved her into Needy's arms, who in turn, passed her to Safe.
"Normally I prefer to have my targets knocked out so they don't cause a ruckus. But since you're being so calm I'll let you walk into my ship under your own steam."
Needy and Kurren walked away from Safe and Kyra without another word.

Kurren grits his teeth in anger after remembering that moment. "Can't do that." he says and brings the butt of his pistol down onto Nate's temple knocking him out.

---------------------------------------
Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree
Navigator on Destiny
Kurren, Bounty Hunter

SOULOFSERENITY

Monday, November 29, 2010 9:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by safeat2nd:
"...and Soul's file reads like an ancient UFO dossier, there are sightings but unless he's developed the ability to be in several places at once, it's just the effort of the down-trodden to gain a few bucks."

OOC: This just made me giggle for some reason. I'll post something as soon as I finish recovering from the post-Thanksgiving lethargy.

______________________

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

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 2:09 PM

Wisp reached Ariel High obit just under two days since he first got the news. This left him two more days to come up with something. He'd spent the second leg of his journey in a drug induced sleep. He couldn't make any plans as he had no new data so all he would have done was worry and fret and wear himself down. And that wouldn't have helped anyone.

As soon as he'd left the courier ship he switched ID's to one of less rank. Impersonating a High Parliament courier was Very high treason and here it was much more likely to be noticed. Slipping on a lowly government porter tag he booked himself onto the next downside shuttle to Capital City. Whereas with his previous Identity he tried to look powerful and important, his new persona required a glum slightly bored look. Whilst sat by his luggage he began downloading as much news content as he could read onto his tablet.

Now was the time to formulate a plan...

NEEDY

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 5:17 PM

OOC: Made some adjustments to this post. Wasn't really happy with the way it ended.

------

She’d been dosed and could barely remember the half of it. But she remembered Safe holding her, and Bernie standing there facing the bounty hunter.

“Protect her,” he had said. Only, he wasn’t looking at the hunter anymore, he was talking to Safe.

Kyra still remembered being walked down the long dark corridor, her barefeet cold against the metal grating that led to the airlock. She struggled to stay awake.
She’d called out to him, but he hadn’t answered her. Safe had done the talking. He told her to keep moving, and so she did so. She didn’t realise that Bernie wasn’t coming. It wasn’t until they reached the planet’s surface, when the captain had administered her the shot, that she fully regained her senses. Then she understood. But by then it was too late.

“Did you hear me?” Clayton said over the line.

“Yes, I heard you fine,” Kyra answered him. She’d since moved to a quiet place in the office. Actually, the download room was louder than where she’d been sitting, but at least here she had some privacy. “I don’t care.”

“You don’t care?” he answered, struggling to believe her. He‘d told her about the intel he‘d received. Goddard was being used as bait to lure in the rest of them. If any of them were still alive, they wouldn‘t be for long.
“They’re your friends,” he told her

“Correction, they were Bernie’s friends,” she retorted.

“They saved your life.”

“Really? This is the life I wanted?” she put to him

“It’s better than the alternative,” Payne affirmed.

“I don’t know about that.”

Clayton didn’t know how to answer her. It had been a while since the two of them had talked, true, but she clearly wasn’t the same person anymore. He knew it must have been difficult for her, but it had been her choice to cut herself off from her friends, from him.

“Kyra… I,” he began to speak but she cut him off.

“Why don’t you do something about it? You got the means,” she said.

“Me?” he answered. “You have any idea what they would do to me if I tried to step in? Why do you think I'm calling you?”

“They're some friends you got there," Kyra replied.

"Hey, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be here. Needy saw to that. I owe them just as much as you owe your friends."

Kyra bit her lip. She didn't want to go into it again with him. She didn't need it. Especially not today.

"They can take care of themselves," she answered him finally.

"Maybe," the man said on the other side of the line. "But what if they can't? The squad aren't going to let them slip through their fingers as easily this time."

"And what do you expect me to do about it?” Kyra asked him.

“Send out a signal. You have access to the broad waves. You can warn them.”

Kyra looked at the Distribution machine in question - it was sat right in front of her. “No, I can’t. What you’re suggesting… I could lose my job.”

“They will lose their lives!”

"No," she said simply.

"Who are you trying to convince?" Clayton answered her. "Listen, i can't keep talking, they're waiting, I've got my hands full with something down here. But i've done my part. It's on your head now."

"Thanks," she said sarcastically before she heard the line go dead.

On her head? She didn't ask for this. She'd walked away from it a long time ago. She'd be damned if she was going to walk back into it now.

