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Post by Braddoc on Jun 15, 2010 22:20:44 GMT -5
She swing her arm, but I’m way too slow for all that metal, not that I was able to do anything short of turning my head. Her spurs bite my face. Great I’m bleeding now. “You dunno?” “I dunno!” “FRAGGIN’ LIE TROGGY!” Man of Steel picks me up by the sides, squeezing my arms on my torso all the way up to the ceiling. I managed to close my eyes before my skull broke through the gyprock. At least there wasn’t a 2by4 behind . “WHY’D YOU KILL STITCHES FOR HUH?” “I DIDN’T EVEN KNOW THERE WAS SOMEONE NAMED STITICHES IN HERE ‘TIL YOU SAID THE FRAGGIN’ NAME!” Again I get passed throught the ceeling. A little higher too, I think I felt the floor. “YOU FRAGGIN’ HIRED HIM TO RAM THAT DREK EURO CAR O’ YOURS INTO ANDERSON’S LAST NIGHT! THEN WHEN HE DID IT, YOU FRAGGIN’ BLEW’HIM UP!”
She started to to cut me like the nutcase she was. Adding in the cyber screams, yeah I was scared now. At least she concentrated on the torso this time. Nice work from the cyber monster keeping me higher than eye level. My armour took most blows. Most. I got to start wearing my form-fitting armour more often. “AAAHH! YOU FRAGGIN’ CRAZY SLITCH! MY AUDI GOT JACKED 2 DAYS AGO THAT’S WHY I’M RIDIN’ IN SOME FRAGGIN’ VAN!” At least that got her to stop slicing me. “WHERE!” “ZOMBIELAND, I WAS TAILING A GUY AND SOMEONE KIDNAPPED THE GUY AND JACKED MY RIDE! WHERE’D YOU THINK I GOT MY FACE WORKED OUT HUH? I HAD TO FRAGGIN’ RUN INTO GHOUL TOWN TO GET CLEAR OF OF THOSE FRAGGIN’ CLOWNS WHO WERE SHOOTING ME!” She calmed herself, thank God for that. “Who jacked your ride?” “Beats the hell outta me.” I felt myself going up, so I just did some stopping sounds. I saved that. “All I know it’s the guy I was tailing wasn’t who I was told he was. I was on my way to check out my buddy who feed me the job and the info when Switches and his crew got in my way and fraggin’ dragged me in here.” I was dropped to the ground, almost lost my balance, but I held on my feet, somewhat. “Where’s your buddy at now?” “East side, ‘Hacker turf.” She approaches fast, almost bumping on my nose. I'm not even halfway done blinking. “You tellin’ me he’s...a Reality Hacker?” “Nah, just around ‘cause they got the programs he needs. Just like you make buddy-buddy with the hacksaws for discount installs.” Eva musta had some new cyber up in her arm, because she lifted me up in the air, maybe an inch or tow, but it was still something new. “Listen up Four-Eyes, and listen well: it’s your problem now It was your car and your name, so it’s your responsibility too. So you better find out what the frag happened with all this drek, and bring me who did it, or ‘else I’ll start to think you did it, and that you’re just Bulldrekkin’ me. And if that’s the case, I’ll skin you and wear you as a fraggin’ coat y'hear? I’m only letting you go this time because it ain’t your style to pull drek like that, and I’m in a good mood this morning. Only because of that. We understand each other?”
I just nodded my head and she let me down. “You’ll take Switches and his crew with you, in case you need help..or a reminder.” I looked at the man. He was looking as happy as I about the deal. Fraggin' mornings. That’s why I never get up before 10.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 15, 2010 22:11:31 GMT -5
The downstairs place was the basement apartments under a tenement building right in what used to be ‘Hackers turf. Judging by the corridor’s decoration of gang symbols, obvious signs of melee, human-shaped holes in the walls (possibly when one of the gangers decided to walk through it, since the concept of doors is beyond them now) and spurs scratches, anyone with a little sense can assume the gang decided to claim the basement as their own. At least you don’t have nobodies running in the middle. No one hears, no one snitches. No one to come and save you too.
Switches led the way, his crew closing the march. The place smelled of blood, human blood that is. Someone got something removed recently. Dark too, everyone who was a Shiv had low-light in those cyber eyes. At least some lights from those who weren’t broken or burned out and left there. The gangers seemed grim, at least those that still were capable of facial expressions. Eva was sitting in an old dentist chair, rusted, the leather turning black from all the layers of dried blood it had accumulated with time. Her brand new cyberskull was getting getting engraved. At least now she won’t be laughed at for being an Elf, but I liked her sorta better with a real head on.
Then a massive force pushed me from behind. Well, not quite, more from the side and back. It still got me flying a couple of meters into a waiting ganger. I didn’t had the time to think that I was turned over and gripped, face to face with the Man of Steel. He was like a tall Orc when he was meat, now he’s more like a short Troll. Enhanced strength and size, boosted reflexes, twin cyber SMGs, eyes and ears with everything you can possibly cram up there, legs with pistons in it that can get him 5 meters in the air, extra armour all over, spurs, fangs (of all things), hand razors, the works. He got all this gunning down a family of 4, sold the organs and chop the car out for parts. I didn’t do anything, so what gives? I tried to ask, but that pretty much cut my wind, the ganger holding me didn’t helped my case crushing me like he did. He began to walk, his grip wasn’t failing and brought me in front of Eva. That close, she looks decent, at least her torso was still original or looked the part on the outside. I was let go right before she kicked me in the chest. This time on one was there to grip me, they just bumped me down toward the ground. At least nothing cracked.
