"I'll probably take over that then," Kels replied. One of her many skills not related to combat was cooking actual food beyond just freezer meals. She fell silent as they entered the room where Engel and the other one were and let them speak with Mathias.
"Speaking of the the cathedral-" she started, only to realize that Mat wasn't listening any more. He seemed to have zoned out for a moment, and didn't look like he was waking soon. Without help, anyway.
"Mathias?" she asked, waving a hand in front of his face. "Yo, Mathias! Wake up!" She watched him for a moment, then sighed and smacked him across the face. Not hard, just enough to sting. Even without her powers, she was quite strong, and this kid was a f*ckin' twig.
San Valentin [CVnU Location]
The slap was just enough shock to pull him out of the ethereal realm. "Holy sh*t! What was that for?? Lets-lets just get outta here and finally get some clothes and food" he said as he dragged a dazed Engel outside.
Here was a girl, a girl with wings. "umm....Hadley? I'm Mat, over there are Fox, Engel and Kels. You are?"
(these posts from me are definitely shortening)
Leaving behind a sonic boom, Blake crossed the skies in minutes. His body flying so fast it was hard to keep track from the ground. He was following a path based on memories from an astral projection, one where he met a younger brother, a Mathias Hadley to be specific. But the problem was his spirit formed moved so sporadically at the time it was hard to remember the trail. But not one to lose hope he followed the landmarks below to the best of his ability.
After a gruesome case of lost and found he found himself hovering over a colossal cathedral, that he remembered fondly in his memories. Not sure if this was the home of his little brother, Blake felt it was at least worth a quick investigation.
Upon entering, he witnessed an young woman around the same age kneeling before a cross, armed with a pair of pistols and two knives beside her. From her seated position, Blake could not see her face, and in the whole scale of things it didn't make a difference.
In one profound declaration Blake yelled out to the lady “You, whoever you are, I am looking for a Mathias Hadley. Do you know where I can find him?”
A man enters the yard from behind his choice to yell instantly frustrating. For a brief moment Casca considered turning and putting a bullet between the eyes. However given the slight wind and the lack of foot prints it was safe to assume arrival was by flight. Not long after that however a group emerged from the cathedral with a brief introduction to be made.
"Well there he is do so kindly never yell at me again anonymous family member number five." The remark made to Blake in quite a bitter tone. She wasn't surprised to find the Hadley's still alive even though they were few she'd came expecting to encounter a few. She was however easy to take offense to such a loud and rude greeting from another. Not hi or excuse me but a barked order, it took a lot of restraint not to lash out. "Cascade Liliana Hadley consider me like the new guard dog anyone tries to hurt the family I'll send em to a hospital or a tomb."
Although thrilled beyond belief to find his lost family, Blake's tough but allusive facade took over as he looked around. Even while being scolded by his sister, for his brash comment, he evasively responded back “Sorry, Whatever?'
But the fact was he was now happier than ever before. In his heart he was already asking a million questions ranging from personal to future ideals, but instead he raised his emotional guard and simply replied “ Nice to know I got someone watching my back, sister is it?” followed by mumbling quietly “...not that I need it,”
He then removed a cigarette from behind his ear and was just about to light it, that was until he remembered he was still inside a church. He then leaned back against a wall and nonchalantly asked “It can't be coincidence we all meeting together like this, so does anybody know whats going on?”
@cascade_: @blake_hadley: Kels raised a skeptical eyebrow at the girl who introduced herself as Cascade. "Really... You're the new watchdog?" she scoffed, crossing her arms. She was unconsciously slipping back into a Scottish accent that she'd picked up living in Scotland about a year ago. "Sister, you're about a foot shorter than me and clearly weigh half as much. Even if ya weren't, none of us need protection. I don't know about the rest of ya, but I literally can't die."
Shen then turned to the other one who showed up and started shouting, again raising an eyebrow. "Of course it's coincidence. We're goin' shoppin'. If ya want, you can join us," she replied, placing her hands on her hips. The fabric of her shirt stretched almost to breaking point, but held together. "Name's Kelsey Salim, by the way," she added, looking around the group. "Not Hadley."
A small smile crossed Blake's face as his sister was put in her place. In fact he even slightly chuckled when the new girl said “Sister, you're about a foot shorter than me and clearly weigh half as much. Even if ya weren't, none of us need protection. I don't know about the rest of ya, but I literally can't die.” It was in that instant that Blake was going to confess he too was immortal, but instead held back until he could assess his surroundings.
But before he could speak up his inquiry on the meeting was answered when the new girl said "Of course it's coincidence. We're goin' shoppin'. If ya want, you can join us?"
Seeing as he hadn't had a good hot meal in weeks his hunger outweighed his attitude and immediately replied “Might as well, I'm a little short on cigarettes,” But as his stomach growled under his shirt, it was obvious to all he was direly hungry.
Yet before he could go anywhere, he reached deep into his two front pockets, only to turn them inside out. Still trying to remain aloof, his body stance screamed poverty as all he said was, “The problem is I'm a little short right now.”
It was then the new girl introduced herself saying "Name's Kelsey Salim, by the way. Not Hadley." To Blake it was odd she put such emphasis on the different last name, but for now, more than ever, he didn't want to make waves. So with his trade mark nonchalant attitude all he said was “Whatever?!?”