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

KYRA

Thursday, December 2, 2010 5:03 PM

"They can take care of themselves."
The words echoed in her head.

It wasn't simply an excuse, she meant them. The crew could handle whatever situation the squad threw at them. They didn't need her, they never did. In fact, they were probably already well aware of what was happening. They weren't stupid, she had to give them that.
But what if they were in for a surprise?
No, she told herself. Don't even think about it. You got a good thing going here.

She wished she could believe that.

Still, they'll be fine. They'll be fine

---

Two years ago, Santos:

Bullets rained down upon them from all sides. They were surrounded.
How the hell could this have happened?
Safe had taken her back to the others. Seryn and the rest of the crew had failed to depart on schedule and so they had regrouped, albeit without one of their number.
"Kyra, stay down!" Safe had ordered her. The gunfire had begun without warning, but it soon became clear that this was no lone gunmen involved. Their enemies had found them. But they weren't her enemies. This wasn't her battle. It never had been. She shouldn't have been there.

"Stay close," Safe told her. "I gave my word I'll protect you and that's exactly what i'm going to do."
She tucked her legs close to her body whilst she took shelter behind a large metal crate. The Captain stayed close by, only moving to take a shot at the enemy.
Wisp, Soul, Seryn - they were all scattered about, shouting to each other and co-ordinating their shots. She spotted Amy with Seryn, holding on tightly to a rucksack and other supplies. She was about to make a run to one of the ships.

"Gorram it," Kyra heard Safe curse as he examined a bloody graze on his shoulder. And then past him, on the road, she saw a figure in the distance. He was running at a pace coming towards them. Had she not been so desperate, she might have assumed it was her mind playing tricks on her. But it was no trick.
Bernie was running to the yard.

She started to stand, still in shock, hoping to grab his attention, but it only served to pique the interest of one of the shooters.
Safe pulled her down quickly as a bullet flew through her hair.
He was about to reprimand her when he spotted what she had.
Needy.

Then suddenly. More shots were fired and he went down.
Safe snapped his head back and looked for the shooter. But the man he sought was not in the sky, or hiding behind the wing of a ship.
Kurren the bounty hunter walked towards them with a relentless determination, the gun still smoking in his hand.
Needy had tried to run, but he'd led the hunter directly to them.

SERYN

Thursday, December 2, 2010 10:13 PM

I've been wracking my brain for a week now trying to think of some interesting way to bring Seryn back into this and can't think of it, so i'm just going to point her in the direction of trouble and any of you can make use of the character. Or she can find her own chaos - she's good at that.

Seryn waltzed along the seemingly endless concourse, eyeing the baubles and trinkets on display in the dozen or so shops in as bored a manner as she could manage, and the guns on the guards with a little more discretion.
She'd started the journey only a few days ago, soon after she'd heard of the capture. And now, assuming the mantle of some ditzy rich air head on return from spending daddys money offworld, she sauntered and idled and resisted the urge to beat one of the milling pilots over the head and steal their ship in order to get planet side.

She supposed the bits and bobs should tempt her, after two years of nothing but sand and farming moons, but it all seemed useless, and the fine fabric of the dress she wore was flimsy and would tear liuke a wet paper bag given half the chance.

Dear god, had she become practical? Maybe it was a good time for a little sillines.

Or maybe not, she had two to think for now. She'd left her boy playing playing soldiers on the deep pile rug in their family room, the long fibres a thick mohair jungle, just right for his little metal men to ambush their clockwork robot enemies in. She was a little worried that he was playing with soldiers at two and a half. From what she could glean on her trips to various towns, other peoples two year olds were just about growing out of playing with their own .. well, they never got that far, but she could guess what they meant.

But he was happy, she thought, they said good bye and hugged and she'd told him when she'd be back and he'd gabbled at her solemly then run off to make noise somewhere inconvenient.

And now she was here, waiting for her transport for Ariel, with not a clue as to how to meet up with the others, or even if they'd turn up.

Though she figured that hell would start serving sno-planets before Wisp let something like this go.

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

KYRA

Friday, December 3, 2010 3:50 PM

Two years ago, Santos:

Bullets sprayed the earth, kicking up dust.
It was a wonder any of them could see, or hear each other. But still, the crew shouted to each other from across the yard.
Some were told to make a run for a ship, to get airborne. That they could “worry about regrouping later.”
Kyra could only focus on the still body of her lover.
She’d seen him handle worse, but for a moment out there on Santos, she wondered whether he was going to get up again. Had the bullet to the head ended his life for good?
The bounty hunter had taken shelter. Even with his body armour, he wasn’t about to take needless risks, especially when there were still at least three unknown shooters firing at anything that moved.

