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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 8:43:41 GMT -5
Wildfire
Sir Maxamillion strode purposely forward through the streets of Centropolis, a scowl of disgust seemingly etched into his features permenantly. He barely took notice of Ryan as the mercenary scurried along behind him, glancing back and forth from time to time.
The weasel had betrayed them, just as Max had guessed he would. He knew that he should feel somewhat responsible - after all, the Princess had assigned him specifically to keep watch over the wretched bounty hunter - but he couldn't afford such feelings at the moment. His current mission was to rectify his mistake. Assigning blame and taking responsibility were tasks that had to be left for after the mission was completed.
For now he concentrated solely on his current objective, reaching the entrance to Sector 3. It was a simple task, but one that he focused on with fierce intensity so as to temporarily block out the anger and fury at Nack's traitorous deeds.
His breathing quickened just thinking about it momentarily. He had warned the Princess on several occaisions before the mission began that it was a bad idea to allow the bounty hunter to "help". And if he'd been consulted beforehand, he would have strongly protested Ryan's appointment to the group long before as well.
At least now with his weasel friend gone, Ryan seemed reluctant to say anything . . . or so Sir Max thought.
"Why the hell are we just running around like this?" Ryan hissed after some number of silent minutes. "The 'bots could drop in on us at any second!"
"We have no reason for concern," Max said evenly. "Whoever is in charge of this city knows quite well where we are, and if they wanted to send reinforcements to take us down, they would have done so already."
"Yah, well, maybe Nack is keepin' 'em off us."
Max snarled, but didn't stop walking. "He is not keeping them busy," he said. "Surely you are not so simple as to think that he is not already in the control tower with his new friends, telling them just the right way to take us all down."
"Hey!" Ryan said sharply. "Nack wouldn't do that shit!"
Max stopped walking and whirled around suddenly, causing Ryan to stop short. "Quiet," he snarled as he pointed behind him at a large concrete wall in the distance. "That is the sector divider. In a moment, we will reach the gateway. I would suggest that instead of arguing, we walk to that gateway and wait there for Kaige . . . without discussion. Do you understand why?"
"Yah," Ryan said, his voice lowering to a much more menacing tone. "If we don't stop talking . . . I'll fuckin' kill you."
"And I you," said Max, nodding. "Now, let's go, shall we?"
The rest of the walk was made in complete silence.
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 8:46:52 GMT -5
John Roberts
"Ahhhhhhh....." Carmen moaned. She could feel an agonizing pain ripping through her chest, burning her.
With shacking hands she reached down to the source of the pain, she grimaced when she felt something wet touch her fingers.
Her brain was swarming with confusion...and pain. Her head was pounding with one of the worst head aches she had ever experienced. Carmen tried to focus her eyes but she couldn't. Everything was a blur.
Her eyes felt so heavy.....
So tired....
* "Okay Carmie, open my present now, PLEASE."
Carmen looked at her young friend holding a large package. It was beautifully decorated with a bright, yellow ribbon tied around it.
"Oh, Tammie, is that huge present really for me?" Carmen called out. Overjoyed, she bounced off from her seat and ran towards her friend who had suddenly twirled around and took off in the opposite direction.
"C'mon, Carmie, you have to be quicker than that." Tammie giggled loudly, running into the next room.
Carmen was quick on her heels, laughing just as hard. "You just watch me, Tammie, you just watch me."
Carmen tackled her arms around Tammie's waist causing then both to roll across the floor, both were screaming with laughter.
"Now give it to me." Carmen pretended to order, her face in a mock serious expression. She tried to pry Tammies fingers away from the package.
"N-no! You haven't said the magic word!" Tammie screamed, her bright young features full of joy.
"Carmen! Tammatha! You two had better not be messing around inside again I hope." An older female voice called, a hint of humour in her tone
The two girls stopped struggling and imminently stood up.
Carmen gave Tammie a friendly push, almost knocking her off balance. "It was Tammie's fault." she playfully teased, giving her friend another push.
"No it wasn't, Car-men." Tammie teased back, knowing all to well that Carmen hated having her name sounded out like that.
"Yes it was, Tamma-tha." Carmen said.
"Uh uh, 'fraud not, Car-men." the young wallaby smiled.
"Tamma-tha!"
"Car-men!"
Laughter erupted between the two as they wrestled one another to the ground, Carmen let out a loud squeal when Tammie's paws suddenly started tickling her under her arms.
"Girls!" the older female called out, not shouting but the stern authority in her voice was enough to get the girl's attention.
They once again stopped fooling around and stood up.
"Sorry Miss Rosemary..." Tammie apologized, her small head hung low.
"Yeah, I'm sorry too, momma." Carmen replied.
"That's quite alright, girls. Now come back into the kitchen, I have something you'll both enjoy." Miss Rosemary giggled.
Carmen mad a quick grab for the present and rushed into the kitchen, laughing all the way.
Upon entering the kitchen, Carmen saw that her mother's back was turned facing the kitchen bench. As Tammie stumbled in, Miss Rosemary tilted her head to one side. "Sit down girls." the older koala said.
They happily obliged and sat around the small oak table in the middle of the room. Carmen sat her present on the floor beside her seat before sitting down. They both sat there, eagerly awaiting.
When Miss Rosemary turned around to face the girls, Carmen's eyes lit up and her mouth stretched open into a wide grin. Because resting on top of her mother's hands was a large silver tray and sitting on top of that tray was the biggest chocolate triple cake that she had ever laid eyes on. Thirteen candles were burning brightly on the top.
"Oh, momma," Carmen gasped, the flicker of the candles reflecting from her wide open deep, brown eyes. "Choc triple cake, my favourite."
"Happy birthday, sweetheart." Miss Rosemary smiled, placing the expansive desert on the table. "Now," she started, "I'll just bring you two a couple of dishes and-" A sudden scream screeched through an open window stopping Miss Rosemary in her tracks. "My goodness," she gasped rushing up to the window.
Carmen watched in quiet aww as she witnessed her mother's expression change from curiosity to terror as she looked through the window. More screaming flooded through, louder than before. It now sounded like more than just one person, some further off into the distance and some were close by, but it was continuous.
"Momma..." Carmen said, almost shouting, trying to be heard over all the commotion. "What's going on outside?"
She didn't respond, didn't even acknowledge that Carmen had spoken. Miss Rosemary just continued to look through her window, her mouth stretched open in a silent scream.
"Momma?" Carmen repeated, louder than before. Fear was now creeping inside of her at her mother's silent, terrified expression.
BANG! BANG! BANG! *
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 8:52:03 GMT -5
John Roberts continued
Carmen awoke again from hearing a familiar voice: "Sorry, doc'...but I'm gonna need this." She couldn't make out whose it was but she hoped it was Ed. She had to keep him safe, she had to keep running. The swat-bots were right behind them.
A moan escaped her lips as she once again drifted from consciousness, the words 'I love you' echoed through her mind.
* BANG! BANG! BANG!
The heavy sound of something hammering against the front door made all three of them jump in shock.
"Someone's at the door, Miss Rosemary." Tammie called out smiling, "I'll get it, I'll get it." she jumped from her seat.
"No, Tammatha, NO!" Miss Rosemary screamed, panic stricken but it was too late. Tammie had already rushed out of the kitchen and her light foot steps could be heard running towards the front door.
The fierce pounding at the door continued until it was replaced by the sound of wood giving way, splintering to pieces.
Tammie shrieked. *
Carmen could feel herself moving, almost as if she was being carried. As she became more aware of her senses she realized that she was being carried, she felt arms holding her from underneath her legs and and around her shoulders, supporting her head. Her head....her head was feeling a little better now, still throbbing but much more bearable.
Carmen slowly opened her eyes. Her vision was still blurred so she couldn't see the person carrying her. But she felt safe, who ever it was.
"Why...are you doing this?" Carmen managed to say, her voice was raspy and weak.
There was a long pause. Carmen wasn't sure if she was heard or not. She was about to repeat herself but stopped when the person carrying her slowly lowered her and very gently lay her across the floor.
"Ya got me, doc'. People do funny things sometimes."
Nack. Carmen thought, instantly recognizing his dry accent. She started to smile. Carmen was about to say something but was unexpectedly overcome by intense coughing. Each one was causing agony to her chest. When she thought the coughing would never stop, it passed.
"Doc', huh?" her voice jarring, "What ever happened to Sawbones?" She weakly smiled.