Emerging out of the treeline, Sodra Die Mens is blown away by the Cathedral's beauty. "Old man wasn't wrong." He begins walking toward the marvelous building. Until he hears a shout, he quickly stops and scans the surrounding. Coming to the conclusion that it was on the other side.
He quickly leaps in the air and clings his claw into the side and proceeds to scale the building. Reaching the other side of the church's roof, he looks down and sees six bodies. He is shocked. The suit didn't say anything about friends. But then it ran through his head.
"Meer vlerke, meer geld." (More wings, more money) as the words winged freaks replayed through his head. He quickly thinks of how he will complete the job, until it clicks. He dashes back to the other side of the roof and gets on one knee. His robotic kneecap opens up, firing one missile into the woods around the cathedral. The explosion shakes the building and sets a small portion of the woods ablaze.
@jwalser3: @gumflabica@darkfeather21:@cascade_: @mth_: @palidan
Doing what he does best, Blake does nothing. He simply leans against a wall, and tries to look cool. But for now he was being introduced to family, his very own family. It was a joy higher than any illegal narcotic could take him. Suddenly a whistling sound resonated from the roof above, followed by a huge explosion outside. Through the stained glass windows, Blake could see the woods outside the cathedral were set a blaze producing smoke and fire, surrounding the very church. But from the sheer force of the explosion the cathedral shook violently, shattering it's windows then finally began to burn. For the forest fire outside had spread to the lower portion of the Hadley's home.
Like clockwork each of the Hadley's went into action, each responding in their own way. Blake's first concern was to protect his new family, but by the time he figured out how, they were each protecting themselves. Some moved to find the source of the explosion, while others were motivated to putting out the fire. Blake opted for the latter. With a push off from the ground, Blake spread his wings and headed towards the nearest open window. With a quick, “I'll get to work on putting out the fire!” he vanished out the window and was gone. Once outside he quickly circled the building for a better view of the fire and upon the end of his first lap, he halted and hung low in the sky.
Immediately Blake began flapping his wings back and forth in a rhythmic pattern, and with each flutter a strong gust of wind was being formed. Soon the force of the wind was stronger than that of the fire and in turn began blowing it out. Except for a bit of excessive smoke being blown away as well, Blake managed to end the threat of the surrounding fire. However his wind attack was to dangerous to use on the fire now spreading across the cathedral's wall, for fear it might tear down the church as well. But now with a family that had his back, one of the other Hadley's was already working on safely putting it out.
@jwalser3@gumflabica@darkfeather21@cascade@mth_@palidan
Watching from a considerable distance through a pair of binoculars, Curtis was not entirely pleased with what he saw. Chaos, burning trees, and no dead Hadleys. They were working to fight the fire from burning down their home, but there as of yet had been no conflict with the cyborg.
"Why hasn't he engaged in battle yet?"
It was at this point that Curtis received an important phone call from his employer, and was forced to leave the area.
"You had better get the job done, you metal monster."
Curtis hopped into his van, and sped away full speed.
@darkfeather21: @jwalser3: @blake_hadley:
"One of you either can't dress yourself or had to borrow clothes. Thank god your rather flat chested even slightly bigger cup size and clothing would likely be gone for you. The other came without money. Forgive me for thinking you could use help first impressions and all that." Casca didn't bring clothes with her but she had plenty of cash to make up for it. She'd have herself a closest full in no time. A call and she'd have guns and gear from friends, they were small time at the moment mainly selling ecstasy at raves but they spent money well. They'd seen how shit went in Gothic and told themselves to be ready for that. In turn they were armed quite well.
Before shopping sprees could begin however the resounding verve rations of a high powered explosive resounded. "Right family has it perfectly fine that's why within five minutes of knowing each others names we are being shot at." Soft blue eyes rolled backward as she used the various fires to have a grand view of her surroundings. The light of the fire became her eyes giving her a greater perspective of the suroundings. A flutter of wings and the archangel of light hovered above the cathedral. Slight turn and her eyes returned to focus as she drew her pistols and took aim.
"While teasing them as was my families custom I was actually looking forward to that trip. F*cking rude ass cyborg." The words flowed more to herself just vocalizing her annoyance. If the machine heard though even better. And there wasn't much likelyhood a armored being would run from standard pistols after all what were those small slugs to such plating? But her pistols were designed for her to take on much more apocalyptic things designed to fight devils. Without aid a bullet would punch through a tank, but Casca wasn't known for her restraint. A small portion of flames assailing the church wall vanished simply gone as her pistols radiated a neon light. And then with a thunderous sound unlike any pistol she began to unload.
The average bullet moved at about Mach one or two, roughly one thousand two hundred mph. By using light to alter the bullet speed she could speed the bullet up to Mach five with ease, roughly four thousand mph instead. The bullet would hit more like cannon fire and that was with just a minimal high. She fired six shots, all aimed for the machine. Admittedly it might of been better if she aimed for a more exact mark however she opted simply for trying to hit the target rather then aiming for say the head.
"holy f*ck! Seriously?!?!? Fire, dammit!" Mat began yelling expletives before finally deciding on a plan of action. "Okay guys....be prepared for a blackout" he said to the family with a little smirk on his face. Just then he threw his arms down and out as he bowed towards the cathedral. A giant cloud of black covered the surrounding are, taking the place of the oxygen and thus leaving the fire without fuel.