I managed to get up, no one’s making a move this time. I can manage to catch some breath now. “Whatthefrag?” “Yeah what the frag Four-Eyes,” even her voice was cybered up, “what the frag you’re doing doin’ drek in our turf without me approving it huh? How come I got people telling me you hired Stitches to do some monkey work and then you fraggin’ blew him up huh?” I shrugged “I don’t know what you’re talking about Eva. Didn’t came here for biz in weeks.” Man of Steel locked my good arm up before kicking me behind the knee. His boss popped out of her chair and got her spurs out. Frag.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 14, 2010 21:02:23 GMT -5
My toe hits the box-set, waking me up. My bedsheets are all rolled up around me. I’m on the floor, and it’s the worse time ever: 5:10, too late to get back to sleep and too early for business. I gotta stop buying my dope from that Indian behind the Weapons’ World. It’s like the 9th time I had that dream since I started buying from him. At least this time I didn’t woke up in sweat, stressed outta my mind.
Had my morning smoke then did my meditation things. Extra bonus from Meg’s Aikido teacher. People say they can see how less hyper I am when I got the spells kicked-in. I didn’t see any change. Then breakfast, laundry, dressing up, gunslinging while watching the traffic report and laughing at all the poor suckers stuck in rush hour northbound. They all looked miserable while I drove passed them going south.
I exited at Puyallup, I’ll get my car from my lock-up then go check on Lianna. ‘Still can’t believed she failed hard on that one. I passed by Anderson’s shop. Someone did a number on his entrance, half the wall was curved in. The Dwarf was busy bitching and yelling at a Templeton’s rent-a-cop, who was trying to get someone on the phone. Poor bastard, Anderson’s a douche. ‘Why didn’t you shot the guy, he stole my things’. ‘Why did you shoot the guy, there’s blood all over my inventory!’ Blablablabla. Not like doing the Templeton beat’s full of pride and glory too. At least it was money.
There was alot of Shivs walking the streets too. They were easy to spot. All about getting the most cyber crammed between your ribs. Some cut to the chase and got full cyber-torso, minus the sythskin. Looks real killer with a cyber skull too, but they are, or were, easy to deal with: they only used blades, hand razors, drek like that, until Switches got beat up by Eva. Then she decided cyber-guns were fair play. Stupid self-hating Elf. At least they got a quarter of Puyallup City’s streets under their hands now, so it wasn’t all that stupid. Musta been her old human self talking sense.
Speak of the devil, the man himself is crossing the streets in front of me with his crew. They begin to slow down and get half-circle in front of the van. They’re not looking for a fight at least. And Switches is coming to my window. That’s always good news. I rolled it down and got my arm out, making sure my gun’s visible. Not to look for a fight, just a friendly reminder. “’Sup Switches.” He leaned on the side view mirror. Half his head was metal, he was going for that ‘machine with half a human face’ style. ‘Worked all right. I could even see myself in his shiny red cybereye. “Eva wants to see you.” “What she wants?” “She wants to see you.” “All right, I got time this aftern-“ His spurs popped out of his hand. “Eva wants to see you now.”
“Huh..right..’suppose you and your crew gotta stick around, make sure I got there all right?” “Drek Delly, you’re readin’ me like a fraggin’ book.” “I told you not to call me ‘Delly’” “I can call you what I fraggin’ want in my streets, Trog-lover.” ‘I thought those were Eva’s streets now’ sounded right, but like I had the time now. He yelled at his crew to get in. He got shotgun, the rest got the back. With no benches. “Yeah yeah, so what she wants?” “Dunno Delly. Maybe she’s just bitch mad someone got to cut’ya before she did. Where’d you get it?” “Ghouls.” That seemed to drop the temperature a few notches. They looked at me liked I had the plague. “Ooooh.. big scary gangers afraid of a lil’ Ghoul huh?" “I ain’t scared o’ drek, especially not you.” “Well lucky you, that was 2 days ago. If I were gonna turn, I’d be blowing fluids from every orifice I’ve got. So where’re we going? She’s at that downstairs place right?”
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 14, 2010 20:51:42 GMT -5
“Hey Stick’em! Look what I’ve got!” Stick’em was the baddest ganger around. The boys respected him, the bums feared him, even the whores gave him freebies. So when I got my first gun, he was the first to know about it; Colt American L-36, with the extended ‘military/security only’ magazine, all the numbers limes off and even a laser sight. “Damn kid, nice heater you’ve got. Musta’ve cost a bunch.” “Drek yeah it did! I had to jack 16 car radios to pay for it, took me a week AND I got zapped 7 times while gettin’ them.”
“Not bad kid, but you just copied me! I bought myself a gun too!...a fraggin’ Ares Predator!” He unholstered his pistol, it was the greatest thing ever: It looked badass, it inspired badass, and it made a loud firing sound like a badass (At least on the Trid it did). It shined under the streetlight, even if it was matte finish. “C..can I hold it Stick’em? Huh” Can I can I?” “Pff..nah, you ain’t cool enough to use that one yet. Besides you got your own piece now. Where you gonna stash it?” “Same place I stash all my stuff!” “What? You stupid or somethin’?” “I’m not stupid.” “Well don’t put all your’drek in the same stash like that, people are gonna call you stupid humie and they gonna laugh at you. Th’trick is to get a few stashes around y’see? So then if someone found your stash, you still got drek at other places!” “You’re right! You smart Stick’em!” “I know that. Even better: hide a gun near your stash so when those fraggers come and push you around ‘cause they all when to steal your drek after you show’em where it is, you can show’em what happens when people mess with your stash.” He quickdraws his Predator out, turning it around his finger before putting it away again. Badass. “Can you teach me how to do that?” “Yeah, b...frag, Princes.” Across the road a few elven bikers pulled up in a vacant lot, just staying there. “They’re...6 of them! How we gonna kill’em?” “You stay behind the car and cover m’back. Me and Harry’s crew are gonna take care of it.” “But they’re Princes! They’re fraggin’ tough!” “Not for long. Word is they gonna get hit real hard soon. Just don’t show your head to them, you gonna be all right.”