The pounding in her head was back. Her entire surroundings became a moving blur spinning around her. She was disorientated, her equilibrium was a mess, her ears ringing. She was hurt, and she wasn't sure how badly. All she knew was that she was shot by swat-bot laser fire and that she'd hit her head hard at some point.
The whole area had became dark, too dark to see where she was, too dark to see Nack. Her thoughts were muddled, but she knew that she had suffered some brain dysfunction, she wasn't sure what exactly.
The laser fire was easy, she knew by the hot and throbbing pain where it had gone. It hurt terribly but she didn't think it was serious and it didn't seem to be bleeding.
Nack must of bandaged me up. she thought. He pobably saved my life
It wasn't the laser fire that she was worried about, she was more concerned about the loss of coherency.
Shock or concussion? Concussion or shock?
She needed to think, needed to take a pulse, check her ears for blood, which wasn't something she wanted to think about. Even in her confused state, Carmen knew that bleeding cerebrospinal fluid was the worst outcome for a blow to the head.
She wanted to close her eyes, to sleep, but she had to stay awake, had to keep talking. Carmen took a deep breath and realized that the darkness wasn't just around her anymore. She was tired, so very, very tired. A kind of hazy blackness was encroaching on her vision.
"....I saved your life, I may have to call in the favour here soon...." she heard Nack speak. If he had spoken anymore, Carmen would not of heard it, all she could hear were the words, 'I love you' repeating through her thoughts once again as she drifted to sleep.
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 8:55:10 GMT -5
John Roberts continued
* "Tammatha!" Miss Rosemary screamed, running towards the doorway.
"Momma, what's happening?" Carmen cried, totally immersed in fear of the unknown. Her small hands were holding tightly around her mother's arm.
Miss Rosemary clasped her hands over Carmen's shoulders, her grip tighter than she intended. "Carmen," she started, her voice shrilled, "I want you to run to your bedroom as fast as you can and I want you to hide. You understand me Carmen? No matter what happens, no matter what you hear, you stay there. You don't move. If something happens to me, Carmen-"
"Momma." Carmen cried cutting her mother off.
"Listen to me, Carmen, please. If something should happen to me, I want you to run into the forest as safely as you can. You don't stop, Carmen, you don't stop for anything."
"What's happening?" Carmen cried again, not understanding anything.
"NO! LEAVE ME ALONE!" Tammies screams echoed down the hallway followed by loud crashing and more heavy pounding.
"Go, Carmen. NOW!" Miss Rosemary yelled, pushing her into the direction of a doorway that leads into Carmen's bedroom. She then twirled around and launched herself through the other door, making her way towards Tammie.
Carmen stood there and watched the door swing close as her mother pushed her way through it, not stopping to look back. She didn't understand it, what did her mother see outside for her to panic so much? What's happening to Tammie? Tears formed in her eyes when she heard her mothers voice scream out Tammie's name.
What's happening?
She pushed the door open and ran into her bedroom, her mind was racing at a hundred miles an hour. She was terrified, terrified of what ever had broken into her home, terrified at what had caused the entire neighbourhood to scream, made her mother scream.
She looked around her bedroom, searching for a place to hide. What ever was happening, she was going to at least listen to her mother's orders.
She heard a loud crash come from the next room, someone or something had bursted into the kitchen and was causing vibrations through the floor as heavy footprints slammed to the ground. The noise was approaching the bedroom door.
NO!
Carmen made a quick dash to her large-scale open closet. She told herself if she could jump in and hide herself under all the clothes, she would be safe.
She dived in, hitting her back hard against the wall. She frantically slammed the closet doors shut and started pulling jackets over herself.
SMASH!
The frightening sound of the bedroom door bursting open caused Carmen to freeze, she didn't move, didn't breath, she was to terrified to make even the slightest of sounds. She just listened.
A slight whimper escaped her lips when she heard more of the heavy footsteps started thundering across her room, the floor beneath her was vibrating form the pounding. Carmen nearly screamed in panic as she watched the closet door slowly swing open from all the commotion. The door came to squeaking halt, not fully opened but it did give her a full view of her bed.
Carmen hugged her knees to her chest and pressed herself as far against the inside of the cupboard as she possibly could. She was waiting at any moment that whoever was inside her room would come crashing into the closet and get her.
"Get out of this room, NOW!" Carmen heard a voice from a distance yell out.
Momma?!
Carmen's thoughts were quickly answered when she watched her mother's delicate body suddenly thrown into view, hitting the bed. Her head slammed hard against the wall as she landed.
Miss Rosemary tried to push herself upright but she was obviously dazed and in pain from the vicious collision because she just simply fell back to the bed. A gash of blood had quickly formed in the side of her head and was oozing freely down her neck. She lay there breathing rapidly, blood drenching her fur.
A large man stepped into Carmen's view, no not a normal man but a shiny man who's entire body was covered in a dark coloured metal. It's right arm was extended, pointing directly at her mother, some kind of blue light was forming above it's metallic fist.
Miss Rosemary leaned her head to one side almost looking directly at Carmen.
The large metal man's arm pointed closer, the blue light was fully glowing now. Carmen could hear a slight humming sound emitting from the arm.
A weak smile spread across her features as her eyes focused on Carmen.
PHOOM! *
Carmen awoke with a start. Her eyes fluttered open as she tried to sit up. To her surprise, she managed to do so with out any discomforts. Her head was still swarming, still a little hazy but overall she felt....recovered. She looked around the room, her vision was much clearer now. She was hoping to see a familiar face but to her dismay, Carmen realized she was alone.
How long have I been out she wondered, brushing her paw through her thick, black head fur and then moved to the back of her neck. From there her hand moved to her soft fury check and at that instant her mind was suddenly hit by a memory.
'I love you.'
She continued to gently rub her check as she closed her eyes. She could see herself being shot by a swat-bot, her body thrown hard against a wall.
'I love you.'
She could now see someone laying across her, their head buried into her shoulder. She could feel their warm lips pressing against her check.
'I love you.'
ED! Her eyes snapped open. He kissed me.
"I love you?" she whispered the words to herself not believing what she was remembering. "Did he really say that he...he loves me?"
Confused feelings washed over her, she didn't understand the warm ache she now felt in her heart.
He loves me....
"Oh Ed." she whispered again, trying to come to terms with her feelings. Where is he? Why isn't he here with her now? Did he run for help? Was he captured....or worse? She didn't know, all she did know was that she had to find him.
She very carefully pulled herself to here feet, still a small amount of pain jabbed her in the side but it wasn't enough to stop her. She steadily walked across the small room and towards a near by door. She was about to open it but stopped upon hearing voices from the other side. She couldn't make out any words so she leaned her head closer to the door and listened.
"Where's the bounty hunter?"
A long pause.
"Great....meet me at the entrance to sector 3, we're going in with or without that no-good ball of fuzz."
Kaige?!
"You can't have them!"
It IS him. she smiled, overjoyed at hearing her friends voice. Carmen reefed the door open and stepped outside.
"Kaige?" she called out but no one was there. She was standing in an empty, dark alleyway all alone, no sign of the large dragon. She had missed him, but only just.
"Sector 3, huh? Maybe it was Ed, Kaige was talking to. They could all be meeting at sector 3. Well....looks like I'll be headed there myself." she rambled to her self.
The words 'I love you' once again rung through her mind as she slowly made her way through the alleyway, still unsure of her feelings.
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:02:39 GMT -5
Wildfire
Wildfire stood watch by the sector divider with Ryan scowling behind him. It seemed to him that the best thing to do was cut Centerpoint's losses and get the hell outta there. Half their team was gone, either dead, captured, or robotosized. Nack had shown his true colors, and they had no information to boot! The more he thought about it however, the more he realized just how wrong he was. Centerpoint's very survival rested on this mission. Princess Sally had assigned him and Nack to assist, and Nack was his responsibility. He couldn't let an entire village die because the mission hadn't gone perfectly. And he had to do something about Nack! Nack, the very thought of him sickened the knight. He protested the bounty hunter's presence from the begining! And yet, Sally had insisted that Max himself was not enough. Sonic was busy, so she called in Nack. When the bounty hunter had arrived in Knothole, Max immeaditely didn't trust him. He never liked the bounty hunting busniess to begin with. They were all about the creds they'd get for a job well done. It didn't matter who they worked for, as long as they got paid. Well, he'd had enough. His mind was made up, Nack was a threat to the mission and had to be dealt with. He was going to kill Nack the Weasel... -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Kaotix
A lonely spy orb circled the streets in search of the rest of the intruders. Several squads of SWATTbots had failed to report in. Three of the intruders had been accounted for by the city's computer system. The female was pronounced dead. The wolf was captured and put into stasis to await roboticization. And finally the one know as Nack the Weasel was currently with the city's cammander.The knight and his companion were unaccounted for as was the dragon. Spy orbs had been dispatched to locate them and alert their location to the main computer.