Safe fired off a couple more shots towards the roof of the hangar.
“Gotcha you sonofabitch,” he said to himself as he reloaded his gun. He shouted towards Soul, directing his attention to a Mercer class ship. Another sniper was holed up there.

Kyra kept focussed on Bernie.
Slowly he began to get up. Bullets hit his body again, but this time they did nothing to halt his progress. He stood and started to take a brisk jog over to them, bullets embedding themselves into his chest and neck. His skin healed in front of Kyra and the captain’s eyes.
He looked over his shoulder towards Kurren - he was taking shelter behind a shed door, keeping them all in his sights.

Wisp and Soul shouted to each other, before Soul shouted the message back to Safe. “Clear. Get to a ship! Get out of here!”

Safe turned to Needy. “You two better go.”

“No,” Needy said simply. “You go. You’ve done enough, I’ll take it from here.”

“Bernie…” Kyra started to say, uncertain.

“I can take care of myself. You two should go whilst you still can,” Safe offered.

“No. You helped me. Now its time for me to return the favour,” Needy said, checking the bullets in the gun he’d salvaged. “We’ll get the next one. I’ll cover you.”

Safe was uncertain, but it was no time to argue. He nodded appreciatively and rested his hand on Needy’s shoulder. “You be safe.” And with that, he ran for one of the ships, whilst his friends fired a wall of protection around him.

---

Kyra stared at the Distributor, shaking her head.
“Damn you Payne,” she cursed to herself as she approached the access drive and punched her fingers at the keypad. “This had better be worth it.”

SAFEAT2ND

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 10:35 PM

Safe sat at a small wooden table in the barn’s tack room. He clean and checked each weapon from the case. Not that he needed to, Jack had taken care of that. In fact he had always been fastidious about cleaning his firearms and now was no different.

The antique Colt .45 felt comfortable in his hand, like an extension of his arm. Nowadays, lasers were the fashion and could be found relatively cheap on the black market, but Safe didn’t like the firing lag that was common on the first generation ones.

The touch pad sat off to one side. Words and numbers scrolled down its screen as it ran the search Safe had programmed in. He was checking all the hidey holes, drop-houses and aliases in his arsenal. If Needy, Seryn, soul or Wisp were still alive, he hoped they had made contact somewhere. So far it sat quiet.

Safe checked the scope on the rifle a third time, when the pad beeped.

Clayton Payne blinked ine bold green type on the screen.

Safe vaguely remembered the name. Kyra had mentioned him. Safe opened the information folder. He hadn’t rabbited like everyone else that was associated with Needy had before him, no, he had washed his hands of the affair and had cooperated with the authorities, even turning in his friends.

"Balzy move," Safe thought. "He seemed too smart to commit social suicide unless... he’s hiding something, covering tracks."

Safe pulled up Clayton's phone records and typed in the hack code Jack had supplied and silently thanking Wisp for showing him some of these 'tricks'.

"Nope, no Kyra, no Needy or Bernard, but... who’s this then?" One phone call. It stood out. No previous calls, long duration. Safe typed a second hack code. He only had two minutes with this code before the system registered the intrusion and pulsed his system, frying it. He listened intently.

Quote:
Kyra Said:
"What?" A familiar woman’s voice answered the electronic buzz.

"And a hello to you too." Clayton Payne answered on the other end.

"I told you not to call me here," she told him.

"It's important."

"It always is," she answered with a sigh.

"Well, you're going to want to hear this."

The other search for unscheduled or unusual arrivals at the docking yards temporarily forgotten, Safe listened for one minute 55 seconds before reluctantly cutting the feed.

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http://drlong67.wordpress.com

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 1:05 PM

Wisp had been called cocky in his time, also arrogant on the odd occasion and often overconfident. It tends to happen when you get into the habit of doing something your good at over and over. You begin to think that it’s easy rather than that you’re very good. It’s why bank thieves always go for bigger and bigger targets till they get caught. Now what Wisp was good at was pulling down the pants of the Alliance and making them regret ever making him. But he’d been out of his ‘A game’ for a few years and so hadn’t been pulling any big stunts recently. But in the past few days he’d more than made up for his absence: Between impersonating a High Parliament official, Importing a large stash of weapons through restricted space, and getting the Alliance to pay for his High Speed transport across the verse… Well, He’d got a little cocky. But his next move made all his other sojourns in the land of arrogance look like a shy Shepard’s shopping list.