"Now that that's taken care of, Kels use your powers I dont care about the shirt....this is a little more important. Its time to kick some cyborg ass." As he finished he pulled out his bow and drew an arrow back. He looked the cyborg in the eye and yelled out "I hope you've learned not to f*ck with my family, cause if not you will soon." Then he released the arrow, which had a diamond arrowhead with tiny pouches of water all along it, aiming for the heart. If this freak even had one....
@jwalser3: @gumflabica@darkfeather21:@cascade_: @mth_: @palidan
A wide range of emotions waved through Blake's heart. Love for a family, concern for a family, even a bit off attitude against the anger he saw when his family try to stop the escaping cyborg. True the individual did just tried to kill his family, but the family didn't need to respond with such lethal force. Still family is family and although Blake had just met them, he knew deep inside he would protect them all in the same way, no matter what the cost. But in this rare occasion, Blake wanted answers, not blood. Still in flight he waved to get the attention of his family and shouted “Try not to kill him, I know he deserves to die, but I want to know why he tried to kill us and more importantly how he knew we would all be here?
It was now a waiting game to see his families response. They could either listen to him, kill the intruder or use some other display of power that would change the game. But for now Blake went under the impression that the cyborg was about to meet his maker. It was a sad situation for Blake to deal with, and not the best way to get to know his family. Because of this, his emotional state went out of whack and a wave of depression took over. His only option over turning into a crying fool was to take a little pick me up concealed in his belt. With a quick swallow of a pill, Blake was once again in a happier mood ready to face the cyborgs future.
@blake_hadley: @the_replicator: @cascade_: @mth_: Watching the winged man snuff out the diversion he had made, "Damn, they move fast." he thought to himself. He began to dash towards the other end of the cathedral, only to be welcomed with shouting, then a huge impact on his leg. The bullet fired from above it with such force it ripped through his cybernetic leg.
*Power level- 89%, Combat efficiency- 76%, left leg withstood moderate damage. Conclusion for further combat: Keep distance, and find cover.*
It played in his head for a micro second as he rolled with the impact. Looking up at the shooter, he begins to feel light headed, the flames on the building died out. He knew what was happening. "Clever" said to himself gasping for a moment. Dazed for a moment, he hears more shouting. "Holy hell, why do they talk so much?!" he yelled to himself.
In a flash of movement, he catches an arrow mid flight and quickly discards it.
Leaping down the building, Sodra Die Mens lets out three ionized bolts out at his main target, the bow kid. While mid air, after said three shots, he waves his arm in a 180 degree motion, letting off a volly of .45 rounds at the flying human that shot his leg.
He had no time to see if the shots reacted the targets, so he quickly bolted for the woods that wasn't burnt.
Each of the cyborgs bolts hits Mat, who was distracted by Blake's pleas for less fatal action. "So Blake.....still think we shouldn't have been trying to kill him? Just someone take me to the morgue....mortician's the only one who I've told what to do with my body when I die. Ooh and Cass take that a$$hole back to the cathedral. Downstairs I have a few cages, pick one and toss him in."he laid for a while longer before he grabbed at a random family member,"can you-can you just shoot me or something....please?"
@jwalser3: @mth_:Kels watched the others react to the fire, then raised an eyebrow as Mathias told her to use her powers. It had only been about an hour since she'd last used them. Even ending them prematurely meant only a half hour shaved off the two hour cool down. Sometimes she missed using drugs to activate her powers. But she didn't miss the jail cells she would then have to break out of when police plants inevitably arrested her for trying to buy PCP, and that was the main reason why she didn't use it.
With a light sigh, she stripped off the confining shirt and started running after the cyborg as it dashed into the forest. Despite its speed, the cyborg left behind a foolishly easy trail to follow, allowing her to follow with relative ease. It was almost like it wanted them to follow...
Out in the desert of San Valentin, Curtis was driving in the direction of a small black dot in the middle of the desert, which if he was closer, he would be able to recognize as a limousine. He already knew what it was before he started driving into the desert, of course. It was his employer's car.
Out there, the heat was sweltering, and Curtis was sweating. Most of it was from the heat, but some of it was from the fear. He wasn't exactly looking forward to this meeting. Having borrowed $100,000 without permission from your employer, especially when he was a powerful crime lord, and controlled an army of assassins, it was understandable that he be nervous. As he drew closer to the limousine, Curtis wondered how the future would turn out for him, and everyone else.
@darkfeather21: Upon reaching the woods, Sodra Die Mens jumps onto a low branch and proceeds to leap from branch to branch. Leaving no tracks behind, and using the foliage as cover, he thought to himself. "What even are these things. What kind of gun was that? Did I hit my target?" the thoughts rambled in his head.
Feeling he was a considerable distance away, he stops moving. Sitting down on the tree branch he examines his leg. A small 3 inch hole was through his metallic thigh. "Damn it! This is going to cost me at least $250,000!" he growls to himself.
*Power level- 84%, Combat efficiency- 67%, left leg withstood moderate damage. Conclusion for further combat: Gruella warfare.*
"Damn leg is draining my battery just to keep me moving at this speed."
Supporting himself with the trunk, he stood back up and continued to move. But his movements were slows, he was trying to conserve energy incase he was being followed. His cybernetic fingers turned into two .45 barrels. He was ready for anything. But with the trees covering him and him being in the flora, he found it hard to believe anyone could track him.
