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Post by DarkAries on May 29, 2004 19:00:21 GMT -5
(Think with a little measure of paranoia here. You've got a guy in your hospital who tried to blow you up, then came to you for help afterwards. He still could possibly blow you up. You can't figure why he wanted to in the first place, so you don't know if the reason's gone or not.)
(Keeping your enemy underinformed is a good tactical decision. Besides, if you send him crusading after a dead man that he hates, it means that he won't bother YOU, now, will it?)
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Post by Aegis on May 29, 2004 19:07:12 GMT -5
You're thinking military strategy should apply to a bunch of ragtag soldiers on a ship which pretty much threw protocol out the window. Frig, you saw how the players worked in that ship. You think such news would be kept in secret for long? Somehow, it does not work. Besides, news of Cho being dead is not something that would be kept under wraps for long, being onboard the ship, or elsewhere (especially since people WILL know who Yumi is and her relationship to him). Much time has also passed between his 'capture', and the war, so sooner or later, Whistler will know.
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Post by DarkAries on May 29, 2004 19:11:23 GMT -5
(*shrugs and fixes.*)
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Post by DarkAries on Jun 1, 2004 19:10:15 GMT -5
(Last ones!)
--
Liz had been as good as Alanna’s word. She actually had decked out a wardrobe for Whistler in his size. Tastefully, too. Of course, he had picked out the darkest suit that didn’t look too morose: a black set of slacks and a thin-lapeled jacket with white banded-collar shirt. Dinner had arrived on carts, under covered trays, yet Whistler hadn’t really had time to check it. He hadn’t ever given a formal dinner before. While he was civilized enough to know which courses to eat first and which utensils to use (courtesy of one of the more maternal soldiers in the Neo Shogi-Tai who felt he needed a proper civilized upbringing), he didn’t know what was appropriate to order except the most expensive dishes he knew. So he had let the cooks decide things for him.
And as they did, he just obsessed himself over what to say to Sam. What to do.
And despite all his worrying, he grudgingly accepted that the entire thing would most likely be shaped and dictated by Sam. She was his guest, after all, and he really had no idea what to do.
And, for the two to three seconds before his hard-wired cynicism kicked in, he was okay with that.
He set the last of the covered plates out on the well-dressed dining room table, then sighed and looked out the main window again. He wasn’t even halfway sure how to tell time on the moon except with with actual chronometers. Of course, there were several in noticeable locations dotted about each room, some discreet, others, though large, melding with the decorations in each room. Testament to Piper’s secretary again.
He closed his eyes and tried to expel his nervousness. It had been a long time since he had smoked a cigarette. They had confiscated them when they locked him up, and he hadn’t gotten them back. He frowned. Wait, do they even smoke in Space? he wondered. It didn’t make sense why they would. It would be a strain on everything: oxygen recyclers, air purifiers, the agricultural tools needed to grow the tobacco plants...though Space was stronger than Earth, it would be foolish to go and waste resources when the lack of resources would equal certain death. Space was still an unforgiving place to live.
Maybe it’s just an Earth habit. Yet it was still driving him a little crazy.
The door chime rang.
Oh, Ancestors...
He sighed, then gave a quick prayer his Cherokee mother taught him to the Great Spirit. Then, quite anticlimactically, he walked over and opened the door.
Sam stood there, looking absolutely ravishing. Her blue hair was finely braided down her back, two white feathers sticking out above her left ear, suggesting that she had gone slightly native during her time with the Tinde. She wore a dark blue off-the-shoulders dress, a lighter second skirt hugging just below her hips. It was just as well, since the dress itself had a slit up the side straight up to her hip, revealing creamy skin beneath, accentuating shape, but no more. She was already a little taller than Whistler himself, and her high heels gave her an extra few inches to go from merely tall to graceful.
Whistler was conscious that his jaw was hanging open after a moment. He quickly shut it. “Oh, ah...evening, Sam.”