Upon landing in Ariel Capital City he booked a room for the week in a questionable suburb. This wasn’t the kind of place with fresh towels and room cleaning, It was the kind of place where most guests book by the hour using the name ‘Smith’ and pray their wife never finds out. Committing a felony was almost required upon booking a room so Wisp didn’t feel too bad about setting up his own little armoury in the closet. Wisp hadn’t brought his full collection of weapons as he didn’t plan on being able to carry quite as freely as he wanted. Heavy pistol, concealed back-up, concealed back-up two, his best sniper rifle, and an Alliance issue assault rifle. He was upset that he had to carry such a basic weapon as the Alliance rifle but it was essential for his plan and as modded as he dare.

His next port of call was a relatively shady warehouse which Wisp knew sold knock off cosmetics without questions asked. Now Wisp wasn’t looking for a nice gift for Vixen when he saw her at this point. Upon bringing his stash home he fell back to his knowledge of chemistry to create a very nice looking plasma burn upon the left side of his face. It was meant to look a few months old, with lots of scarring but just enough that it didn’t look too painful anymore. The disguise would probably last about a week if he didn’t get it too wet and touched it up, it would easily last the two days he needed it to. When he was ready he placed everything he wanted in the future in a package addressed to the Tranquillity for safe keeping. He left a few spare things in this room as his fall back point in case things went south and rigged a simple incendiary trap over them.

And now here he was. Standing outside Capital City Local Guard Station in Alliance undress blues. He stepped in and walked up to the Officer on duty at the desk.

“Afternoon Sir. Ive just been transferred here off medical leave to help with security over the next few days” Wisp was conscious of being very polite to the pair of blue captain squares on the Officers collar. Wisp had chosen the reasonable rank of Lieutenant for his alias. The Captain seemed late forties perhaps just into his fifties. He had the wistful look of a man who was stuck behind a desk because he refused to kiss any ass on his way up.

“Pass across your papers.” Wisp passed over the stack of very good forgeries trying to look like he didn’t know quite what he was doing. “That’s a nasty looking burn you’ve got there Lieutenant.”

“Yes sir. Faulty plasma charge in the field. I’ve been out on Medical for about 8 months. Doctors say I should be back on full duty soon. I’m just filling in here for the execution then I’m off to boot camp again”

The Captain typed Wisps details into the computer as he was listening. “I know all about plasma charge accidents. Buddy of mine lost his whole arm back in the War. Damn bureaucrats skimping on equipment.”

“Not my place to judge sir. Just happy to be back on duty”

“Bright attitude Son, right Jenkins, Leroy I’ve got your details up here. You’re in officers quarters 6F on the third floor. Sharing with three. Look’s like your

SOULOFSERENITY

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 1:51 PM

OOC: Leeeeeeeeeroy Jenkins!!!! I almost spit out my coffee. Thanks, Wisp. ;-P

I'll post something soon!

______________________

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

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/

KYRA

Wednesday, December 8, 2010 6:47 PM

Clayton told her about Vixen's execution, and that she was being used as bait. He also said that there wouldn't be just the Alliance present, but the Crimson Squad too, most of them dressed as ordinary folk.
"They won't be able to tell them apart," he had told her. He'd insisted, even after she told them that they were too smart for that.
They'd stayed hidden for this long, they wouldn't come out of the woodwork for nothing.

"Not even for one of their own?" He'd put to her.

And so there she was, doing what she swore she wouldn't. She didn't need to risk losing her job, but she couldn't ignore what he'd told her either. As much as she wanted to. She wished she could be numb, like Bernie.

Special Branch were done, at least for the most part. Most of them were still locked up, had been for more than two years despite attempts to free them - both by diplomatic means and some, less than diplomatic.

Kyra was not a hacker, and she didn't know how to use elaborate ciphers to send messages to the resistance. But she knew what they'd be looking for - Bernie's old friends in particular.
It would have to do.

She'd gotten his photo from the records and posted it as a bulletin on the Ariel newsfeed. It should be enough to raise eyebrows, amongst Safe, Wisp and the others; at least enough to make them aware that things weren't what they seemed.

The face pictured on the screen looked different, this was how she remembered him. A lover, not a killer.

Bernard Jose Needham, it read.
In Loving Memory.

The notice identified him as "a companion born and raised on Ariel." Lies.
"He died defending the Alliance outpost on Santos." More lies.
And his funeral would be "attended by his close comrades in the Red and Blue divisions." There was some truth to that statement at least. Hopefully it would be enough to make them take notice.