He just got up and crossed the streets diagonally. A few of Harry’s guys were doing the same. Harry stayed bad behind the car like me, just some 100 meters away, but he wasn’t just parading with his AK. The Princes didn’t even reacted. Everything was fine until Stick’em was passed 20 meters or so from the alley beside the Mafia peep show. 10 meters down the road from me, a Prince with a SMG just popped out of there and aimed down. I still don’t how Stick’em could have missed him. I took out my gun, aimed and fire at the Elf, once twice..then nothing. I pulled the trigger but nothing came out; the second shell jammed itself. I froze. My shots got everyone shooting, even my target. He didn’t even seems to noticed me. I’m a terrible shot. I panicked and ran, hiding in the entry of the Stuffer Shack. Then I heard bike engines roars, and 4 Princes riding off, firing all over the place, yelling like monsters.
I stick my head out of my cover. Harry’s callin’ his guys, one seems to be moving. Stick’em’s cut to shreds, he took so many rounds that his guts bursted out, his head’s gone from the jaw up, his arms and legs twisted and curled in impossible angles. I rolled into a ball. I killed Stick’em. I’m not even holding my gun. I don’t want to anymore. I’m clutching my chest and I noticed there’s a big hole in the middle of it, I can see the wall behind me. I begin to sob. I got shot, there’s nothing in me, I’m dying, I’m hurt.
It fades to black as it get warm, all around me. Feels like fluffy carpet. My sorrow just go away, replaced almost instantaneously by joy, or more like an ease, like some weight just flew off my shoulders. Everything’s all right. I just roll around, having a blast.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 14, 2010 8:24:10 GMT -5
OOC: Nice, I'm quite surprised we're getting that much traffic for a dead board..heh...Nice to see people are intrested, or at least following what's going on. Perhaps some will step forward get into the fray. At Worknow, so more postin' tonight. Keep on lurking
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 11, 2010 17:17:41 GMT -5
Of course I had 32 messages waiting for me when I got home. Half of them were from yesterday. A good quarter of them, the recent ones, were people asking me where I was and if I wasn’t in trouble. I should have hired that secretary instead of buying that car. Which I no longer have. Oh yeah, I got to pick up my Americar tomorrow and bring it to Red for an overhaul.
I took an hour to call everyone, book my few meets I’ve got to do and calmed everyone about my whereabouts. At least with the vid screen off, I didn’t have to waste time skating around about what happened to my face. Then I rolled myself a fat one and popped in that recording chip.
The first surprise came when the Elf was dressed under that coat. The second one was when both started talking about work, kids, school and showing off report cards to be signed by BOTH PARENTS. That wasn’t some guy cheating, it was husband and wife having a little fun when both happened to be in the same city for work. He did say he had 3 places to go, 2 in the UCAS, another in Europe. Same for her, just that she needs up in Asia. And all this in 2 days. Man, Lianna fragged that info up big time. That killed my buzz right there. That was a first for her. I skipped to the end. The man goes to the door as a knock is heard. He opens and a ray of mana hits him square in the chest and he goes down. Looks like a stun bolt, at least he might still be alive. A pair of suits enters, kicked some clothes around and picks him up, taking him outside. I can’t see the Mage, but I know he’s there. I tried booking a meet with Lianna, but she didn’t answer. She’s spending way too much time in the Matrix nowadays for her own good. I better get there, after I get my car outta locker.
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“There, he’s going for it”
“Stupid rent-a-cop. Keep that motor runnin’. I’ll go arm the bomb and block the pedal. Man, this is gonna be fraggin’ awesome!” Stichtes ran out of the car. Not out like a normal person, he just hurled himself out. Young and dumb, ‘think everything’s a game. Or like in the Trid. When you’re asked to clean a room, you clean it: remove the prints, blood, clothes, dead skin, hair, the whole nine yards: no one must see or think that anyone was ever here. No, he just kick a pair of pants on a blood stain and “Done deal Del! Man, I never did something like that before! I feel like a hitman!” Punk.
At least he managed to get his looser ganger buddies to do a little diversion to get the Templeton patrol car outta sight. The Star decided to cut the visibility routine since the Underground animals calmed down, that helped things. A lot. That Delacroix better have those cameras down. Even if there’s only one who seems to be in working condition. I’m not looking to get my face painted on the news, not when I got family problems. And it’s not the kind of ex-wife-calling-me-all-the-damn-time family problems too. Family, with a Capital F.
Tires screeching got my out of my day late-night dreaming. The car just drove itself into the building, half of the hood had passed the wall and went inside. Stitches made some bad attempt at being badass by jumping in from the window. It would have been decent if his right leg didn’t stayed outside. I drove away. Half a block down and Templeton’s patrol was there already. Another Rent-a-cop got out from inside. I should have known.
“Come on man, gimme the remote I wanna push the button!” I sighed, might as well get the dummy his fun. “This is stupid, why did he want to crash in there, there’s nothing here, it’s not even a front. LoneStar will only glimpse at that case and call it a day.” “Nah man, Del got a plan man! You’ll see, this is gonna be Fraggin’ hot drek man!...Hey, I think it’s broken, it doesn’t work.”
That’s all that was needed. I ripped the remote form his hand. “Dumbass, you forgot to arm the bomb first.” Blue and yellow flashing lights appeared in therear view mirror as I flicked the ARM switch. That was quick. At least we’ll fry a couple of pigs. ”Oh man, we’re gonna get a bonus for that one I’m sure! Del’s gonna pay us a FORTUNE ‘casue we blow up some LoneStar coppers man! Oh yeah, we gonna be ri-“
The sedan was going close to 70 Km/H straight, but the blast of the explosion turned it into a flaming rolling car. The bodies inside had their organs turning into jelly as the shock wave passed through them, the skin burned , muscles blown to bit. Their brain might have registered what happened, they felt the pain, just for a moment. Then their minds got turned to goo like the rest of their insides. A tire caught a large pothole and with the momentum of speed started to barrel roll in the streets before sliding a good 20 meters into a pawn shop parking lot, ramming into a few hobos huddled around a drum fire. A few people woke up and went to see, most didn’t care. Like an explosion doesn’t rock the Barrens every month or so. 4 blocks away, 2 Templeton Security officers and a LoneStar 2-men Road Patrol saw and heard the whole thing. That caught their attention more than the desperate banging from the crashed car’s trunk.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 10, 2010 16:47:18 GMT -5
...but I did not call any spirits to get your attention. In fact, I was busy ordering mine to keep ghouls from going up the ladder. Besides, you know quite well that my spirits all take the form of a Legend of Hockey; no simple dog.” “All right, so you owe your life to some random dog who glanced your way right at the right moment. Lucky you.”