He hadn’t expected her to respond the way she did at all.
Her fist came about in an arc, her knuckles connecting with the side of his jaw, pushing his cheek before them. His head snapped to the side and he reeled backwards. Shock set in as he raised his hand to his face.
“What the hell did you do that for?!” he fumed. The blow hadn’t really hurt, but the jolt of Sam hitting him fueled his reaction.
“Ooooh, Julius Whistler!!” she fumed vehemently. “You know damn well what that was for!!” She stepped into the apartment, moodily brushing past him, leaving him dazzled both by her furor and her perfume.
His fingers rubbed at his cheek. It didn’t hurt, and there wasn’t much chance that it’d bruise or anything with how it felt now. “What do you mean?”
She turned and glared at him with the fury only a woman can muster. “I spent the last ten minutes deciding whether to hit you or not...!”
He closed the door. “What? What’d I do?!”
The Newtype girl’s face slackened into an expression that scared him even more than her more livid one had. “Do you seriously have no idea?”
Whistler gathered that answering ‘no’ would probably result in a homicide charge. “Um...yeah, of course...of course I do! I...uh, I just need something to jog my memory!”
She brought both hands up and cracked her knuckles. “Would a serious beating do? Because I am really in the mood right now.”
He brought both hands up defensively, not comprehending in any way how Sam, at her most beautiful, could also be at her most frightening. “No, no...that’s okay. Um...it has something to do with what I said in your father’s office?” he guessed.
“Of course, damn it!! Did you think I wouldn’t be mad?!”
The mechanic swallowed. “Look, to tell you the truth, I wasn’t exactly thinking about you at the time,” he said quickly.
“Funny, I was thinking about you,” she snarled.
He sighed, then tried to change the subject. “Um...they delivered dinner...it’s getting cold...”
“It’ll keep,” she cut him off. “Just because they cook it doesn’t mean it has to be eaten that second, or at all.”
His eyes snapped wide, this time with indignation rather than fear. Then he looked beyond the intoxicating swells of her beauty at her. While he hadn’t looked at the food itself, he knew it had to be high quality, and had probably taken some serious effort to prepare. In his mind, the only acceptable homage to a cook of that caliber would be to enjoy his creations. Yet Sam would brush that effort right off. Here in space, she was nobility, and he the peasant. And for how little he had thought of her on Earth, here in space, she was an entirely different person. Almost untamed.
Then his cynicism suddenly agreed with what his heart had been telling him since Anahiem. He had to have her.
Yet his tactical mind kept processing, and he knew that getting this Samantha Piper would be difficult, at least.
“Look, what about what I said? I meant it!” he protested.
“Do you really think that little of me? ‘Ridiculous’? ‘Futile’?”
“What? It was.”
She chewed on that for a second. “I’m really insulted that you think I’m so stupid as not to recognize a doomed missions, Julius.”
“I don’t think you’re stupid, girl. On the contrary, you’re smarter than me,” he said carefully. “Stubborn, though, which is why you were so damn intent on fulfilling that mission. Sam, did you really think you could kill every unfriendly MS Trooper on Earth?”
“Yes!”
“Newtype or no, girl, you’re still only mortal,” he said, echoing the words of her father despite not having heard them. “As for you being concerned about me since we got here, believe me, I was concerned about you, too.”
“Just concerned.” She didn’t sound appreciative.
He took a breath, then clapped his mouth shut, and waved a hand at the couch, deciding to commit himself to his course. “All right, fine, then. Sit down. If you’re that intent on pressing the issue, fine. I’ll tell you everything.”
She narrowed her blue eyes at him for a moment, then sat down on the couch, crossing her legs, giving Whistler a tantalizing view of her knees. For some reason, the view was even more enticing than the one provided by the slit in her dress. He quickly subdued himself, hoping her Newtype senses didn’t pick up on how his stomach and...um...stomach was fluttering. She gave him a lofty ‘Well, go on then’ expression, folding her arms over her bust.