@jwalser3: Kels swore as she discovered that instead of a cyborg, she'd been following a grizzly bear. The bear was currently fishing in a river with its back to Kels, so she took advantage of the moment to slowly back away and dash back into the forest.
"Damn cyborg," she muttered. "Should've known it'd be smarter than that..." she slowed to a moderate jog, simultaneously pulling her knives free from their sheaths at the back of her belt. They were the same style used by US marines, about 7 inches long and sharp enough to slice through flesh and bone with ease.
She eventually came to a stop, casting her gaze around the area, trying to pick up even the slightest sign that the cyborg had run through the area.
Scoping out the Cathedral grounds Marv notices an explosion, *that damned cyborg must be making a mess* Switching over to infrared to spot any hidden baddies. *click*
*well, well what's this here...can't hide from me. Aiming at the leg already damaged as it is a brighter hue of blue, revealing the metallic limbs in blue.* Marv then fires a .50 caliber armor piercing bullet at the legs location hoping to sever it. Panning over to a flying target, above the trees he again takes aim but this time he puts an incendiary with napalm cap to be clear his allegiance is with neither party. Panning this time over to the cathedral trying to count heat signatures.....but a distortion interferes with the equiptment Realizing a personal touch would be required to count heads he places a remote activator chip in the Sniper mount controlling it now by mobile encrypted network.
Standing for a moment cracking his neck and knuckles, as his momentum charge hasn't been done in quite some time. He leans forward scuffs his foot and begins to sunder towards the lake picking up more and more acceleration. Reaching the shore he doesn't stop merely increases thrust as he begins to tread on the water as his force is extorted making the surface actually hard enough to run on. Reaching the forest he checks his mobile, setting the rifle to stay on him and blast any targets that come up.
The trees were still burning and the air was thick with smoke, the perfect atmosphere for recon. Marv places a few proximity stun mines around the trees as he passes heading closer to the cathedral. He then begins to start pounding on one of the trees causing it to fall towards the Cathedral hoping it was unnoticed as regular tree rot. Using his momentum ability again leaping on the tree charging forward smashing through the branches as he reaches the end and leaping forward tucking his limbs in like a cannon ball. He lands on the roof, on landing drops a 360 degree cam dome resembling a marble. Keeping up his momentum he leaps back into the forest crashing through the trees back towards the lake. He starts stomping raising a dust cloud and dives into the lake where he again gains momentum underwater like a torpedo towards the other side. Then returning to his Vila forgetting to check on the sniper set to auto fire as it begins firing more armor piercing rounds hitting birds flying around in the dust storm.
His mobile vibrating to show empty cartridge as he shakes his head, seeing all the dead birds. Disengaging the weapon. Walking in the door, setting his security system proximity sense anything entering a diameter of feet from his place.
Slowly walking to the ridge of the hill, all he can think about is if he took out his target. The shake memory of Hadley being pierced by the burning hot bolts of energy, "I must have!" he yells to himself. "I can't even double check. Too many damn eyes in the sky. Plus I'm out numbered, and maybe even out gunned. What the hell kind of gun was that? Damn old man has a lot of ex-" the zipping sound of a bullet rips through the air. Following it, the sound of bursting metal.
Sodra Die Mens damaged leg was shot, again. Clearly a large round, it splitting his damaged leg in half. Revealing sparks, wires, and a blackish, blue liquid.
"F#&%!" he roars out as he falls tot he ground. The hunk of metal that was his leg falls off the cliff and plumits to the ground. The cyborg is next. With all his force his claw begins scrapping the side of the hill. Leaving scratch marks in the earthy side. It would be some time before he could jump down, about 3 minutes.
*Power level- 57%, Combat efficiency- 36%, left leg - ERROR= Critical damage sustained. Conclusion to further combat: ERROR, Highly recommended to disengage.
Grunting as he slowly descended to the ground. "Th-that old ma-an owes me a n-new leg!"
@jwalser3 @wearelegion @darkfeather21 :
Watching from a distance, The Middleman squinted his eyes to focus on the battle. He had seen Curtis drive off, and so had taken his place watching the outcome of the battle. Thus far, things were going well. None of the Hadleys were dead yet, Mr. Mens was severely damaged, and the enforcer was plowing at the Hadleys with no restraint.
Mr. Mens was no longer in need of being paid for running the Hadleys into the streets, and bringing public attention to them again. Marv was doing Curtis' dirty work for him, and for free at that. And the Hadleys were in disarray, and disorganized. Curtis would have been immensely pleased with this. Unfortunately, their employer had called him off, and with Curtis' recent transactions, The Middleman was left to wonder whether or not Curtis would ever return to hear the good news.
@darkfeather21: Engel high above the Cathedral looking down at the carnage below in disbelief as he's lucid. He begins to enter a state of anger and then his increment of morphine is released. Steadying his anger to more of a focused contempt, unsheathing his spear from his back about to barrage the forest area when he notices Kels below in that very place. He dives down towards the armory area swiftly entering through an emergency entrance slipping on his winged armor with serrated edges and chest armor. Engel jumps back out of the secret entrance and back into the air.
This time he flies lower slicing through branches dropping many to the ground hoping to crash them down on whom ever was intruding. A sound of zipping and cracking branches is heard resembling gun fire, and the scent of sulfur. The smoke in the forest still thick, and a dust storm began to rise. Engel had to back out, back to the cathedral perhaps to guard against entry.