"Uniform Optional" was listed in the requests section. It was hardly subtle, she had to admit.
Not to mention the fact that the memorial was set for the day of the execution, and that the service would be taken by a Shephard Milton.
But Kyra only had so much time to get the message out before she was noticed.

She only hoped that they would take note, and that it also wouldn't attract the wrong kind of attention.
She also hoped that somehow it qualified her to a good nights sleep.
She doubted it.
Even as she submitted the information for distribution and headed back to her desk, she knew that she wouldn't be able to leave it alone forever. That sooner or later, she was going to get pulled back in.

NEEDY

Monday, December 13, 2010 3:50 PM

Bernard Needham had been a good man, once upon a time. But times change.
He'd given his life for the cause, but fate was a cruel bitch. He returned from the dead only to dedicate his life to another cause, one that would slowly, but surely, erode his humanity.
---

Santos Docking Yard, Two years ago:

Safe was gone. His ship was hurtling towards the heavens, whilst those few left behind took care of the remaining snipers.
"You get to the shed," Soul told his friend. "It'll draw their fire."
Needy stared into the eyes of the experienced soldier. He knew what he had to do. But as he looked at Kyra, who looked to the both of them for instructions, her eyes wide and manic, he knew he couldn't.
For now, he had to deal with the outside threat - the snipers and the bounty hunter that had followed him back here. Needy had double-crossed him and rode his shuttle back to Santos. But the man known as Kurren had been a better hunter than even he had given him credit for.
For now, the tattooed and dreadlocked mercenary was taking cover at a metal shed. He needed to be dealt with swiftly, above all else.
Needy made his way across the yard, bullets firing at him from multiple locations whilst Soul used the bullets' trajectory to pinpoint the location of the shooters - taking them out one by one.
By the time, Needy had reached the shed, he had a dozen bullets buried in his arm, head and back. Soul had ducked and dived across the yard also to better achieve his aim of taking all of the shooters out one by one.
Neither of them had spotted what ought to have been obvious.
Kyra was prone; defenseless; and in the presence of the man that Needy had sought to kill.
Kurren was no longer by the shed. He had maneuvered his way across the yard, unseen, and now had Kyra once more in his grasp, a large knife pressed against her throat.

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

SAFEAT2ND

Monday, December 13, 2010 6:13 PM

Safe sat at a table in a small cafe just off Ariel’s main thoroughfare, a cup of coffee steamed, untouched, before him. He replay the brief phone conversation over in his head, looking for any additional clues. Almost two minutes of conversation really wasn’t enough to get anything out of, other than Kyra was alive and going by an alias and that Clayton either found out about her or had helped set it up. Also, they knew about Vixen. Safe was worried they had said too much, not enough for his liking but enough to bring down a world of discomfort should the Alliance, or worse yet the Blue Sun, have their ears to the ground as well.

He scanned the milling crowd of people from under the brim of his hat. A newspaper seemed too clichéd, so Safe had just opted for casual people watching. Most the other patrons of the Cafe were doing just that, so he blended in, his feet crossed and propped on the small railing that served as the Cafe’s boundry. Cast-iron bordered by plastic shrubberies. Somebody’s idea of countrifying the place that fell woefully short.

He was admiring one particular woman, finely dressed, as she went through the motions of shopping. The funny thing was, she never looked at the items she picked up, seemingly at random, for more than a few seconds. Her eyes scanned the crowd, like Safe was doing.

There was something familiar about her. As Safe struggled to make the connection, his cortex pad buzzed.

Bernard Jose Needham,
In Loving Memory.

A companion born and raised on Ariel, he died defending the Alliance outpost on Santos.
His funeral will be attended by his close comrades in the Red and Blue divisions.
Uniform Optional.

His search program had caught Bernard’s reference and had alerted him to this obituary. Someone was sending a message. His eyes flew up and locked with those of the woman across the courtyard.

Those eyes! Seryn??

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

NEEDY

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 12:07 PM

Santos, Two Years Ago.
After the chaos of what had come before - the loud rumble of ships taking off; the gunfire around them; the crew barking orders at each other - what followed was accompanied by relative silence, as if death was in the air. With the last of the snipers apparently lying in a slump somewhere and the majority of the crew now in seperate ships scattered to all corners of the sky, it seemed as though the four souls that remained were the only ones still alive on this rock. But they hadn't taken into account the one that watched them from afar.
Soul trained his weapon on his target, the bounty hunter that now had Kyra as a hostage, but he dared not fire. He couldn't risk the killer slicing the girl's throat. Needy meanwhile watched with a blank stare, as if willing the man to die by thought alone.