“Perhaps Kate simply send you a message hmmm?” He let off with his French smirk, the one that says 'I know', but in fact means 'I think'. “She’s no mage..or at least she didn’t told me so. And that’s generally a cause for bragging, right?” He just grinned. Just another mundane talking about magic. Like I have real experience. “Maybe for younger ones, I’m not really bragging about it; It’s IS my edge after all.” “True that Mr. Spirit man. Speaking of Edge, how did you end up there and without a car?” “I had one of my friends drop me off. He is supposed to pick me up in an hour, but I’ll have to call the rescue off.” “Your friend...he's clean?” “Yes. He's a talismonger I know. He helped me settle in Seattle, and we kept in contact, helping each other out, that sort of things.”
“’Kay. Like I said, let’s keep this between us right? ‘Don’t want people to get the wrong idea now right?” “My lips are sealed, but only if you spare people the story of my..situation back there, ok?” “No problem.” "I'm happy to hear that..wait, take a right; drop me at my apartment." "Ok..Oh and Henry?" "Hmh?" "You're recording the conversation?" He smiled and took out a small recorder. Looks high-end too. "A little gift for you Vince. It works with sound, you gauge at which decibel it starts recording and voilà! No need to push a button." "Gee, fancy stuff, thanks." I dropped him off at his place in Chinatown and drove back to my own place. Nightshade wasn’t there. Good. More time for me to check out that tape, just see who decided to mess around. And I got to check to see if Henry didn't bug the thing too.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 8, 2010 19:00:20 GMT -5
.....Wait a sec, that IS Henry! What the frag is he doing in zombieland after dark? And alone to boot. Great, now I got to haul some Frenchie and a dog outta..Wha? Where’d he go? Bah, he’ll manage. He did since now. I got the van going reverse and rammed into the mass of undead, only stopping when I hit the building. God it feels great breakin’ a vehicle when it’s not even yours. The roof popped in, and a couple of seconds later, Henry dropped his face and upper body down the roof hatch “ Ha, Vincent, again with your perfect timing! I thought I..” I didn’t let him finish his phrase or getting in the van that I stepped on it. Like I had time for clever lines with a dozen flesh-eaters banging at my window. The frog dropped in the back face first, then left and right as I swirled across the empty streets. 10 extra points for hitting 2 zombies. Weee...
I braked sharply and he just tumbled to the front. “You FRAG! What the hell you’re doin’ here huh? You spyin’ on me now? Did Meg put you up to it?” He was trying to get his bearings straights, I helped him by shoveling my flashlight’s bean in his face. At least he wasn’t wearing his commlink. “No! I’m alone, they’re thinking I’m having a date, and I left all my work gear at work. And don’t shove that light in my face!” “You’re in no position to ask for anything. Now, why were you spying on me man? That’s really low of you. Bishop maybe, Shade I wouldn’t be surprised ‘casue he’s a dick. You? Surprised man, shocked and surprised.” “Surprised? How do you though that I felt when you told me my top quality gear wasn't working? I HAD to make sure for myself..And I figured you’d believe me better if I filmed you well..” “Yeah yeah yeah, how noble of you to spy on me to prove a point. Get in the front.” Another stop to drop him off before going home...Oh wait, drek! “So, does your stuff works?” “Quite well, mon ami. Like I told you I only take the best.” “Huh..and just how much ‘best’ do you got on tape there?” “Nothing much, I only arrived a couple of hours ago. Interesting woman. I knew you like to take your chances, but I think you’re pushing your luck this time.”
I lid a smoke, playing innocent “What do you mean? It’s not like I’m cheating on my wife..Not that I have one, but you know.” “I didn’t saw what happened, but I can deduct that she’s...less than human? To be polite of course.” “So? Didn’t you bang that elven decker at work a few times? You don’t see me patronizing you for that.” “I’m telling you, Meg won’t like this at all, Shade even less." “No, they WON’T ‘not like it’ because they WON’T know about it, ok? I just saved your sorry Ski-doo ridin’, pewteen eatin’, hockey lovin’ ass from the Zone, so you owe me on that one, mon ami.” Henry just blew air out. I love it when they know I‘m in the right. “Besides you heard who she hung out with? WE can fetch a nice coin. Just gimme time to set-it up, then I,ll get you and the others on it, ok? We got a deal here?“ He kept silent but took out his tapes and recording chips out. “You be careful now.” “I’ll be all right. Just thank God I decided to stop when you popped that Dog-shaped spirit in my way 'else you would be counting your rounds 'til you blew your brains with the last one.”
“My what now?”
“What?”
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 8, 2010 18:55:12 GMT -5
Kate Robinson. 32, ‘used to be a vet down at the Seattle Zoo. Grew up in the CAS on a farm, until it was taken over by the Agro-corps. She did her schooling in Atlanta where she took odd jobs and hustled pool to pay for her studies. She like kayaking, rafting, listening to piano. She also had a husband down at Ares who cut and run when he was transferred (after request) to Denver after he leaned about her condition. He took their cat, their fishes and their 2 birds with him too. She also were a vegetarian and spend the first month or so vomiting all the meat she ate. She stopped when she realized there was no turning back. Short of dying. She’s got suicide on her mind, but she’s coping with it for now. She started smoking after her change, not that adding tar to your body will cause more trouble than what’s happening to her. 'Cooks steak well for someone who only eat it raw and she doesn’t stop talking. Every fraggin’ detail. 3 hours there and I only had the window open for follow-up questions. At least now I know she liked visiting her friends deep in the zone and having nice chats with George the Nosferatu, teaches stuff to Jo Ann and her younger brother David, both ghouls, but she stopped visiting them ever since some Wendigos came around and started pushing people around, backed by some vampire woman. She didn’t gave a name yet. Not that I had time to ask for one. So at lest that’s that.