A sound from one of the alleys alerted the spy orb and it went in to investigate. The alley was dark so the spy orb activated it's camera light and searched the alley in the efficient manner it was programmed to. Back and forth the light went across the alley in search of the disturbance. When it reached the end of the alley no anomilies had been located so it turned off it's light and prepared to continue it's search of this section of the city.
Or so it thought. Two giant claws clamped down on it from behind and crushed it into a neat ball of scrap before it had a chance to react. No signal was broadcast to the main computer. Just silience from it for now on.
Kaige snarled as he looked around to make sure the orb didn't have any friends around. It was getting harder to move about unseen as he got closer to the city's control tower. That gloomy highrise stood in center of sector three where he and hopefully Max and Ryan would soon group up and infiltrate. He knew those two would have similar problems in reaching the entrance to sector three. He just hoped they would make it safely. Ed and Carmen didn't...
Carmen... By the pit... He lost Carmen... How would he be able to face little Barren now? No. I can't think of that now... The mission comes first. Grieving comes later. Oh how he wanted to believe that but his heart kept yelling at him. You shouldn't have left her and Ed alone! You left them to die, Kaige! Why wouldn't that voice leave him alone. Kaige snorted as he shook his head to free himself from the voice.
What of the Bounty Hunter? Would he have really betrayed them? Kaige wouldn't put it past him. If there was one thing Kaige knew about bounty hunters, it was that they only looked out for themselves. Even when you in good faith, aided them. They would turn their back on you at first chance at a couple of mobiums. His clan learned that the hard way.
The entrance to Sector Three loomed before him. He looked at the surrounding area from the darkness of a nearby alley. The coast was clear for now. He would await for the arrival of Wildfire and Ryan. He took out his comlink and thumbed it on.
"I have arrived at the rendevous point and am waiting for you. Do not reply. See you when you get here. Big Red out."
He thumbed off the comlink. All he could do now was wait. And hope that the ancients were with him and his comrades. And perhaps they would forgive him for causing the death of Carmen... But would Barren? -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Reese
Ed's trip through the sewers was uneventful. There were no bots down there, nor were there any cameras that he could see. He was able to navigate the route somewhat accurately by lifting manhole covers and sneaking a look at the street. That would give him a fix on his location, and he would continue on in the tunnels.
The worst part of the whole journey was the loneliness and pain in his heart. His thoughts were dulled, his eyes listless. He was tired of the war; he was tired of seeing his friends die. Maybe it was time to end it all.... These thoughts constantly barraged his soul, as if trying to stimulate the response that would put an end to the suffering.
But he kept pushing on. Ed told himself that once the mission was over, victorious or not, he would join Carmen in eternal sleep. But not before the mission was ended.
He was nearing the alleyway where Carmen had been shot. Ed checked the street a few more times, then lifted the cover plate completely and crawled out. Just as he'd thought, he was in an alley a few blocks down from the one they'd been ambushed in. He crept through the lengthening shadows, wary of spy orbs. The streets were deserted, no sign of life at all.
"Oh God," Ed whispered as he turned the corner into the alley. Carmen's body was gone, only a bloodstain left on the ground. He suddenly felt sick, realizing that she had been taken alive as well; he had left her to a fate worse than death. Tears began to cloud his eyes, when suddenly he noticed something. Small drops of blood were spattered about, leading away from the stain. But they didn't lead out to the street, where the bots would have taken her. They led into the warehouse beside him.
Ed dashed for the door, following the blood on the ground. It lead him into a small back room, where a makeshift cot had been assembled from rags and a few jackets. Beside the pallet lay a few rolls of bandages. Apparently, whoever had brought her in here had treated her wounds as well. He knelt down, picking a rag out of the pile. It was still warm...
Ed started. She had just been here, only a matter of minutes ago. There was no doubt about it! She was alive, she had to be! He leapt to his feet and run back to the alley, not even bothering to be silent. He reached the street, his eyes roving the cityscape. Deserted as the area was, he was sure he would have been able to see her.
The only problem was that he had no way of knowing which way she went. He ran to the other end of the alley, his eyes scanning for any sign of her. Nothing.
"Come on Carmen," Ed pleaded silently. "Where are you?" He could think only of her safety. She was alive! He knew he had to find her and somehow get her back to the village, back to safety. Then he'd come back to help the others finish the mission. It would be difficult, but he'd do it or die trying.
He was about to turn and check the other end of the alley, when something on the ground caught his eye. It looked as if someone had busted their communicator. He picked up the broken headset, eyeing it carefully. What the hell had happened? The mission was coming apart all around them. But maybe, just maybe...
He studied the comm unit, stepping back into the shadows of the alley. If he could fix it, and raise one of the team members, they'd be able to regroup. Maybe Carmen was with one of them. It seemed like the best course of action, so he knelt down and began tinkering with the device. It was broken, yes, but not beyond use. It appeared that all he needed to do was get the device to power up. No sensitive components had been severly damaged; he worked quickly, reconnecting the battery to the headset, wiring around the broken battery terminals. It was difficult without tools, but he only needed it long enough to raise someone on the team's frequency.
Within three minutes, Ed had the device finished. He would have to hold the power wire to the battery, but it would work. He did so, and was rewarded with the sound of static in the receiver. He held it to his ears, being careful to keep the wires together. He made sure he was on the right frequency, then spoke into the headset. He prayed it would broadcast.
"If anyone is on this channel, pick up. It's Eddie."
He waited for a moment while the unit crackled, then spoke again.
"This is Markus. Is anyone recieving this transmission?" Again, he waited.... -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:09:09 GMT -5
Wildfire
Max listened to the headset, hoping to hear that some of the team still remained. He was sure that they would agree with his decision to eliminate Nack the Weasel, but he needed to know if they were alive first. He glanced at Ryan, of course he would be no help. The two of them were friends after all, but the rest of the team would surely comply. Moments after he put the headset back on, a voice tore through the static. "I have arrived at the rendevous point and am waiting for you. Do not reply. See you when you get here. Big Red out." All right!!! Kaige was there. He looked back at Ryan, "You heard him, let's move." The two moved through the alleyways leading the the central tower with care. Spy orbs increased in density the farther inward the two ventured. The going was tough without being spotted, but eventually they reached the central tower. Sure enough, Big Red was waiting for the two of them there. The three met up quietly, no questions were asked, no words were exchanged, simple silence was the only greeying given. There was no time for formality, the tower would be breached and they could get what they needed from inside. They were ready to begin when a crackley transmission made its way through clouds of static. "If anyone" *bzzt* "channel," *bzzt* "Eddie." Kaige smiled, "It seems we may not be as light handed as we thought." "This" *bzzt* "Is" *bzzt* "this transmission?" "We read you Eddie, can you hear us?" "Got" *bzzt* "in" *bzzt* "Need Escort." "We'll send some one to pick you up, what's your location?" "Fifty yards" *bzzt* "Ambush point." "We can have someone there in ten minutes, can you wait that out?" "Check" Kaige put the headset down, "Now its up to us to make the decision as to who to send. Which of the three of us is most qualified to make the trip in the least amount of time?" Max stepped up, "I hafta nominate ryan." Ryan glared at the knight. "Any particular reasons?" "A few, none of them your busniess." "I would think it was my busniess, i'm the one you're wanting to send back into that nightmare!" Kaige interjected the argument when Wildfire was about to draw his sword. "We'll have absolutely none of that. To be honest, you are the logical choice. If Eddie is injured, he may need to be carried back to us and treated. You're smaller than I am, and posess more upper body strength than the knight. You'll be the one to go. Are you armed?" Ryan patted the blaster at his side, "More than enough." "Then move out. We'll be here waiting for you. use your comm to ring us if you have any trouble."
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:26:03 GMT -5
John Roberts
She was tired. Exhausted. She had to catch her breath. Or though she has only been walking for a short time, Carmen’’s injury was draining the strength left in her body fast, each step forward she now made was an effort. Her feet felt so heavy, her legs were screaming for a time-out but she had keep pushing herself on. Others were depending on her to be there, relying on her to treat their wounds if they were injured. And Ed, Carmen had to know he was safe.