"You double-crossed me," the hunter called out to Needy, spitting on Kyra's cheek like a rabid dog. "I don't 'preciate that much. And its gonna cost ya."

"You do anything to her and you'll get nothing, you hear me Kurren?" Needy shouted back.
The hunter had a name, although how Needy knew it was anybody's guess. One might assume that Kurren had introduced himself after Kyra and Safe had left his ship, but judging by the look on the hunter's face, he was as surprised to hear it as the rest of them.

As for the outsider approaching them from a distance, these facts meant nothing. What mattered was the woman's life.

"You're in no position to make demands," Kurren told Needy, before throwing a rucksack towards them - the bag landing a few steps from Needy's feet.
The outsider couldn't make out what the hunter told them next, but he saw Needy reach into the bag and pull out a medi-roll (containing a series of syringes and vials) as well as a Special Unit suppression mask.

The bounty hunter still wanted Needy. Only now, he knew he couldn't trust him. The only way he could bring him in is if he was sleeping. If the syringes didn't work on his body, the gas surely would.
But Clayton Payne couldn't wait that long. He didn't know what type of man the hunter was, but he couldn't trust he was a man of morals, not when an innocent life hung in the balance.
Payne picked up a wrench and approached with care, occasionally hiding behind mules and large storage crates. He faltered, mere feet away from the bounty hunter. He couldn't risk his attack resulting in Kyra being harmed.
But then he saw an opening. As Needy donned the mask, Kurren loosened his grip of Kyra's neck ever so slightly.
Payne seized the opportunity, stepped out and swung the wrench at Kurren's head, catching the man's arm with his left hand, and pulling it away from Kyra.
Kurren collapsed to the ground, Kyra still wrapped in his embrace, but safe.

---

"It was all for you," Clayton thought to himself. He'd hunted down Needy, to save her.
He'd heard what had happened to the companion and had pieced it together before any of his friends had realised anything was wrong.
Payne had come for her. And how had she repaid him?
He'd tried to explain it to her. Whilst Needy spoke with his friend - the man they called Soul - Clayton had told her what he knew. To warn her. But she didn't want to hear it. She refused to believe it. And when the Crimson Squad returned to secure their investments, all they'd find left for them was him. One measly reporter, left on his own. Abandoned.
The Squad saved his life - they patched him up after the bullet meant for the fugitives hit him instead. And Kyra, she trusted her lover above everything else, even when it meant leaving her friend there in the dust. She might have felt she owed Needy after what she'd put him through. But in truth she owed it to herself to get out whilst she still could.
As for Clayton Payne, his allegiances were to the Crimson Squad now. They'd saved his life, and they'd offered him what he'd so

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 7:18 PM

“This is Ariel Capital City Municipal docks to the Alliance Frigate Heisenberg you are cleared to land at secure terminal one for prisoner transfer. A security team will be waiting for your arrival. Do not begin transfer until cleared by the Portmaster for safety.”

“This is the Alliance Frigate Heisenberg we read you loud and clear. Beginning our decent.”

All the medics say that you can’t hear or comprehend anything in biostasis. They work on the idea that was that many depressants and anaesthetics in your system that a person’s brain couldn’t possibly function at a high enough level. They also say that the subject doesn’t dream either. And whilst these facts may be true for most ill-fated individuals who find themselves subject to the cocktail of drugs known as biostasis neither was true for Vixen Goddard. She found herself in the unfortunate position of being trapped between consciousness and dreams slipping freely between both yet unable to grasp either. She likened the state to a purgatory of the mind, unable to rest yet incapable of action. Was this one more of God’s punishments to her? A reprimand for her life of wrong doing and sin? A penalty for past transgressions?

She had been locked this way since her arrest two weeks previously. Had it been two weeks? She asked herself. From the snippets of conversation she overheard that was what was being said but she didn’t know what to trust...

NEEDY

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 8:24 PM

OOC: Well it had to happen one day. I found a program online that allows you to create your own comic. So i thought I'd give it a try with our very own Special Branch story.
http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23226
This is an introduction of sorts, hinting at the major even that led all the characters to where they are today - "The Giant Space Hiccup"
Whether i'll create a short strip based on previous threads depends if i can find time. Although to be honest, i think it could look really good if i got some decent pictures to use. This was thrown together using whichever pictures i had on the pc.

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

SERYN

Wednesday, December 15, 2010 9:18 PM

Safe!