And Kate gave me good cover fire when I made my way to the van. ‘Shot a ghoul as it bounce. Kickass shot she did. Too bad she’s one of them. Can’t win’em all I guess. I started the engine and drove off, running a few zombies over. They break like paper, it’s funny to hear, but a bitch to clean. Huh..’seems like there’s a bunch in that mini strip mall, wonder what’s the deal with that? Oh wait, ‘nother hunter’s trying his luck and now he’s stuck on the roof. Looser, what’s with everyone not plannin’ ahead wh FFFFFFF..
Right there, in the middle of the road, a goddamn dog was just sitting there. I was 5 feet away to runnin’ it over. At least it didn’t looked zombied yet, just..what the hell’s a dog doing here? It’s not like EVERYONE in this part o’ town was NOT into eating it raw.
“Hey you, Dog! Yeah I’m talkin’ to you, beat it! Place a death zone! Leave before you get eaten!” It turned it’s head toward the strip mall, lookin’ at the action like it was the news. Just some stupid head bounty hunter on a roof. Heh..funny, ‘kinda looks like Henry from down here.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 8, 2010 17:31:41 GMT -5
She was smoking one of the cigs I left her. 10 Nuyen says it’s the last one. She stepped closer, but I stopped her. “Don’t come too close with that thing, what with all the fuel I got.” She gives me one of those thin lipped smile, filled with those grayish squared ghoulish teeth. Like a clown smile. At least something made me laugh today. “What’s so funny?” “Huh?..Oh, nothing..Just..You didn’t thought I would come right?” “I had my doubts. But I’d figured you’d be back sooner or later.” “Oh really now. How so?” “Call it a hunch. So, did you get everything?” “Everything.” “Yeah, did you?” “Yeah, I did.” Again with the clown smile, it kinda lost it’s fun fast. “Could you turn that van around the generator’s feeding pipe’s over here.” 4 zombies taking a walk now. Together. Weird.
Everything was in bags or in crates, the only problem was the oil drum. It was standing. Tipping it over required some work. Not much the tipping over part, more the tipping it over without having it spill all over the place. 15 minutes or so passed when Kate plugged the pump and started cranking empty the barrel. “So you build that little system yourself?” “No. I know it’s a modified oil furnace that generates electricity. Don’t ask me how it works, I don’t know. I know how to start it and maintain it a little, and I’m finally going to start it again.” “How long since you last had fuel?” “2, maybe 3 months, I dunno, I don’t keep track of the time.” “Damn...And how long is that going to last you?” “About 3 weeks, 4 if I don’t abuse it too much.” Small talk’s all fun and games, but it’s getting darker. The howling of the undead was getting louder, and all around as well.
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Audi. Black Audi. He’s as predictable as sunlight. Full of electronic gizmos, high quality security system. My luck he did not put it on. The idiots I hired put the man in the trunk, a day holed up in there must make him very receptive. He was confused but he’ll soon pay attention. “Wake-up dumbass” ”Where am I? Wha..what do you want?” I snapped once and Mr Jones was poking him with the taser. “What’s this talking when you haven’t been given the permission to? Don’t you know where you are, who you’re talking to drek-for-brains? I’m Vincent Delacroix, your best buddy in the whole wide world. Here, take a business card” I shoved it down his throat, not that it went far, but he was crying in fear, trying to push me away. “Oh Drek, here am I bein’ such a nice guy and you go ahead and hit me.” I got out my Manhunter, fired a few shots at his leg. I hurt him a couple of times. Good, he’s bleeding. I close down the trunk. Impressive sound dampening qualities on those Audis. “Idiot....now where’s that other guy? Weren’t you three yesterday?” They looked at me like I was from another planet. “Hello? HELLO? Where’s the other guy?” “H..he got killed boss. You shot him.”
“I did? Of course I did! Ha Ha Ha! He failed the first job like a wannabe! Serves him right. Not to mention you’ll get a bigger cut!” The gutter trash was ecstatic. He fitted the role until he opened his mouth, then he was just well ornate garbage. Mr. Jones seems less enthusiastic. “I rigged the bomb. Here’s the remote.” “Oh yeah this gonna be the DREK!” “Mr Jones will hold the remote for now. Here’s the place you gonna crash it in.” Jones glanced at the paper “Are you certain? There alot of LoneStar patrols on visibility patrols. And the place’s under contract by the T..” “I KNOW this already, why are you telling me things I already now huh? Just get it done tonight, I’ll double your price. Later, I won’t.” “So we need another car? I got my ride outside, all ready to bl..” “No no no! Take the sedan, I..don’t want you to get in trouble if they ID your car, right?” “Drek man, you’re right! That..” He just kept blabbering about, Jones was a little more direct “You said the cameras on the street would be disabled. “ “They will, that’s a just in case angle. Can’t be too cautious in those cases. Now get going, I got somewhere else I need to be for the alibi.”
They finally left. Good, I was sick and tired of holding that illusion. Plus I saw his mocking, grinning face in the window. I’m covered in his filth now. Now I got to burn those clothes and take a long, hot shower to get clean again. Like I have time for that! “Mr Bit!” The foot tall Dwarf appeared floating over my head. Typical “Yes m’am!” “Make sure those cameras are disabled, I don’t want them flinching at the last second.” “Right away m’am! They’ll never know what hit’em!” He faded out from view. He was a sneaky one. Always there for me, but his track records of failure should have gotten him killed a while ago. I would have done it myself, but he always manages to evade me. At least he’s not costing me a cent. Not that those 2 fools are, but they think they are. That's all that matters.http
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 7, 2010 21:02:52 GMT -5
2 hours. 2 fraggin’ hours of waiting for Meg and her ‘preparation’; turns out it was just some foci she had to make. Good news is I’m good as new, like I never got hurt at all. Bad news is my face decided to scar over. Something about Snake not having all the info and that not that happened was said and bla bla bla a lesson in something bla bla bla unwise to anger a Totem Spirit bla bla bla magic sucks. The last I added to Meg’s blather, but it’s pretty much resume the 15 minutes monologue I was submitted to. It must be hell being her kids. At least He didn’t call me a liar. That would have been trouble...if I could get back to It, or Him, that is. No wonder she insisted how more details
Henry had finished shopping and put everything in the van. I didn’t bother to check. I was too busy pointing out his equipment didn’t work properly. Turns out they do, just with-in 20 meters. Like in Room 213 for example. And I learned that this Stevey guy’s actually a Poser. That’s possibly what Bishop meant when he said he and I were similar: both Humans, just that I deal with it better.