Ed, she sighed.
Why did she have these strange feelings in her heart whenever she thought of him. They had both been friends for many years and not once has she ever though of him being anything more but now, after hearing his true feeling, she wasn’’t sure. Was it love she felt in her heart? No, it couldn’’t be, not love. How could she be in love with Ed when her heart already belongs to another.
Tamara, Carmen sighed again, a quick memory of her female mate smiling flashed through her mind.
Yes, she knew she loved Tamara. Their relationship had been growing strong now for the last year and Carmen has never looked back. Never has she questioned that bond between them. So why does she now? How could unfamiliar, mixed affections for someone change old unquestionable feelings for someone else.
Carmen shook her head. This was way too much baggage to carry on herself, she shouldn’’t let herself become distracted so easily. Not here. Focus, she had keep focus on the mission. And what a perfect mission it has so far turned out to be. Her and the others were in Centropolis for not even an hour when they were first attacked, and what an attack it was. Carmen couldn’’t believe how easily those swat-bots ripped through that wall to get at them. It all happened so quickly, so ferociously. The swat-bots seemed so driven in capturing them, no not capture, they seemed more interested in shooting first and asking questions later. This was when the team was first separated and from then on, everything has just been going down hill. Her and Ed were attacked again, luckily though they managed to out run them and hide, but when she thought they safely escaped into an alleyway, a single swat-bot was waiting in there for them and fired it’’d weapon at her. She thought she was dead, never to awake again but she did, only to find that Ed was gone and Nack was now there, bandaging her wound. But when she lost consciousness again and woke up she found that Nack was missing. She was now alone, all alone in this forsaken city and she had no idea if any one else is still alive. Well she knew Kaige was alright, at least that’’s who she thought she heard talking in the alleyway. Whoever it was they said they were heading towards sector three. That was Carmen’’s destination now too, sector three. She just hoped the rest of the team was there waiting. And Ed, her heart fluttered thinking about her friend again.
Carmen shook her head, she can’’t lose concentration again, she had to keep her mind alert and make her way towards sector three. No matter how much pain she was in she was determined to get there.
““Hmmmph,”” Carmen grumbled, ““get there...””
Carmen realised she didn’’t even know where ‘‘there’’ was. Even now she had know idea where she was. All she did know was that she is getting deeper and deeper into the vast city. The buildings that were just boarded up residential homes earlier on were now enormous factories spread high into the dark, smoggy sky. Each one seemed more lager than the last.
The further she went, the smell of the polluted air grew thicker. Carmen found it strange though, here she was almost directly in the centre of Certropolis and not one swat-bot stood in her way. If it wasn’’t for the constant sounds of machinery coming from some of the factories she passed, one would be led to believe that this part of town was completely deserted. The narrow street Carmen had been walking down had now came to an end. It now split into a T intersection. She carefully looked down both possible routes before stepping out. She was hoping to see something that might help, but Carmen saw nothing. Both roads were well lit and stretched straight and curved off into the distance giving Carmen not much of a view.
Now what? She queried herself, Left or right, right or left.
She leaned herself against one of the buildings, trying to relieve the pressure that was the pounding pain in her side. She couldn’’t keep this up, all this walking around without a clue on where she was going, her aching body just wasn’’t going to allow it. She need to rest, needed to think.
There must be a better way I can do this. There has to be. If only I had or map or something... she wondered. Carmen’’s eyes suddenly lit up.
““Yes a map! There must be some kind of map in one of these factories. All I have to do is...”” her hopeful expression dropped as her thoughts slowly made sense of her idea. ““Do what, Carmen? Sneak into all the factories until you find what you want? Hmmph, yeah right,”” she grumbled, ““and I’’m sure all those workerbots working in them factories would just let me waltz right on in.””
It was hopeless. Carmen was lost and had no idea on what to do next. With another grumble slipping away from her mouth, she carefully pushed herself away from the wall and without thinking, she walked down the left path.
She continued walking down the wide open street, staying as close to the left side as she could. She didn’’t speak, not even any new thoughts flowed through her mind, she just paced herself. One footstep after the other she took, taking herself further and further through enemy territory.
She would’’ve kept walking too if it wasn’’t for a familiar sound off in the distance that caused Carmen to freeze to a stand still. The sounds of moving machinery from the factories was now accompanied by a heavy metallic pounding noise. Distant to start with but gradually drawing closer. Like a crowd of giant footsteps approaching.
No, not now.
The sounds of a marching army of swat-bots were nearing her fast and the only escape Carmen saw was an alleyway a few metres in front of her on her left. She didn’’t like alleys anymore but she was in no shape to try and outrun them this, so the dreaded dark alleyway was her only choice to make. She hesitated. She hesitated for too long. The swat-bots sounded only moments away from appearing around the curved road.
““What...?”” Another sound to Carmen’’s right caught her attention.
A small plain looking building across the street was now her focus as she listened closely to what sounded like a series of ‘‘beeps’’ going off in a sequence. The small structure consisted of a large metal blast door and next to that was a computerized keypad. The keypad was flashing. It looked as if the door was unlocking itself, but Carmen, for the life of her, couldn’’t understand why some kind of security lock would simply deactivate itself.
Unless... She started wondering, her facial expressions changed to a sudden shocked look as her mind was smacked with an answer, someone’’s coming out!
Carmen quickly looked in the direction of the forthcoming swat-bots, she could see shadows being cast by the evil machines. The blast door started reverberating as it’’s giant locking mechanisms came undone. Thirty inches of steal plates slowly started to swing aside.
Carmen had only seconds to act. She stumbled towards the eerie alleyway as fast as her hurtful body would allow. She wasn’’t going to make it. The robots were going to see her and then they were going to kill her, there was no doubt in her mind about it. Even if she did make in time, what if there is another swat-bot waiting for her again, what if it shoots her, what if she never wakes up this time...
What if, what if, what if! Damn it girl, jump!! Her mind screamed as she leaped off her feet and launched herself safely into the darkness of the alleyway. She tried to break her fall and let herself roll but all she managed to accomplish was landing hard on her hip and crashed solidly against the unforgiving hardness of a brick wall.
A low cry escaped her lips when a massive surge of pain spread through. Her hands immediately clasped over her bandaged wound, the focus of the agony. Carmen checked herself, fearing that she may have popped the stitches. There was no blood though, just pain. She sat up and leant herself up against the wall. She clutched her arms around herself waiting for it to stop hurting.
Carmen looked upwards and outside of the alleyway, she had a clear view of the street and the small structure where the metal door was now fully opened. The marching swat-bots appeared into view now and stopped just before the building. They silently stood there, waiting. Carmen counted eleven of them standing there, their dark, grey metallic armour sending shivers up her spine. She wondered how many more were positioned out of view.
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:32:19 GMT -5
John Roberts continued
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Carmen watched a single swat-bot step out of the open doorway. This swat-bot wasn’’t normal, it was different. It’’s bulk was of a much larger scale, the usual grey colour was replaced by a pitch black armour, one simple gold stripe was painted over it’’s shoulder plate.
““All...troops...from...sector...five...accounted...for.”” the first grey swat-bot droned, it’’s voice fully computerized showing no signs of emotion.
““Freedom fighters have been detected in sector three,”” the black swat-bot started, it’’s speech much more fluid than it’’s counterpart, ““search and destroy.””
The grey swat-bot raised it’’s robotic hand to it’’s head visor, saluting, ““Affirmative.”” The entire squadron of swat-bots simultaneously began marching, pass the black swat-bot and pass the alleyway. They moved in groups of four, robot after robot they passed Carmen’’s view, dozens upon dozens. The numbers seemed never-ending.
Search and destroy? Carmen’’s mind snapped. She didn’’t want to believe what she had just heard. All these ‘‘bots are being sent on a massive killing spree? Th-there’’s no way I can stop this from happening.
Carmen watched on in horror as the last of the menacing machines disappeared from her viewpoint. She knew all too well what they were capable of doing and what would do if they found any of her friends. Sector three was about to become a slaughter house. If only she could warn them, let them know before the swat-bots arrive there. It could give them time to act, hide or even abort this mission. Carmen didn’’t care what they chose just as long as they all stay safe.
She looked down at her feet in defeat, she had no radio she could use, no way to make contact. Her friends could all die because of this.