@the_replicator: After reaching the rocky moteum of the hill side, Sodra Die Mens sat against it. Taking a deep breath he saw his leg, it was dented, scratched up, it was a mess. He was able to prop himself up using the hill's side. He hastily hopped to the severed limb and lowered himself to pick it up. Looking down at it, "I could make it work, but I won't be 100%." he thinks to himself with a look of frustration and disgust.
At that moment he snapped it to the blasted off nub. It had no function, his systems read "ERROR" when it ran a diagnostic on it.
*Power level- 45%, Combat efficiency- 30%, left leg - ERROR= Critical damage sustained. Conclusion to further combat: ERROR..*
He limped away to the only place he'd consider a safe place for him, The Strongbox. When he finally reached the rundown haven, three thugs were standing outside. One looked at him and asked "Are you the dude sel-", the ghetto echoed with sound of two gunshots. Sodra Die Mens shot him twice in the heart. He died before he hit the dirt. Sodra looks at them and roars "Laat jou wurms!(Translated- Leave you worms)" they were just small crooks trying to buy some fire arms to strengthen themselves. Sodra Die Mens had no time to deal with chump change.
Sort time paces. Sodra Die Mens was able to solder the wires back together, dint out a few dents, and weld the leg back to him. "I look like kak(Translated-Bad word)." Running a diagnostic
*Power level- 78%, Combat efficiency- 64%, left leg running at minimal efficiency*
He took a step with the working leg. It was fine. The other leg went forwards, the moment it hit the floor for support he jerked and it twitched a little bit. He could fight, but he wasn't in his prime.
Leaving the Strongbox, he went to go search for his employers and collect what they owe him.
Each of the cyborgs bolts hits Mat, who was distracted by Blake's pleas for less fatal action. "So Blake.....still think we shouldn't have been trying to kill him? Just someone take me to the morgue....mortician's the only one who I've told what to do with my body when I die. Ooh and Cass take that a$$hole back to the cathedral. Downstairs I have a few cages, pick one and toss him in."he laid for a while longer before he grabbed at a random family member,"can you-can you just shoot me or something....please?"
His brothers words hurt more than any weapon could inflict. It was Blake's fault his little brother Mathias was injured, and all over a little restraint. It was not as though Blake was afraid to kill, it was simply he wished to bring the cyborg in alive for questioning. Either way, as he looked down upon his dying brother the emotional impact canceled out any juice left from his little red pick me up.
As he watched Mathias bleeding body being taken to the mortician it was hard for him to keep his distance. Blake made it a point to stay with his little brother until he was back on his feet. With every second that passed, he waited in such anguish that even his I-pod play list of classical music was no comfort. Still trying to play it cool, he kept his stone cold poker face. He knew Mathias was a Hadley which meant he was immortal, but deep inside he was screaming “Come back to me dear brother, you can't leave us after we've just met.”
The Middleman was not pleased when he saw that the cyborg had fled the battlefield. He wondered why nobody had stopped him before realizing that finding anyone withing the massive forest fire wouldn't have been easy. The cyborg would undoubtedly seek to gain reparations for his damaged parts. This was quite unfortunate for the cyborg, as he hadn't managed to kill Mathias Hadley. No kill, no pay.
The Middleman watched as the enforcer tore through the burning forest, wondering why Curtis was taking so long.
***************************************
Curtis' van stopped about thirty feet away from the limo. Already out there were two bodyguards, only one visible. Curtis exited his van, and allowed the one visible guard to frisk him. Finding nothing, Curtis was guided to the other side of the limousine, where his employer sat in a lawn chair, looking quite casual, despite being decked out in a green three piece suit. Curtis and the guard were sweating, but his employer did not. He never did.
"Ah, John, what a surprise, how good of you to drop in."
Curtis nodded curtly. "Mr. Owlsley."
Leland Owlsley got to his feet to look Curtis in the eyes. "Now, my boy, do you want to explain why the f*** you were removing funds from the account!?!?!"
"I needed to hire someone," Curtis said, before stopping to take a breath. "I needed to hire someone to get the Brightholme Virus out of the mine."
Owlsley looked completely incredulous, but slightly calmer than he was a second ago. "Ok. You needed to hire someone to get the virus out of the mine. Makes sense. I just have one question."
Curtis didn't ask. He knew the outrage in Owlsley was about to resurface.
"Why the hell do you need to hire someone to do that!?! Why don't you get that fat a** of yours down there instead? So there are a few walking corpses down there, all you need to do is shoot, and BAM! They're dead again! You could have used that buddy of yours! It's not as though they could eat him!"
"I needed him at my side. The situation is growing steadily worse in San Valentin."
"I've heard. The grandson of that mutant wackjob got arrested for committing the same crime as his granddad. Of course, he's innocent, isn't he, Replicator?"
A tiny smidgen of distaste appeared on Curtis' face; he hated that name. He kept it under control.
"You gonna say anything?" Owlsley started circling Curtis. "Speak up boy, I don't hear any answers coming my way."
A look of disgust was worn by Owlsley now. "Alright. Has he gotten the virus out of the mine yet?"
Curtis' silence spoke more than could ever be said by the human tongue.
"Hm. So, you've charged me, from one of my personal accounts no less, a hundred k, and you have nothing to show for it?"
Owlsley's look of disgust increased, and he shook his head. "Alright." He stopped moving and looked Curtis in the eye. "Why should I keep you under my employ?"