One last stop then I,ll get my spycam back, ‘see just what the hell happened last night at the Vacation Inn. Ol’ Bradbury had some unseen enemy? Maybe some hot drek newcommer VP who’s lookin’ for a bigger slice of the furniture factory? Nooo, More like thugs who jumped him when he got out, robbed him and just dumped him somewhere. Without taking the car. Yeah they might not know a guy, must be that black car then. So those suits were?..The thugs..back for the car? That’s stupid, why not grab it the first time? And with suits and silencers. Runners? Like who? Well, that means I might have runners after me. Or well-dressed and equiped gangers. This is stupid! The guy’s got no trouble from anywhere! It can’t be bodyguards, ‘they had ample time to act. He he’s not that important or bigshot to actually OWN bodyguards. I need a smoke. This gimmic better fraggin’ work. She gotta know something. She better.
Kate was waiting where she said, No one seemed to be around. I did saw a few zombies having a walk, give it another hour and it’ll be dark. Then they’ll be more than the crazy ones who go out in the evening sun. Those must rot faster. Poor bastards.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 5, 2010 18:43:23 GMT -5
Things must be going well for Meg: her office is better furnished than when I was around. Even got a small living room corner, real-leather sofas, nice fancy-looking carpet, the works. She even had a pair of earrings, they looked like gold. It was shining magically; nothing surprising. “Meg, long time to see. You’re lookin’ great, as always.” “Four-Eyes, or is it Vincent now? You’re looked better. What happened?” “Ah, nothing much, ‘got jumped by a few gangers last night while I was shadowing a client. ‘Just one of those days huh? How are things for you?” “Very well; My sponsors were ecstatic at the result of my first graduation. Most already have found work back in England, the others were hired by diffrent corporations in Seattle. The new students are also showing very high promises. The corporations are banging at my door everyday to have first pick right after graduation. But as you may know, I’d rather let Oxford and my contacts who assisted me in their endeavor have first pick. Also, I would require some extra manpower for the next few months if you would be interested? You will have a higher pay and you’ll work under Bishop but y..” “No thank you, I’m happy being my own boss. It doesn’t bring truckloads of money, but I have room to move.” “Very well. My offer still stands, due to our history.” “Thanks for the vote of confidence Meg.” “Well, you proved yourself worthy of my trust. And you also have the ability to get out-of-the-way knowledge as well, either possessing it or acquiring it.”
She lounged in her large chair, like the one a CEO would have. Leather and wood, it musta have cost a bundle. “Now one thing I’m trying to understand, why would you need an oil drum filled with diesel petrol?” “I got my reason.” “Which is?” “My own.” “Something tells me you haven’t simply strolling in my office only to make small talk and touch base. Healing by itself is a natural process, but it’s a long process. Surely you can share you reasons, if it will help me to better..’convince’ Snake to heal you more rapidly and thoroughly?” I smirked. Damn Snake. I should have went to another Shaman whose totem isn’t about being thirsty for knowledge. Like any other one. ”All right, all right. You win.” She grinned, satisfied. Damn Snake. “I know someone who’s living in the ‘sticks, she needs diesel fuel for a generator.” “Who?” “I dunno, I only met her yesterday..’think she’s a veterinarian. She kinda saved me from my encounter y’see, so I owe her at least that.” “Still doing the noble and honourable action to repay your debts.” “I’m always doing that Meg, it’s was separates me from the rest of the urban wildlife. I give my trust where it’s due and my loyalty to those who deserve it. That’s why I’m telling you this. Not to get some healing, but because you deserve it. You said it yourself we got history. I’d hate to see all that time and work we did together wasted on nothing.” “As would I.” There was a knock at the door. It was Bishop informing us that Shade and that Stevey Keeb came back with the drum full of diesel. I threw him the van keys, asking him to get it loaded and secured with the elastic strap. “So Meg, how much do I owe you for the drum and diesel?..And the, y’know, healing.” “I will ask for the price of the drum and the diesel, the healing will be free of charge; as I said we have history and I’d hate to see you...’expire’ before your time hum? Let me see those wounds, I’d like a gauge of what the damage was.” I let her have a look at it, she wasn’t looking too confident. “Quite extensive. I am not certain that I will be able to make everything disappear, but I am confident whatever will be left won’t be of any consequence. But as it is not localized to a single wound, it will require some preparation.” “How long?” “Not long, an hour, perhaps 2.” I glanced at my watch. 2:54. Frag. “Fine, let’s get started then, I’m on a schedule. But, if it’s not too much a problem, ‘mind gettin’ your people to get a few things for me?” “They are not errant boys, you know that.” “I know, I’ll pay them for the things and their time, I just need those things fast, and that’s before 6. With the traffic being what it is, I don’t want to arrive late. Bad for business y’see.” “Very well. I’ll have Stevey d..” “No, no, I’d rather have Henry do it. I Don’t trust that Stevey.” “You know him?” “No, but I’d rather have someone I know do it. But at any rate, let’s get that healing under way.”
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 5, 2010 16:08:31 GMT -5
OOC: What did I say huh? Double-Cross. Never trust an ELVEN Mage’s the word of the day. That was written in the night sky for everyone to see.