““No,”” Carmen whispered, she was not just going to sit here and give up. If she didn’’t have a radio than she would find one, anything to prevent this massacre from transpiring.
With a new determined look on her furry features she pulled herself to her feet. Leaning on the wall for leverage, Carmen pushed herself forward and started walking. As she raised her head to see where she going, Carmen froze. She felt her heart nearly skip a beat when she saw the black swat-bot standing just outside of the alleyway, looking directly at her. Carmen didn’’t move, didn’’t breathe. She knew this was it, she couldn’’t run, couldn’’t fight. The swat-bot was ether going to capture her of kill her and the way things have deteriorated this night, Carmen was sure it would be the later. She wanted to close her eyes but she couldn’’t. Her eyes remained on the swat-bot, waiting for it to raise it’’s arm and fire it’’s weapon, ending her life. Carmen waited for the laser fire to rip through her, burn her but the pain never came. The jet-black swat-bot turned it’’s attention away from the alley and walked off in the same direction as the other robots did.
Carmen was shocked, she didn’’t believe it. The swat-bot had completely ignored her. It didn’’t see me?! She thought, her wide eye expression filled with confusion, How could it of not seen me?! A huge wave of relief washed over her, she wasn’’t going to die after all. Her small victory was soon disrupted when she noticed that the metal blast door that opened earlier was till wide open. It was then that she realized what she could do.
Maybe there’’s something I could use in there, a radio, anything. She still had time to act, she can still warn her friends.
Carmen limped her way to the edge of the darkness of the alleyway ans very carefully leaned her head out to get a good view of the street, making sure the cost was clear. She may have escaped detection from one swat-bot but she didn’’t want to temp it by running out in the open and getting herself shot just because she was over confident.
Relieved that the streets were clear, Carmen made her way across to the small building, limping into her left leg as she went. Before she entered through the doorway she peered her head inside hoping to see nothing was waiting for her. It was actually too dark to see anything, she couldn’’t even make out the floor. For all she knew it could be just one huge hole in front of her. With great hesitation she crept inside, Carmen’’s hands were feeling the wall as she went.
Within a blink of an eye lights from the ceiling flickered on, illuminating her surroundings. She could now see that she was standing inside a rather small, square shaped room. Three oversized plasma screens attached to the back wall was the first to catch her gaze. From the computer screens were cables covering the entire floor connecting to a metallic table, circular in design and was stationed in the centre of the room. To her right was another doorway. It was, however, closed off and showed no means of a way to open it. But it wasn’’t the doorway that concerned her, Carmen’’s attention was fixated towards the metal table because sitting on top of that was a keyboard and next to that was the one thing that she was hoping to see. A communication device.
““Yes!”” she exclaimed, rushing towards the table and grabbed the radio. She instantly recognized the design and layout of the buttons from the one that Ed kept in his hut. He had shown her how to use on a number of times. Or though they never actually switched it on for fear of it’’s signal being traced, she knew enough about it to properly use one.
Carmen flicked the on switch ‘‘on’’ and played with the frequency, she remembered the correct channel they always used and quickly turned it to it. The volume was next and so she turned it all the way to max, the crackling sound coming over the now live speakers told her she was read to go. She held the receiver close to her mouth and held in the talk button. She took a deep breath and than began to speak.
““Hello, this is Carmen. Can anyone hear me?”” she released the button and waited for a response.
Nothing but silence came over the speakers.
““If anybodies there, please answer.”” she urged, holding in the talk button again, ““This is very important. The enemy knows where you all are and they are heading in at full force directly into sector three. Thuh-there’’s hundreds of swat-bots, guys. I-I’’ve never seen so many.”” She released the talk button and again waited.
Nothing.
““Listen to me!”” she shrilled, her voice full of emotion, ““They are coming and they are going to kill all of you unless one of you can hear me and get out of there. So somebody answer me now!””
No answer.
““Please,”” her voice was now lowered to a whisper as she spoke to the radio, ““Kaige, Eddie....please talk to me.””
Tears started forming in her eyes at the crackling silence she got for a reply.
““Please...””
Carmen’’s shoulders slumped and her head hung low. She failed. She wasn’’t fast enough to forewarn her friends, and now they are in all likelihood, dead.
““My fault...””Carmen sobbed, a single tear sailed from her eye and down her furry cheek. It reached the crack of her mouth and wept between her lips, ““...all my fault.””
She let the radio slip from her hands and crash to the ground. Pieces from the device shattered across the floor upon impact. Another tear escaped her eye at the thought of being the only one left alive. She didn’’t want to believe it, didn’’t want to accept it.
How did everything fall apart like this? Carmen’’s mind cried. Her legs started trembling, she felt so weak, so hollow inside. She was hardly able to keep herself standing. This isn’’t the way it’’s suppose to be. Tears were now freely flowing down her face as her body succumbed to cries. Her knees buckled from under her causing Carmen to grab out for the metallic table to keep herself from falling. All her weight pushed against the desk, knocking the keyboard.
The entire room suddenly came alive with a loud ‘‘Beep’’. Two of the three plasma screens lit up with thousands of letters and numbers randomly scrolling across the screens.
Carmen stared up at the screens trying to make sense of it all but couldn’’t, she knew nothing about computers. She wished Ed was safely beside her, there was nothing about computers he didn’’t know.
““Oh Eddie, please be safe....don’’t be dead.”” Carmen wailed, ignoring the computer screens.
Another loud ‘‘Beep’’ echoed through the room as a third plasma screen flickered to life. No numbers or any letters materialized this time, instead, appearing on the screen were several small screen shots showing off various locations around Centropolis. A dark figure could be seen moving in one of the shots.
Carmen looked up at the new screen, her eyes filled with fresh tears. Her focus was at once on the lone figure walking through a darkened area, the words ‘‘SECTOR 5' loomed in the bottom corner of the screen shot. As they passed under a light, a familiar face of a male fox was revealed causing Carmen to nearly scream out his name in delight.
““Ed!””
Forgetting about the computer and her aching body, Carmen rushed herself out of the room. She had to get out there and find him, he’’s alive and that means the others may be alright as well. She wasn’’t alone anymore and that thought alone was enough for Carmen to smile as she charged through the blast and out into the open street.
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:34:23 GMT -5
John Roberts continued...again
She came to an immediate halt. Standing directly in the middle of the road, she realized something: Carmen had no idea where Ed was or where he was going. She still didn’’t know exactly where she was, and here she is, running to who knows where in plain site of anything ready to shoot at her. Carmen could’’ve swore at how stupid she acted, but she bit her tongue. Foul language was just something she didn’’t do and besides, it sure wasn’’t going to solve anything anyway. She had to think, and standing out in the open like this was not a good place to start. She turned towards the alleyway, making sure that nothing was watching her from ether end of the street, she hobbled to it.
Once I find Ed, I’’ll bring him back here to the computer, he’’ll know what to do. Than we can work out a way to find the others. Yes! Carmen happily thought. For the first time tonight things have finally started to go in her favour. The situation no longer seemed so hopeless anymore. She had a plan.
As Carmen entered the dark alleyway an eerie chill went through her, it was almost as if she was being watched. A sudden flash of movement, a glimpse of something seen through the corner of her eyes caused fur on her neck to stand on end. Was it just a trick, a distortion of light or is there something else in here with her. Carmen slows her walking, almost to a stop. Without realizing, she started to hold her breathe. She felt eyes on her, watching her. Behind her. She could sense it, something terrible was about to happen. Her heart started beating faster as a tendril of fear slithered into her mind. Carmen wanted to turn around and face the horror but didn’’t want at the same time. Her small hands were clenched into tight fists, ready to act at a moments notice. She wasn’’t sure exactly what she could do but she wasn’’t going to give up. Not now. She twirled herself around, gasping out loud when she saw what was behind her.
Nothing. Nothing but empty space.
Carmen closed her eyes, listening to her heart beating furiously in her chest she laughed, ““Way to go, Carmen, give yourself a heart attack next time.”” She opened her eyes and shook her head, ““Who needs a swat-bot to kill me, I’’ll just overact myself to death."
She laughed again, turning back around to face the opposite direction. What she saw next didn’’t quite register at first. I wasn’’t until the flash of red light from a dark head visor when she realized what now stood in front of her.
The cold, metal hand from the black swat-bot viciously grabbed Carmen around her neck and lifted her from her feet and into the air. She tried to cry out, kick herself free but the grip around her throat only tightened. Her crying turned into desperate gasps for, she couldn’’t breathe.