"Do you have to ask?"
"Oh, I know you have great value to me, yadda yadda yadda. My question is, why shouldn't I kill you? Sure, $100, 000 may seem insignificant compared to what I've handled, and what I've amassed personally, but there's one thing that I've learned from my pappy, and that's that every. Penny. Counts."
Owsley turned to the guard. "Shoot him."
Staggering his way through town, Sodra Die Mens was hellbent on finding the two men that misinformed him. Only problem, he didn't know where to start. He could trace their tracks at the mountain. With the fire burning the evidence, they still have those flying people around.
"First I'll kill those two, and then go kill the birdbrains." He said to himself. His leg was holding up, but for how long? Nobody knows.
The Middleman watched the limping cyborg stumble through the city streets of Cornell, while, amazingly, the passerby largely ignored him. Following behind, from about 50 feet, he knew that Sodra Die Mens was looking for them, looking to get reparations for a failed mission. The Hadley boy had been dragged inside by the other Hadleys, and would no doubt be healed and in the skies soon enough.
The cyborg was weak minded. Did he not pay attention to the news? Had he no idea, or even the thought, that there could be more Hadleys? He had suffered dearly for that. Marv added insult to injury. What did he intend to do now? Demand his unearned money? Get revenge?
A stranger bumped into The Middleman as he followed, and tried to pickpocket him. He received an electrostatic shock for his trouble, and The Middleman smirked as he continued trailing the cyborg. By chance, The Middleman looked up to the horizon beyond Sodra Die Mens, and saw Mission Hill.
"So," The Middleman thought. "He isn't just stumbling around looking us, he's going to try and track us down. Good luck with that."
And so the cyborg and The Middleman continued their march, only one aware of the other.
******************************************
In the desert, things were not faring so well for Curtis. His former employer had just ordered his execution, and there was apparently no room for discussion.
"Maybe you'd like to talk about this a little longer?"
A new look of disgust appeared on Owlsley's face. "Why haven't you shot him yet?"
The bodyguard pulled out his gun, but before it was fully raised, Curtis whipped around and knocked it from his hands; simultaneously knocking the guard off his feet. Grabbing the gun from mid-air, he shot the previously hidden bodyguard before he could get to his feet, and turned to face Owlsley.
"How do you feel about talking now?"
Owlsley had a look of mild bemusement on his face, and he started chuckling. A small grin was cracked. "Well, you certainly still have your talents." He looked at his watch, before speaking up again. "So?"
"So what?"
A look of exasperation appeared on Owlsley's face, and with a sigh, he said, "Do you want your job back?"
Curtis thought for a moment,"He doesn't let things go this easily...... What's he planning?" Curtis then nodded, and lowered the gun.
A smile came to Owlsley. "Swell. Alright, then, I have places to go, things to see." He opened the door of the limousine, and sat in the seat. The smile disappeared, and he became deadly serious. "The money's already been transferred back. If you ever pull a stunt like this again, I won't be so lenient."
Owlsley closed the door, and the limousine turned into the road, and sped away, leaving Curtis behind in the heat.
Curtis turned away, and headed back to the comfort of his van. Upon sitting, he turned on his cellular phone, and called The Middleman.
"Status report."
@the_replicator:Treking uphill, Sodra Die Mens couldn't get the sniper out of his mind. "Did those two send him to kill me? Was it one of the two suits? " scowling, "I feel like I'm being played."
He arrives to the spot were the three of them spoke. Crouching down, he examines the ground. Parts had soot, and burnt bark on the ground. It made it difficult to make out anything. He brushed the area high and low. But no sign. The frustrated cyborg walked back and forth. Laughing, he takes a knee. The upright knee's calf opened up. Revealing a small rod that he removed. Still chuckling to himself.
He walked to the ledge of the hill and slammed the rod into the ground. It began to flash blue, bright and slowly. He carefully sat there, facing the woods. About 15 minutes pass, the peaceful night sky is ripped open by the sound of helicopter blades. The chopper comes in low and fast, turning to its side. The sliding doors open, revealing armored soldiers. The helicopter hovers as close as possible to the ridge of the mountain. Two of the soldiers hop out of the vechial, pointing their guns at the woods.
One makes a signal for the cyborg to enter the craft. But, before he does he squats by the ridge and begins to use his ionic blaster to carve something in it. Arising, he looks at the city and blows it a kiss before entering the helicopter. The two troops quickly follow, still pointing their rifles at the treeline.
The helicopter quickly flies off into the pitch back sky. The flash rod sparks up and explodes. As for the work Sodra Die Mens left carved in the stone. It read
"Hierdie stad sal as geword" in English....."This city will become ash."
The Replicator and The Middleman watched as the helicopter took off into the night sky, and were perplexed.
"I'd have thought that he would have tried tracking us," said The Middleman.
"No doubt he did, but finding any evidence, even if we'd left any, would have been extremely difficult with all this soot."
Curtis approached the edge of the mountain while The Middleman continued to focus on the helicopter, which was a considerable distance away now. Curtis stopped, and upon reaching the ridge, stopped and found writing that had been freshly carved into the mountain.
"Come see this."
The Middleman stopped following the chopper with his eyes, and approached Curtis. Curtis motioned to the writing.
"This looks like Afrikaans. Can you read that?"