It was around 2 when I left my place with fresh bandages and my belly filled with home-made Chinese food. For a Japanese, Nightshade knew how to make good Pineapple chicken. I wasted time answering my 24 messages, placing calls and thought of my story: bums with hand razors. Silly me of walking into gang territory. ‘Tssk Tssk Jack’ they’ll say, ‘you should know better.’ My scrapped clothes closet was now full again. That’s why I bought everything twice: I always end up scrapping my clothes and armour. Oh well, at least I still had my suit. Had to wear my dark blue shirt, but it actually makes me look better. I checked Kate’s list; most of it was easy, store-bought items, a few were odd or out of the way, mostly
-200l. Of Diesel fuel- I got Bishop working on having it filled, if he didn’t changed his mind along the way. -Medical reports on the HMHVV-Krieger Strain. Easy to see why she needs that but the fact she needs -This year National Veterinarian Report: makes me wonder what she hopes to accomplish, if she doesn’t have any biological knowledge. Maybe she does, she didn’t gave me all the details. Tartar sauce-Mixed with raw meat it must taste like drek. That thing’s only good with seafood anyway -Tampon-Nothing special there. It’s just that’s something I didn’t knew still happened after the change.
Lianna was on the vet report, she will have them on chip in a few hours. The Medical reports were easy to found using the Fortean Times’ archives. Another perk of the overcharged yearly membership. And knowing that Russian Elf and helping her do a few ground-breaking articles sure helped having top access as well.
I parked in front of the corp, Bishop was waiting for me at the gate. “Oi, Bish, what’s up man?” “Four’..what the hell happened to your face?” “Nuthin’ much, hand razors with a side of turf war. Serves me right wearing blue in the wrong part o’ town huh?” He was more or less biting. Or he was holding on for his life, he wasn’t the most emotional person “I’m surprised. You generally take care of such problems before they get close.” “Yeah well, they kinda had the jump on me, I was busy with something else and they bounced me. It happens. So, how’s everythin’? All’s fine?” He marked me and we got through the hidden machine gun kill zone and into the building “Yeah everythin’ dandy. That second group seems less idiotic than the first. Meg’s more calm as well; the pressure’s not the same when it worked once: Of course Shade is still acting like a dick; I had him and Stevey filled up the barrel." “Stevey?” “Yeah the one we hired when you left. He’s almost like you.” “Wow, didn’t know you were all sad of loosing me” “We weren’t, but he knows people. You might not like like thought.” “Why?....Elf?” The Limey just grinned. Bastard. “Frag well..he’s your trouble now. Anyway, they’ll be back soon?” “They should, yes. I’ll go inform you when they’ll be back. I suppose you want to see Meg to get your face fixed?” “Yeah I wouldn’t mind. That and my leg, and my back.” “Those gangers worked you well. Easy work got you soft.” “Shut up Bish. They shot me in the back with goddamn Ex-Ex and went all crazy with the razors. Not every day that happened. At least I’m still around to tell the tale huh?” "Shot in the back? That's the first time I heard you say that." "First time for everything Bish. Solo work's ain't the same as safe and secure corporate security detail."
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 3, 2010 21:09:57 GMT -5
OOC: Well, dealing with an Elven Mage, they can wiggle their ears and somehow manage to pass some magical message of some sort; that or it's the base of a double-cross. I would be leaning for the double-cross angle, but that's just me. Besides, it's not like someone with 'honest' in their name are NOT dealing honestly all the time right? Used Car salesmen use it all the time! There was no hokus-pokus trick here Janie, you're barking up the wrong tree! Oh wait..
Nothing beats feeling the sun warming your face, even when it’s bandaged. Kate brought me my guns and clothes, and off I went to last night’s battle. The keys were easily found, covered in blood in a pocket of once a nice pair of combat pants. It made a nice duo with the bloodied AK-97 I picked up, folding stock, laser sight, good gas vent system. The damn add-ons were worth more than the gun itself. Damn AKs, no wonder I never sold all of my FNs Assault rifles; now I’m stuck selling maybe one or two every odd day down at the Crime Mall; I should have known gangers were more into what looked good in the streets rather than quality. Oh well, at least the Mob care. Not enough to buy everything, but enough to lower my stock to get back in my money.
At least those guys almost made a profit: they got a bag with about a dozen flesh-eater’s heads in it. Bounty Permit’s in the glovebox too. Oh well, they won’t be needing it now. At least the engine’s started, and even half-a-tank left too.
I passed by the motel; my car was gone. My brand new used 2056 Audi. 8 months of gunrunnin’ down the drain. I should have put the alarm on, or at least my shock system. Great, now I have to go to my locker and get my Americar.
I head for one of my place that was in downtown. I had it under my real name, so whoever got to me last night might not be stalking the place. Whoever they were, it was a case of wrong time/wrong place, or they were after me specifically. I wondered who: it’s not like I have enemies out there; I used to, but they’re kinda busy being dead for years now. The spycam will have info. I’ll have it back tonight. The important thing now, I’m alive and I’ve met Kate; Kate who’s a ghoul, Kate who’s living in the dead zone, Kate who seems to know and talked to, a ‘blood-suckin bitch’ as she put it. Monster hunting’s a bit behind me, but who am I to spit at 250 000 Nuyen? Got to play those cards right, take my time too, but do it fast: that license I now have is still good for 28 days. Might as well save 20K.
Her list was short, maybe a dozen items, all easy: the Diesel for the generator might be a bit hard to bring back, 200 liters, that’s 10 jerrycans....Or wait; an oil drum’s 50 gallons or so, so that’s..220 liters.
Oil drum, Oil drum..I KNOW I saw some somewhere..hmm..my warehouse...no...that old factory me and the boys partied last month..no..it was a warehouse type place....I pulled in the underground parking. Nightshade’s bike was there; Good that means I won’t be stuck re-doing those bandages all by myself. Then a trip to Meg to get healed up all nice and proper by half a dozen mage and some Limey students then I'm hittin' the stores.
Meg! That’s it! I remember now, she took some to make dunking pools for when the students were forging those weapons. I had Chuck move the empty ones down in Max’s room, she bitched, but sucks to be an elf huh? Good times.