The swat-bot’’s head visor once again displayed a flash of red light. ““Freedom Fighter.”” it’’s computerized voice growled, it’’s iron tight grip strengthened even more.
Carmen had her hands frantically smacking against the black swat-bot’’s large, metal arm in a feeble attempt to knock herself free. Her mouth was stretched open trying to scream but no sounds escaped. No air getting in. Even if someone was nearby they wouldn’’t hear her, she couldn’’t cry out their names, call for help. Carmen was going to die and it was going to be silent death.
No! Her mind blurted, she can’’t let herself give in. She can fight this. All she had to do was relax, keep her emotions intact. Relaxing under the hammer of this much anxiety however, wasn’’t going to be easy but if she could, she knew that the increasing pounding cerebral bloody flow would discontinue and slow down the process of her falling unconscious. And then die. It would only buy her an extra twenty of thirty seconds but it could be enough time for someone to find her and held her.
All her thoughts were on one thing, one person was all she could see in her mind, feel in her heart. On the brink of dying she only wished that she could see them again and tell them her feelings, to tell him how she felt.
The swat-bot’’s strangle hold loosened slightly, it’’s menacing not focussed on Carmen anymore but instead fixated on something behind her. Carmen couldn’’t see what, nor did she care. She was more concerned that the swat-bot had actually let it’’s guard down, this could be the only chance that she has to escape this.
Before she acted on anything, a gold inscribing of writing on the swat-bots blackened chest plate caught her eyes. ‘‘LT SERIES’’
Carmen never had time to give it a second thought when the black swat-bot fully released it’’s hold letting her fall hard to the cement ground. If there was any pain from the sudden drop, she didn’’t feel it. She was sprawled out on her back with her own hands gently around her throat, coughing and spluttering as air filled her lungs. She let herself roll onto her side, facing away from the robot, so she could take in deep breaths more easily. She felt so good to be breathing again. Movement in front of her caught her attention. Someone was moving across the entrance of the alleyway. She couldn’’t see who, her eyes were filled tears making her vision blurry. She wiped the water from her eyes and focussed . She could now clearly see that whoever it was they weren’’t actually in front of the alley, they were in fact standing outside of the computer room entrance. Carmen could only see their legs though, because the rest of their body was concealed in darkness as they leaned themselves inside the blast doorway, looking.
Carmen wanted to sit up and scream out to them but her body just didn’’t want to respond, every part of her was one big ache.
Her eyes continued to watch the figure as they stepped out of the darkness and into the light, their face was in plain view of Carmen’’s gaze.
““Ed!”” Carmen tried to scream but all that came out was a low raspy cough.
She tried to push herself from the floor but her head felt to heavy to lift, her chest was still pounding hard from the lack of oxygen. She rolled herself back onto her back and as she looked upwards she saw that the swat-bot’’s pitch-black armour plated arm was extended over her in the direction of the computer room. It was aiming for Ed.
Nooooo! With new found energy pumping through her, she sprang to her feet. The blue light from the swat-bot’’s arm laser weapon was already starting to form when Carmen threw herself at it. Instead of taking the blast like she was expecting, she was instead met with a hard, solid blow to the face by the heave, metallic arm. The force of the collision was enough to send Carmen’’s body flying backwards and roll her viciously across the ground. She stopped, laying face down, her arms and legs were sprawled unevenly. New pain was flaming across her face, she could feel warm blood flowing from the corners of her mouth. She didn’’t move, couldn’’t move. A dreaded sense of helplessness rocked through as her body succumbed to sobs. Her crying became more when she heard the humming sound of the laser weapon powering up again. Was it aimd for her or was it still pointing towards Ed. She didn’’t know but she had to try and warn him anyway, he had no idea what was about to happen. She lifted her head slightly, she couldn’’t see pass all the blood and tears mashing her hair to her face.
““Ed,”” she called out but it only came out as a harsh whisper, ““Ed, run.
The humming was louder now, she could almost feel the heat from the blue glow warming up. Carmen silently wished that it was her who was the target, at least then if she was shot first, it would give Ed time to escape. Run.
Fresh tears streamed down her face at the though of her Ed being the target.
No! Noooo!
‘‘PHOOM!’’ The sound of laser fire ripping through the air.
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:36:35 GMT -5
Reese
Ed looked at the headset in frustration. He'd lost contact before he could ask about Carmen, and he had to be sure she was safe. He fidgeted for a moment, anxiety taking over. The shocking reality of all that had happened made him uncomforably aware that they were dealing with a very grim situation. God, he hoped Carmen was with them...
For a few minutes, he waited tensly in the alley. But as the minutes stretched on and none of the team members showed up, he realized that he would have to get into sector three without backup. He sighed, then started out, creeping stealthily through the deserted streets. There was a strange absence of SWATBOTS, though the occasional worker could be seen. The were easy to fool.
Ed was in another industrialized section. It should have been busy, but there was only the sound of machinery at work inside the large factories. No clanking metal footsteps, no alarms, nothing.
"This is too weird," Ed muttered, glancing about as he ducked into another alley. He was getting closer to Sector 4. From there he had to get through a more residential section to get into Sector 3. That would be easier, as most of the area was deserted. A good fifteen minutes and he would be there. He quickened his pace, anxious to be reunited with his comrades.
He suddenly stopped, the all to familiar footfalls of the SWATbots reaching his ears. He ducked into an alcove and tried to remain out of sight. From the sound of it, there were a lot.
Sure enough, there were about thirty of them, marching purposefully. It looked an awful lot to Ed as if this was a search and destroy team. His stomach churned as the horde head straight down the street that would lead to Sector 3. If his friends were there, they were going to be busy real soon.
"I've got to warn them!" Ed gasped. His mind raced as he tried to think of a way to warn them. The communicator had given out, never to revived, and he'd pitched it into a gutter.
Then it came to him. There were small comm buildings set up throughout the city that controled all the communications traffic and electronic relays. He'd memorized every location long ago; he made a point to know where all the sensitive technology in the city lay. And if his memory served him, the closest one was only two blocks away.
Once again, the street was completely empty, so he wasted no time with alleys. Wary of spy orbs, he jogged down the street. The building was in site, but he realized that the main door was open, the control terminals clearly visible. There was someone inside.
Ed swore viciously. He had to get in there and warn his teammates. He crept to the edge of the doorway and sneaked a glance in. He froze midway as the shock of what he saw hit him.
It was Carmen, clenched in the grip of a large black SWATbot. He'd never seen one like this before, but he didn't notice the new look. It had Carmen and did not appear to be making any attempt to be gentle. Ed knew that if he didn't intervine somehow, she wouldn't last long; he had to stop the bot. He acted without thinking, choosing the first course of action that popped into his head.
He stepped into the doorway, in plain view of the black monstrosity. It's scanners registered him, and just as he had hoped, dropped Carmen. In her wounded state, it determined that Ed was a more critical target. She landed in a heap, shuddering as she gasped for breath. The SWATbot raised it's gauntlet, the terrible blue glow begining. The bolt sizzled through the air, but Ed was well out of the path before it ripped a chunk of metal of the door frame. The bot's attacks were almost like clockwork. If one knew how to time the dodge, they weren't to hard to evade. This one was much faster than last year's model.
Ed managed to be a little faster, and scrambled back out of range. Again, as he suspected, the robot followed him, taking long, pounding strides instead of the usual clunking run. It managed to stay just as quick though, and looked much more menacing. It entered attack mode again, charging its blaster and bringing it back to ready.
"HALT FREEDOM FIGHTER," the automaton growled. It's voice was decidely more commanding than most normal SWATs.
"Up yours," Ed snarled, dodging madly as another beam scorched the ground where he'd been. Yes, this one was much faster. He had to find a way to take it out before the vice became versa.
With another leap, he dove into the closest alley, the SWATbot close on his heels. Ed made full use of the tight space as he dove around the corner into a connecting alley that led back to the street. The bot followed, manuveuring through the cramped passage surprisingly well, for all its mass. Ed still managed to blaze out the alley a good twenty meters ahead of it. He poured every ounce of energy into his legs as he dashed madly back for the comm building.
The SWAT caught up quickly, but Ed made it through the door just as another bolt richocheted behind him. He slapped the door control panel; the metal slammed down hard. He enabled the lock, though knew his adversary would be able to get in within seconds. Hopefully, he could pull it off...