The Middleman had to think for a moment before he understood what the message said. "This city will be burned to ash."
Curtis stood, and turned to the sky where the helicopter had been. "Can you still see them?"
"No."
"We need to make contact with people here."
"What about Owlsley?"
"He'll be of no help to us. He only wants the virus."
"Then who do we speak to?"
"We need to talk to Marv."
IC: We have a common foe, now, Marv. @wearelegion
An alarm sounds and wakes Marv from his slumber the auto sniper turret locked on what appears to be a Fed Ex delivery man holding a package. Marv taps the mobile receiver to put the turret on standby, opening the door and signing for the package. No inside address was labeled, he brought it into the dining room area placing it on the table and proceeded on scanning it for explosives. The package contained a cellular phone and it began to ring, when he picked it up. "Hello, Marv we need to talk as apparently we have a mutual enemy. That cyborg needs to be put down." says the voice, "This town is full of scum needing to be put down! and that cyborg is just one of many. I know he's after you now, and myself as well as I planned it this way. As for those flying people, and Connor that'll be my discretion. I'll make one suggestion to you, E.M.P. make friends with it. *crushing the cell phone to end the call* lights up a cig, and starts his morning cup of Joe.
Wtf kind of city did I drive into, but it's got a great view. That's all that counts once scum is off these streets, and then I can relax at last with that view and possibly a senoirita on my side. Looking out his window at the view over the lake seeing the Hadley cathedral on the horizon, he's reminded of the threats still looming and he turns the auto sniper sentry back on as he starts cooking his breakfast. The sizzle of bacon & eggs and the taste of coffee still fresh eases his mind, then hit sits to scarf his meal down before he begins his journey to the Ghettos to meet this cyborg in person. Figuring the ghettos would be a perfect spot to stay if your not wanting to be found. Before he leaves he straps on a few dampening field emitters to place in the area to either draw out the Cyborg and any other scum that requires power in the area. He also upgrades the Turret watching over his place for flight capability having it be a birds eye on his every move. An alternate home monitoring device is setup, which sends out shockwaves pushing back any unwanted visitors.
He jumps on his hog and rides out to begin his search.
Hawkeye, was doing his thing when a live feed came across his digital eye. It was from Marv, an old mercenary he once knew the details about a cyborg, mafia, crooked mayor and mutant flying beings. The intel he was able to gather had to be delivered in person so he caught a covert drop to the San Valentin abandoned mission building. Blinking his eye, he scans the area for infrared signs zooming over the landscape. Switching over to electrical signals, he hones in on the transponder Marv setup. Through the cover of his camouflage skills, he found his way to Marvs hideout. Transferring a code to grant access to the shockwave field.
Walking into the house he sees the cache of toys that Marv picked up, starts grabbing and assembling gadgets from the parts of other weapons. He begins upgrading the hide out with some of his known tricks placing phase shifting signal emitters through out the place, the place was now invisible to all electrical monitoring devices. He then crawled up to the roof vanishes as his suit made him translucent, while up there he began scanning the neighborhood counting heads making records of body temps, height, gender. There's a fine line between paranoia and knowing your surroundings and from the intel received precautions must be done.
Marv not being at the location wasn't a big surprise knowing his ways, probably out roughing up thugs for info. Hawkeye decided to go check out the fabled flying folk, stealth running towards the dock where a boat was hitched. As Hawkeye climbs into the boat the translucent field covers the boat as well, crossing the lake leaving a cloaking device on the boat dragging it ashore. A forest now lay before him, he scales the highest tree. blinking and scanning the area he picks up heat signatures, surprising at the height he was looking and with his other eye spotting a flyer. Zooming in he sees a young blonde haired angel looking flyer with his eye closed soaring into the sky. he shakes his head in disbelief.
Hawkeye pulls out his sniper rifle with silencer, loading a tracking hollow bullet filled with a usb card with intel about the Mayor, Mafia, cyborg, and the replicator.
Casca had fired perhaps one of the most successful attacks on the cyborg. And soon enough within the conflict the machine retreated. Everything said Mathias was done from the attack but it didn't halt Cascade. She believed that be it permanent or brief it was Casca's job not to morn but peruse. Thanks to being a new arival to town and the darkness of night nobody knew her. The family and the cyborg were the only ones who'd recognize her and even then one might argue barely considering how quick the fight had been.
As for the blonde she had a far less difficult time following the cyborg. Lights flames and even sparks these were all like eyes and ears to the Hadley. She followed the cyborgs sparks to the grungy town. From their she simply blended in with suroundings. A Hadley would stand out in a region full of suits and prudes. But a Hadly could hide amongst the filth as well as any other rat or drug addict or gang member.
So she followed letting the enhanced sight that came with being the drug addicted angel she was. Pershing a helicopter however had no feelings of wisdom. The two looking toward starry night where chopper had just been they might hold answers. The question was would they lead her further into unraveling mysteries or had they spotted her.
To be honest Cascade hoped they did retaliate. Her families blood was spilt someone else's blood should pay in kind.
@cascade_ : The Replicator turned away from the direction of the Helicopter. He looked the other way, into the bright shining city. He knew that whatever the cyborg was going to do, it was going to be big. Too big. Too big for the city, too big for it's people. That mechanical monster was going to ravage the city. That incompetent mechanical moron, who had failed his mission and gotten his leg shot off after being warned about the enforcer.