Alarm flared, along with a dozen other things like relief and joy and the overwhelming urge to run over, launch herself onto his knee where he sat and hug the living daylights out of him.
Thankfully years of practice at playing it low key came to her aid. Turning away, she circled the display stand and 'admired' the pretties, throwing glances now and then at the guy not drinking his coffee across the way. It really was him. Sure, he looked like he'd been minced and fed through the hobo filter, but the movements, the twitches, the very shape of him confirmed it. She was willing to bet the smell had changed though.

Her transport was announced. Time to leave. But a coffee would be nice first.
Sweeping into the shop she wrinkled her nose in passing, a flounce and a huff, and not a backwards glance as she ordered. From her daintily stupid little bag she pulled the slip of paper she'd noted her hotel details on, and as she passed back out of the shop threw it screwed up with the receipt onto the table next to his coffee.

That should work, unless he'd lost all his investigative spirit since she'd last seen them.

A second announcement sounded and she hurried to make her ride.

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Thursday, December 16, 2010 2:42 PM

OOC: So following on From Needy's epic comic I had an Idea for a series of posters as it were. Unfortunately im not too fancy with the graphic designing but I've done a poster for all the main characters who I know what they look like. They're all up in the Blue sun room:

Soul http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23234

Needy http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23232

Safe http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23230

Kyra http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23233

Seryn http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23235

Wisp http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23228

Vixen http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=23236

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Thursday, December 16, 2010 3:15 PM

Santos
The rear hatch of the Epsilon was facing the direction of the snipers at an almost perpendicular angle. Wisp and Vixen found themselves stuck on either side of the door as bullets whizzed into the hold, striking cargo and bulkheads at random.

“Wisp we need to get this thing in the air now!” Vixen shouted over the gunfire. Both were armed with purely pistols as the hail of fire prevented them from reaching anything larger.

“I aint leaving em!” He screamed back as he slung a shot out of the door. He didn’t dare risk aiming for fear the unknown assailants would take that moment to bury a slug into his brain. “If we can hold em off a little longer they might retreat”

“IF? MIGHT? Jesus Wisp If we don’t get in the air right now they’re gonna put some lead into the engine or worse and we are never taking off again! Don’t you get it? We are outgunned and out manoeuvred. We lost lets go already!”

“A little long-“ it was as he reached out this time to fire that a bullet caught him in the shoulder. Spinning like a top he hit the ground in the open whereupon the mystery snipers began laying down fire in earnest at his position. Vixen not waiting for permission hit the emergency hatch close sealing them off from the barrage. “What are you doing? Open the hatch again they need our help!”

“You need medical attention. If you haven’t noticed you’ve been shot”

“Just apply some MediGel and I’ll be fine. And whilst we’ve got that door shut let’s break out some heavy weapons and show them a real party”

Vixen grabbed a first aid kit off the wall and injected something into Wisps wound. “That feels better...wait... that wasn’t...” He never finished the sentence as he fell into unconscious. Vixen replaced the tranquiliser then applied the required MediGel to his wound. As soon as he was stable she made her way to the cockpit and plotted a course the hell away from Santos. She took particular attention to head in the opposite direction of the other evacuating ships. Wisp would be angry as hell when he awoke. Maybe she could be gone by then? Disappear back into the black never to be missed again...

SOULOFSERENITY

Thursday, December 16, 2010 4:00 PM

OOC: Wisp...those are freaking AWESOME!!! Exactly who I had in mind for Soul, too. WOW!

______________________

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

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Thursday, December 16, 2010 4:53 PM

OOC: On one of the old threads we had lists of who every would have play themselves I went from those. I have a couple of quote books and I tried to pick something that was really about the character.

SAFEAT2ND

Thursday, December 16, 2010 5:51 PM

OOC: I think you did an exceptional job with the quotes! And the pictures. You managed to find pictures that had a Firefly flavour to them.

For Kurran (sp?) I kinda see the actor that played Tyr on the Andromeda series.

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

NEEDY

Thursday, December 16, 2010 6:22 PM

OOC: Myself, i've always pictured someone like Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje (from Lost and Bourne Identity) as Kurren, or at least of the same stature. But Jazaf once said he was blackinese in origin, and so i've found it difficult to find an appropriate pic for the character
But yes gotta agree Wisp, the pics you've made are amazing

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

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Thursday, December 16, 2010 6:47 PM

OOC: I've emailed Kurren and asked him who he pictured as himself. Also I was wondering Needy who you pictured as Clayton?

I'll do those two when I Know

SERYN

Thursday, December 16, 2010 6:47 PM

They are totally fab. I really like them.