He wanted badly to rush to Carmen, who was laying on the floor panting for breath, pain clearly evident in her posture. He resisted the urge, knowing that if he didn't get to those controls they'd both be in a lot more pain; instead he stepped to the terminal. Not bothering to even sit, he began tapping the keyboard feverishly.
He had to deactivate all the SWATbots in his grid reference to get the one outside off his back. He found the command in a microsecond, then began hacking around the security encryptions. His fingers danced across the controls, his action becoming almost involantary. He knew all the codes and command lines so well he could do them forward and backward.
The passwords were a lot harder to crack then they ever been, but he managed to outwit the security software just as the bot began pounding the door in. He clicked the final key, initiating the command, but with a lurch discovered that nothing happened.
The door caved in and Ed spun, the black horror towering over him. He could clearly make out the lettering stenciled on its chest; LT SERIES. Apperantely, this thing had more tricks up its sleeves then Ed had realized. Like a completely self contained AI and processing unit. It could not be shut down through the comm system.
For a moment, Ed thought it was the end. The dark bot leveled its blaster again, but did not fire, as he'd expected.
"HALT, FREEDOM FIGHTER," the machine rumbled. "YOU WILL BE TAKEN TO A CONTAINMENT CELL. RESIST AND YOU WILL BE TERMINATED."
Ed snapped back as the bolt caught him squarely in the chest. The bot had set it to stun, but it was still powerful enough to put him on the ground, completely paralylzed. The machine started into the room, ready to apprehend them....
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:40:36 GMT -5
Wildfire
The alley in which the three sat was dark to say the least. Kaige had arrived not too long ago and was waiting patiently for the others. Wildfire mused over his plans and wondered what was taking Ed so long. "Where the hell are they?" he said, louder than he intended. Kaige raised his scaled head, "Somethings wrong. Ed should have been here by now. Even at a rate as would be necessary for absolutely no detection, he would have arrived nearly fifteen minutes ago." "Where do you think his route would have taken him?" Wildfire asked.
"The best option would be to scout for them from the sky, but we must stay low enough to evade their radar. I can carry one of you, and the other will have to stay here and wait for our return." "Ryan will be staying, my gear is lighter and will be no trouble to manuver with." Ryan scowled at the fox's command. "Yes cheif, I will do as you command." Wildfire smirked at him sarcastically, "Good, now bow. We better get going." he grabbed the dragon's back and held tightly as Kaige lifted into the air. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chief
"Well now what to do" Ryan said under his breath. "I can't go anywhere or else they'll never be able to find me.. And well" Ryan thought as he looked around "Its not like I really want to go anywhere" Ryan pulled out both of his 9mm and looked around making sure nothing was near him. "Ok.. now to--" Ryan never finished his thought because it was scared out of him by a sound coming from the ally way just 50 feet from him. "Oh crap not NOW" Ryan spat under his breath "NOT NOW" Ryan dove behind a pile of scrap metal and piered out over the top to see who or what was coming. A light came out of the ally way followed by 2... no 3..6 "Crap can't count that many" the fox said as he gripped his sidearms evin tighter. "Ok, I need to tell Kaige to pick me up somewhere else I am not staying here--" the words barly left his mind when he saw his radio right infront of the aprotching bots "Oh shi..." "CRUNCH" one of the bots stepped on the radio without evin noticing that it was there Ryan thought to himself that he had to get out of there before they found him. "ok... Time to go" Ryan jumped up and started to run down the street looking for anyway out. Laser's were flying past him and hitting the ground near his feet "DAMNIT" Ryan said as he was shooting of his rounds at the now presuing bots "STOP or we will fire" one of the bots said "What the hell are you doing then?!" Ryan yelled back. If only there was a way to.. "Please be what I think you are" Ryan saw a large tupe coming out of the ground. He hoped it would be a garbage shoot or something and... "YES" Ryan jumped into the tube and slid down hoping it would bring him to another ally or something... something just not a room full of bots or a garbage compacter" "THUNK" Ryan hit the ground and got up quick and aimed towards the large tube to make sure he was'nt being folowed "1....2....3....4....5.... Ok, I'm safe for now" Ryan started to look around to see where the shoot dumped him. "it looks like... A old underground train system.." Ryan looked down at his feet to see the tracks "Yes.. a subway system... Looks like it has'nt been used since Robotnic took over" Ryan was looking at a large blast hole in the wall and parts of the track were missing or brokin "Ok, I have to find a way to contact Kaige.. or someone...anyone. Anyone exept for Robotnic of corse" Ryan muttered to himself while lighting a cigiret "Better get going" Ryan started to walk down the track "hopefully this way I'll find something I'd hate to be here for ever" Ryan continued to walk down the track intill he saw a large object just up the track " What the..." Ryan started to run towards the object finding out it was a wrecked subway train. He knew it was wrecked because most of the windows were brockin and there was a large hole in the side like something blew up on that side of the train. "Maybe just maybe.." Ryan jumped into the train and started walking towards the front "oh shi--" Ryan saw that the train was half full of dead bodies. "well something happened here" Ryan saw a large blood stain on the oppisite side of the wall as the blast hole. "This must have happened right after Robotnic took over or when he was taking over.. These bodies have been here a long time and the blood stain is old... Jeeze what am I doing, I'm not here to observe the dead" Ryan spat at himself as he continued to the front of the train. "click click" The door to the conducters cab was locked "damn... Well" Ryan shot at the door handle and the key hole above it "that should do" Ryan grabbed to door and slid it opin with a loud scretch. "Now.... YES" Ryan dragged the conducters decomposing body out into the main part of the train and walked back into the conductors room "A radio" Ryan was staring at a old smashed radio but.. It was still a radio and with any luck it will still work.. but for how long or how well was unknown. 'click' Ryan turned the radio on and heard static "Yes... It still works... not verry well tho but.. It still works" Ryan started flicking threw the stations saying "Kaige, Wildfire, Anyone" Hopefully they heard him -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:42:48 GMT -5
Jim Doe
Deep within the central command center, Nack smiled grimly to himself and turned to face the monstrosity of computer hardware and burning intelligence known as the Lieutenant. His smile turned abruptly to a smirk as he jerked a thumb back towards the viewscreen he had just been watching.
"There, ya see?" he said. "As long as you can keep 'em apart and off balance, they're easy pickings."
The Lieutenant hummed with satisfaction. Rather than watching the events unfold on the viewscreen with Nack, it was experiencing them firsthand through its extention, which was even now returning to the command center with the rebel doctor and engineer in its grasp. As the bounty hunter had surmised, they had been the two weakest links in the Freedom Fighters' chain and easily captured.
Or, at least in the case of the engineer, retrieved . . . the Lieutenant felt a slight bitterness at this. The workbots hadn't been doing their regular upkeep of the storage unit, obviously. It would have to ensure that they recieved a full dose of reprogramming once the current situation had been dealth with.
The satisfaction in the capture quickly covered the bitter taste, however, as it further translated into satisfaction in Nack's performance. The Lieutenant had been hesitant at first about sending out one of its extentions this soon after the first manufacturing cycle, but Nack had insisted it was necessary. The plan had proceeded flawlessly . . . even when the engineer had shown up unexpectedly, the Lieutenant had been able to easily take both Mobians without much of a fight. The bounty hunter's plans to capture the others seemed just as tactically sound as the first had been, and further concreted the Lieutenant's faith in the Mobian.
"We shall take the mercenary next, then," the Lieutenant said in his artificially generated voice.
"Then the knight, then the dragon last," Nack confirmed. "The SWATbots should manage to keep those two busy while I take down Ryan."
Nack could nearly feel the pressure of the Lieutenant's scrutiny pressing down on his neck. "I am still not entirely convinced you should risk fighting the mercenary yourself," the machine intoned.
"It's a Mobian thing," Nack said with a wave of his hand. "You wouldn't understand."
This time Nack could definitely feel the pressure. He wondered briefly if it had modified the climate control in the room for that effect.
"There is very little that I do not understand, bounty hunter," the Lieutenant said, his bass profoundo voice echoing through the control room. "Forget that, and I may find that your tactical abilities will be of better use to me if I carve open your brain and scan those abilities directly into my own crystal matrix. Master Robotnik may not have been able to imbue me with the best military discipline and war mindset, but he has made me well aware of Mobian treachery. If I believe for an instant that you are about to betray me, the last thing you will ever see is one of my extentions throwing you in a roboticizer. Do you understand?"