He looked to the sky above San Valentin, and as he looked into the starry night, he perceived a distortion, if only for a split second. He turned to The Middleman.
"Did you see that?"
The Middleman turned and looked in the direction in which Curtis was focused. The Middleman himself focused, and saw the winged form of a Hadley, female by all appearances. He spoke to Curtis without averting his gaze.
"A Hadley. The female one who shot the cyborg."
"I see. Well, considering the circumstances, I feel that it is time to make contact with the Hadleys. The city depends on it."
She'd done her best to be subtle but sure enough they'd caught sight of her. Was a bit of a problem that came with a giant wing span the briefest moment of flight could be the end of any given stealth. Though apart of her was indeed glad of being spotted and of the following comment. She popped yet another pill and moved from the trees guns drawn and readied to attempt piercing skulls.
"Contact made. The fck do you want? You and roboto friends? Swear to god if I don't get answers I'll be using your brains for dogfood." She chucked a bit before lightening up though she still kept guns trained. "I'm sorry that was a tad much maybe we can discuss issues over friendly coffee. My family means everything a threat to this city is a threat to them. We've only an issue if your part of that threat."
@cascade_: Curtis put on a look of stone-cold shock, while The Middleman's face remained stone-cold. When Curtis spoke, it was a voice of surprise and some indignation.
"Us! Friends with him?!?" He lowered his disgruntled tone into something more calm. "No, my dear, we are enemies. That cyborg is a fugitive from the CIA, an assassin and gun-runner operating out of Cornell.
Curtis pulled his badge from his pocket, and The Middleman followed suit. "As you can see, we are genuine agents of the CIA, and that cyborg is a genuine threat. We know you know, as we witnessed him attacking your home not too long ago."
"We'd been following him for a few months before we lost him, and then he turned up here. We'd come here to put him down, and sadly we have failed."
Curtis put his badge back in his pocket, and made sure to look both ways before motioning for the angel to come nearer. When she didn't, Curtis whispered anyways.
"You might wonder why we're telling you this. Frankly, it's because we don't stand much of a chance against him. When he flew off in that chopper, he was flying off to get reinforcements, of which we have none. That's why we're talking to you. We need your help to save the city. We need your help to save San Valentin."
That mechanical monster was going to ravage the city. That incompetent mechanical moron, who had failed his mission and gotten his leg shot off after being warned about the enforcer.
OOC: You're adding fuel to the fire buddy. ;)
I meant the Hadley's mostly. You never actually told my character that you were C.I.A.
Yeah. Lol. Wanting a zombie virus is pretty bad guy level stuff lol. But I wouldn't consider Sodra Die Mens a terrorist. Just a hitman kind of deal. The only think evil I've done with him is kill a 20 year old hacker girl in Gothic City.
Gothic City? Hacker girl? Gotham City? Oracle? You'll have Batman after you in not too long. But in all seriousness, it's one of my other characters that wants the virus. Mine is just the go to guy.
:Your both on my shit list and I've brought in an old friend to clean up this city. And killing a hacker is definitely a baddy on my list, especially if it's Oracle. Batman will have to get in line, as I got first dibs.
Yeah. Lol. Wanting a zombie virus is pretty bad guy level stuff lol. But I wouldn't consider Sodra Die Mens a terrorist. Just a hitman kind of deal. The only think evil I've done with him is kill a 20 year old hacker girl in Gothic City.
Nah. She was 17 years old :P
It's a chilly night in San Valentin, the sky is bluish gray, and for a moment, it looks like a normal place. Until a black hawk helicopter screams through the sky, hovering over the Strongbox. The blades fling around sand and rocks in the little to nothing yard in front of the compound.
Hoping down out of the chopper is the cybernetic hitman, Sodra Die Mens. Followed by four soldiers. Two in what were clearly exosuits, one was wearing light weight armor. A Mar 20 was slung around one shoulder, he looked young. The last one slowly followed behind the group. Sporting dark armor, he looked calm.
Entering the disgusting building the cyborg spins around and says "Welcome! Welcome to my Strongbox." the four grunts looked at each other and looked rather awkward. "So, let me get to know you guys." he asks while picking up a AK-74.
The first exosuit man said "Nathan Rang, 23rd Exo Division. Been with Maverick for about 7 years. Exos been my life ever since." He says stroking his mustache. The second suit wearing grunt, "Michael Kishlansky, 13th Exo Divison. Best one there is." erupting with a sarcastic tone. "Yeah, f$cking right!" he roars bumping into Nathan. The two are clearly buddies and have had history. "Nathan's been my bud since high school, joined the Marines awhile back and got selected by Maverick. But we got put into different divisions."
Michael shoves Nathan, "Yeah, you should see the two of us on the field during exo football." Scanning the Strongbox.
The youngest man, the sniper, cradling his rifle, says "John. John Mobat, nothing really special about me. Used to be a Ranger specialized in sniping. Don't want to brag, but I could pluck a quarter off your heads from 400 yards away." He says chuckling to himself. The two exo buddies look at each other with disgust about his remark.
The Shadow Company man didn't say much, "Doesn't matter. Here to work, who are we here for?"
Sodra Die Mens looks at him and says,"A few angles and some suits." I'm looking to stir up some trouble with the wings first. So, lets move out."
The 5 man death squad begin their journey to the church at the top of the hill... San Valentin would be in for a fight.
Please Log In to post.
Log in to comment