I've never thought to hard about what they all look like, but would it be totally cougarish cradle snatching to ask that one of the guys looks a little like this bloke http://www.google.co.uk/m/search?site=images&source=mog&hl=en&gl=uk&cl
ient=safari&q=the%20vampire%20diaries%20stefan#i=53

You know, space could always do with more pretty scenery...

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

SOULOFSERENITY

Thursday, December 16, 2010 6:51 PM

OOC: BWAHAHAHAHA!!! Yes, Jazaf is "blackinese" as you put it, as is Kurren. He actually looks almost Greek. And dorky. Jazaf, not Kurren. Just don't tell him I said that!!

______________________

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

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/

SERYN

Thursday, December 16, 2010 10:27 PM

Ummmm...

SAFEAT2ND

Friday, December 17, 2010 1:05 PM

OOC: How about Jason Momoa from Stargate Atlantis?
And for some reason I can't leave feedback on the pictures. The site won't let me.

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

JAZAF

Friday, December 17, 2010 4:16 PM

OOC: Greek, huh? that's a new one. Let me add that to the growing list of nationalities I look like;
-Hispanic
-Filipino
-Asian
-White
-African-American
-*Greek

*stands for new. heh

---------------------------------------
Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree
Navigator on Destiny
Kurren, Bounty Hunter

JAZAF

Friday, December 17, 2010 4:21 PM

OOC: I was going to say Gary Dourdan from CSI but Safe's suggestion of Jason Momoa is a lot closer to what Kurren should look like.

---------------------------------------
Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree
Navigator on Destiny
Kurren, Bounty Hunter

SERYN

Friday, December 17, 2010 6:23 PM

Ok, now I want to see what all of you look like for reals.

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

SOULOFSERENITY

Friday, December 17, 2010 7:55 PM

Nooooooooooooookay. Here's me at my sister's SECOND wedding...

______________________

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

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/

JAZAF

Friday, December 17, 2010 8:30 PM

heh, I don't have a lot of pics of myself floating around.

---------------------------------------
Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree
Navigator on Destiny
Kurren, Bounty Hunter

SERYN

Friday, December 17, 2010 10:25 PM

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=10496467&l=fd6a792867&id=8656756
95

My facebook photo, probably the easiest for me to put up.

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

JAZAF

Saturday, December 18, 2010 12:35 AM

Hah! It worked....just not the way I hoped.
[img][/img]
---------------------------------------
Mystery Man on the Sereni-Tree
Navigator on Destiny
Kurren, Bounty Hunter

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Saturday, December 18, 2010 5:12 AM

I Never could stand up to Peer Pressure:

BTW Kurren is up

SERYN

Saturday, December 18, 2010 11:21 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.)

SAFEAT2ND

Saturday, December 18, 2010 1:57 PM

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

SERYN

Saturday, December 18, 2010 4:48 PM

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.)

NEEDY

Saturday, December 18, 2010 5:35 PM

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

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

SAFEAT2ND

Saturday, December 18, 2010 6:33 PM

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

SERYN

Sunday, December 19, 2010 12:43 AM

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.)

SERYN

Sunday, December 19, 2010 3:45 PM

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.)

NEEDY

Sunday, December 19, 2010 3:49 PM

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.

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

NEEDY

Sunday, December 19, 2010 3:54 PM

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

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

JAZAF

Monday, December 20, 2010 2:10 AM

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

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Monday, December 20, 2010 4:24 PM

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.

NEEDY

Monday, December 20, 2010 4:43 PM

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

SOULOFSERENITY

Monday, December 20, 2010 5:02 PM

"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/

SOULOFSERENITY

Monday, December 20, 2010 5:13 PM

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/

NEEDY

Monday, December 20, 2010 5:17 PM

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

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 12:55 PM

“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 bett

KYRA

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 3:55 PM

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.

WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 7:50 PM

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.
“S

SAFEAT2ND

Tuesday, December 21, 2010 9:04 PM

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
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NEEDY

Wednesday, December 22, 2010 6:47 PM

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.

-----
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WASHSYOUNGERSEXIERBR

Wednesday, December 22, 2010 7:25 PM

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 t

SOULOFSERENITY

Wednesday, December 22, 2010 8:55 PM

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/

SOULOFSERENITY

Thursday, December 23, 2010 4:16 PM

OOC: I created a new thread since this one was getting a bit long:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/mthread.asp?b=11&t=46830

Thread # 11!!!

______________________

http://havenofsouls.wordpress.com/