10 before 11. With any chance Nightshade will even make me a nice lunch.
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Post by Braddoc on Jun 1, 2010 20:52:37 GMT -5
We looked at eachother for a moment, until she spoke “Hey..hum..how’s it going?” I got my jaw back up and regained some composure “Hmm..yeah...ok I guess.. I think.” She slowly went to sit down at the table, I tried to back away, but the chair wouldn’t budge. She took a cig and lid herself up, exhaling deeply, like she was actually enjoying it more than smoking as reflex or addiction. “Sorry about taking half your smokes there, I was kinda nervous, I never really operated on a human being before.” I just wobbled my head like I didn’t care. “And..sorry about your buddies too.” That brought me back on solid ground.
“My what now?” She just gestured toward a window “Your buddies, the 4 other guys that tried their luck last night.” “Oh..yeah I’m..not with them, I...kinda got here by accident y’see..” Her brows jerked up, like she was rolling invisible eyes “Yeah right, bunch of guys with wires come and go in here but you’re the first fool who came here with magic; Don’t you know we can see you magic-types super-easy? You’re shining like the sun for us. Hell, you’re lighting up my place like I still had gas in the generator.”
“Like I said accident; I was chased by people and landed in here. And I’m no mage. I just got some spells quicken on me by a friend of mine.” She shifted sideways, I was ready to bounce on her, get her gun and blow her brains out if she even tried anything. Not that I could succeed without trouble, but better going down fighting.
“That’s..kinda stupid. Always shining 24/7. Can’t get anywhere without the watchers pointing you out to security.”
“I got a system to take care of that.” I made smoke, thinking I had to ask sooner or later anyway, might as well get that out of the way. “So huh..you gonna do what with me? Keep me until the night and have guests over for dinner or..?” She didn’t caught the joke. Granted it’s not like I was trying to be funny. “Do you think I WANTED to turn into a Ghoul? Do you think I ENJOY being a ghoul? Not be able to go ANYWHERE, hiding form the sun during the day, hunted down during the night, living in this..this FRAGGIN’ hellhole for the rest of my life, surrounded by crazies and zombies, with only some blood-suckin’ bitch around if I ever want to talk with someone? D’you ever think of that? HUH? Do you?”
“All right All right, sorry geez..put yourself in my place, what am I supposed to think huh? It’s not like ghouls are NOT known to eat the flesh of sentient beings, like HUMANS. So ok, you’re not one of those crazy yelling freaks, doesn’t mean you ain’t gonna say no to fresh human meat, right?” Maybe a credstick in her socket could allow me to get her gun.
She just looked away, pissed. “I got my pigeons, tastes like 2 day old chicken, but I don’t KILL people for food. Didn’t say I never done it, but I don’t kill people JUST to eat, it they attack me, I defend myself. If they die, might as well grab a bite. I won’t go out of my way to kill someone just to have something to tickle my palate. You’re living proof of that; I could have sliced you like a pig I’d be eating like queen for a weeks. Plus your blood had a nice taste. I’d rather suffer than to turn into a monster. I still got my conscience and my mind, I know what’s right and what’s wrong. Eating people was wrong when I was a norm. It’s still is now.”
“Ok..sorry I had to ask, kinda a first time I can talk with a ghoul and all, ‘least beyond screaming and yelling insults, or shooting them.... ‘Got an ashtray?” The ghoul got up and moved to the counter, I relaxed a bit as she distanced herself. Where the hell did she put my guns? ‘Kinda understand why she hid them thought; I should have searched around instead of playing tourist. “So what now? Am I free to go or..?”
“I guess so..I hid you guns for my own protection, your clothes too in case you ran off too soon..I didn’t talked to a real person in months. For what it’s worth.”
“Hm. So what do I owe you?”
“Owe me?”
“Well yeah; you saved my life, patched me up and didn’t eat me, I think I owe you somethin’..’least I could do.” Loud snarl for a lil’ lady “Yeah right, now I got to move or jsut live in fear that you’ll come back with your buddies to get easy money on my head. Just leave me that satellite phone and we’ll be even.” I raised a brow “What satellite phone?” “The one that was in you duffel bag. I went out to call my grandmother in Vermont. Turns out she died 2 weeks ago.”
“Oh..my condolences.” “Bull.” “No, I mean it. ‘think I don’t have a family too? I was born from a cabbage pack or I’m just like the spirit of Christmas? I got a family too y’know. Now if you want something from me, tell me know, and ‘ill bring it, for proof.” I pushed the hidden cam towards her “A vid from my last job. I’ll need it, so you know I,ll be back. Call it voluntary blackmail.” “What’s telling me you won’t come back with back-up and guns-aplenty?” I just grinned “My word, ‘better than money in some circles. Didn’t get my rep up with double-cross and backstabbing. I know I can trust you to not eat me when I’m down, so I don’t see why I shouldn't return the favour. Worse case just hide the cam, so it’ll be more work than just shootin’ you and searching your body.”
“Listen, you can just ask for nothing and stay in here with whatever you have, which doesn’t seemed like alot, or you can ask me what you need and I can bring it to you. So what will it be? Nothing for sure or maybe something? I’d recommend going for the ‘maybe’. Better than Nuthin’.” She seemed hesitant, and I would be more comfortable outside in the sun frankly. Time to finish up that deal. “Listen, you make up your mind, I’ll leave you one of my cards. Just call me Vince, ok? What’s your name?” She looked almost surprised by the question “Huh..K..Kate, my name’s Kate.” “All right Kate, just you got my contact information there, my spycam there, so I’ll be back before sundown today to get it back. That’ll leave you..about 8 hours to make up your mind on what you want me to bring you, all right? I..kinda need a shower, now could it be possible for you to bring me my clothes and guns so I can go?” The Ghoulette twisted in her chair, biting her lip. “Gas.” “What?” “I need gas. For the generator....and clean sheets, and grain for the pigeons..no wait, I want meat, red meat. FRESH red meat. Beef if you can get and” “Why don’t you get my clothes and make a list while I dress up huh?”
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