Nack stared at the floor. "Yah," he said in a low voice. "Yah, I got ya. Look, ah . . . I'm gonna go do some stretching exercises before I head out. Just contact me when you've found Ryan . . . "
Without looking up, he shuffled out of the room, looking completely crestfallen. He continued to look so until he stepped into the private chamber that the Lieutenant had set aside for him. Well aware that there were probably still several listening devices in the room that he had not yet been able to ferret out, he didn't change his posture much while he began his stretches, but he did allow a small glint of anger and defiance glitter in his eyes.
He had learned much about the Lieutenant Project during his short stay in the command center, but he still had much to learn before he could do anything with that knowledge. He had to make sure that he didn't let his cover slip, and he also had to make sure that the others would choose appropriately when the time came. Hopefully, his talk with the Doc would get her and - through her - the other Centerpoint Freedom Fighters to trust her. His assignment of collecting Ryan would allow him a chance to communicate his motives to the mercenary. And that left . . .
Escort Boy.
Dammit, thought Nack. Why couldn't they have sent someone else? Even if all the others trusted Nack, the knight would still be ready to slit his throat in an instant, just on matter of general principle. The bounty hunter just had to trust that Scaley would be able to keep the dipstick in line long enough for all of them to escape with their lives.
Nack sighed lightly, letting the sound blend in with his controlled breathing exercises. The plan had never been simple from the start . . . but then, the good ones hardly ever were.
---
High in the sky above Centropolis, Wildfire was scanning the streets below for any sign of Ed while Kaige kept his eyes peeled for offending hovercraft. The search was going badly, especially since they had to occaisionally veer off course to avoid spy orbs.
"This could certainly be going better," Wildfire mumbled into the wind.
"I agree," said Kaige, his keen hearing picking up on the knight's statement. "If only there were some sort of sign we could-"
The dragon was interrupted by a sudden burst of static from his radio headset, quickly followed by a tinny voice saying, "Kaige, Wildfire, anyone?"
"It's Ryan," Wildfire said distractedly. "Doesn't he know how to use the squelch, for goodness' sake? Damn static nearly took my head off."
Kaige didn't reply as he checked the radio headset's companion unit, which was clipped to his belt. "What the hell is he thinking?!" he suddenly burst out in anger. He banked sharply, forcing Wildfire to grasp desperately for a handhold to avoid getting thrown off the dragon's back.
"What?! What?!" the knight yelled.
"The idiot is broadcasting omnidirectionally!" Kaige yelled. "Anyone within five miles can probably hear him clear as day and figure out where he is!"
---
"He's certainly not the sharpest marble in the pack, is he?" Nack asked rhetorically. "Send the SWATbot pack down to soften him up first, but I'm gonna be the one that brings him in."
"Go," said the Lieutenant. "And remember, bounty hunter . . . I am every single eye in this city."
Nack snugged his hat down further on his head and walked out, the sneering retort he had so wanted to say dead in his throat. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:45:29 GMT -5
Kaotix
Kaige was furious. He had already lost Carmen. Ed was alive but for how long? He had failed Carmen but he wasn't going to fail Ed. And now the Bounty Hunter's little buddy just put himself in extreme danger by letting the entire city know where he is. Except for them.
Ed would probably be able to triangulate the idiot's position with his equipment. Once we find him that is.
Kaige still had the engineer's pack strapped over his shoulder and nestled between his wings with Wildfire. Kaige allowed himself a small groan.
Next time, I'm going solo..., Kaige thought. If there is a next time.
Upon his back, Wildfire scoured the city below looking for any sign of Ed.
Kaige spoke again. "Anything?"
"Nothing. You would think he would want to be... WAIT! I see him! There!" Wildfire leaned over Kaige's neck and pointed toward where a odd looking SWATbot was carrying two unconscious forms: Ed and what looked like another mobian.
Kaige squinted as he banked toward the location the fox on his back had pointed out. He made out Ed and... and.. Carmen?! For the first time in many hours, Kaige's spirit rose. She's alive! But not for long if she stayed in the care of that SWATbot.
Kaige's eyes narrowed as he spoke lowly to his passenger. "Hang on. I'm going in full throttle."
Wildfire immediately obeyed hanged to onto Kaige's Belt for dear life. With a growl, the dragon went into a power dive and headed toward the black SWATbot. No way in the pit was he going to lose them again.
The Black SWATbot was just about to report in the capture of the two Mobians when a flicker of movement on its sensor grid caught its attention. It dropped the two mobians, who fell to the ground with two dull thuds and a couple of pained moans, before it did a full sensor sweep for any potential threats. It turned to the alley's opening just in time to see a flash of red head toward it. The Swatbot didn't have time to react before it was suddenly lifted off its feet by two strong red-scaled arms and slammed into a far wall.
Standing before the fallen SWATbot was a very large, very angry red dragon. Kaige took note of the "LT SERIES" patch on this peculiar SWATbot. Was this part of the Lieutenant Project? Some new type of SWATbot? Kaige shook these questions from his mind as he had two very important people to see to. Wildfire had jumped from his back as soon as the dragon had landed and went to see to their fallen comrades.
"Kaige, They're alive!" Wildfire shouted with joy as he pulled the Doctor's medkit from her shoulderpack and opened it up to retrieve some smelling salts. With it being held under their noses, Ed and Carmen soon coughed and groggily looked up at their teammates.
Kaige smiled down at his two friends. They were alive! Maybe the Ancient Walkers were smiling on him after all.
Carmen and Ed finally snapped fully awake as they realized where they were.
"Kaige! Wildfire!" Carmen squealed in relief and joy as she saw the two stand before her. "I was so worried!"
"We thought you were dead... By the Walkers, Carmen, I am so glad to see you."
Noting that someone was also to her left, she turned and gasped when she saw the wolf. "Ed! You're ok!" She wrapped her arms around him and cried softly into his shoulder. Tears of joy ran down her face as she held him. Ed returned the hug and held her close as the dragon and the fox looked on.
"As much as I hate to break up this reunion," Kaige spoke softly to his two friends, "we need to get moving. We have to go save Ryan's butt now."
Carmen and Ed nodded and finally released each other. Wildfire and Kaige helped them stand.
Wildfire noticed the grimace on Carmen's face when Kaige helped her up. "You're hurt."
Carmen smiled softly at him. "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. We have a mission to finish."
Kaige pulled Ed's bag from his shoulder and tossed it to Ed. "I think this belongs to you."
Ed grinned as he opened up the bag. Everything was still there! And it all looked functional. "Thanks, Kaige."
Kaige nodded before speaking again. His voice was gruff meaning it was time to get back to business. "Now let's get going. We have to save the slacker's tail and get back on this mission before something else happens."
As the reunited group left and headed for Ryan's position, something stirred in the alley. The dented and mangled black SWATbot slowly stood from where it had fallen. It's visor was cracked and it was sparking from a few areas but it was still functional. -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Wildfire
Wildfire glanced at the discarded husk of the Lt. Series bot, his gaze turned to Ed. "Maybe we can get some info out of this waste of technology? Do ya think we ought to take a look?" Ed seemed to like the idea and walked over to the bots shell, he ripped a few loose wires from the crushed torso and hooked them into a small circut board. He then connected the board to a protable readout device. "Well, we're getting all kinds of shit here, but nothing really useful." Max spat, "No point of manufacture of a regestiration number?" "None that I can see, we'd better cut the connection though before some more bots come calling." Ed looked to Kaige thankfully, If it wasn't for you Big Red, we'd be in a whole lot of trouble." "Don't thank just me." Kaige replied. "It was Sir Wildfire's keen eyesight that picked you two out among the debris of this wasteland." he looked over at the fox with renewed respect. "It seems there may be hope for this mission yet." "Not so long as we have Nack to deal with. He knows our frequency, and our pourpose, they can trace us anywhere in the city as long as he can supply the enemy with information." His eyes narrowed conspiritorily, "We hafta do something about the leak in our works." "What exactly are you suggesting?" Carmen asked. "We'd better move first. Then i'll lay out my intentions."
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Post by John Roberts on Sept 23, 2003 9:48:54 GMT -5
Whew...well that was a lot more bloody work than I first thought. I've done enough double posting to be banned for 6 bloody generations.
I never realise just how much work and effort we all have put into this. Damn I'm glad we're still able to continue this.
Well...I suppose all that's left before we can start it again, a role call...all members present?
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Post by chief on Sept 23, 2003 10:07:39 GMT -5
Chief here....
I think all we need is Reese and Wildfire
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