He walked in front of the couch, then tried to compose his words. Failing, he just let it all slide out.
“Fine, then. You wonder what I think of you? I’ll tell you, because since you and I saw each other again at the spaceport, I haven’t stopped thinking about you. During those two weeks in prison, who do you think I was thinking about?” He gathered a breath. “I think you’re the bravest, smartest, most wonderful person in the entire galaxy, and you outclass me in so many fields, it makes me look dumb. But really, I don’t care how I look around you. I don’t have to hide myself. That doesn’t include the fact that you’re the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, and despite all my time of being alone, whether by choice or by circumstance, you’re the only one I think I can and want to spend the rest of my life with. You’re one of the few women in the world I’ve actually ever had time to find desireable, and the more I learn about you, the more I want to be with you. You are the only one who can not only tolerate me, but see the good in me beyond my skills. Sam, for the longest time, even I lost touch of that. I want to feel good, and the last time I felt really, truly good was when you hugged me and cried for me at Anahiem. And I know I’ll never feel that good with another human being ever again. My own mind has been calling me a fool for thinking this until this very moment, Samantha Piper, but I want to love you, and I want to be that one man who will be fortunate enough to understand you for what you are. And to love you for what I understand. You think you know what I think about you? I’ll sum it up for you: You are the only woman in the entire god****ed Solar System to me. You are the only one I want to make happy. You are the only one I want to be happy with. You are all I’ll ever want from this life. You, Sam, are the only one.”
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Post by DarkAries on Jun 1, 2004 19:10:48 GMT -5
She stared at him, her blue eyes no longer radiating any anger. But what she was expressing, he couldn’t place. And he wasn’t sure he liked it at all.
Alanna was right...I did screw up... he thought.
“I really don’t know what to say,” she said.
I knew it...
“Except that I have something to say to you.”
...Aaaaand she hates me.
She wet her lips. “You have got to be the most cynical, jaded, antisocial little peanut I’ve ever met.”
’Peanut’?
She smiled. “And I really wouldn’t mind taking you up on that falling in love bit,” she said. “I never knew why you decided to follow me after Tokyo, but I think I know now. And really, I’m glad you did, because...well...I love you too, Julius.”
What? His eyes popped open, and he looked back at Sam. “Really?”
“Absolutely.”
“You love me?”
She smiled broadly. “Perfect testament to the proverb that you can’t choose who you fall in love with, isn’t it?”
His own smile came up in relief as well. “Then you mind if I...?”
“Yes, I do,” she said, then stood, draped her arms about his neck, standing intimately close to him, and smiled. “Because I want to be the one to kiss you first.”
His hands rested on her hips, his fingers stroking the skin exposed by her dress. She squeaked, then giggled. “Go ahead, then. I’d never put it past you to take what you want.”
She leaned in, both closing their eyes, and her lips encoutered his, gently, slowly exploring. Then he swept whole-heartedly into the kiss, bringing every bit of fire into it that she had and hadn’t expected. For minutes, they stood, swirling in the throes of her perfume, tossed about in shared emotions, delighting in the feel of each other. Every curve, every swell, every hollow, everything that made them want to feel more.
She pulled back at last, her eyes fluttering. “And here I thought that kissing a man that smokes tasted like licking an ashtray.”
He smirked. “They took ‘em, you know that. Smoking isn’t a popular habit in space.”
“I guess you’ll have to give up the habit, then,” she said, stroking the hair of the back of his head.
“I can handle that,” he replied. “I’ll just take up a worse one. Like you.”
“I love you, Julius.”
“And I love you, Samantha.”
“Boy, this sounds corny.”
Both of them, still in each others’ arms, laughed. Whistler let his green eyes lock with hers. “It may, girl, but I mean it,” he said with another smile. “I’m glad you’re not mad at me anymore either.”
“Don’t remind me,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Alanna told me you’re going to take up my father’s offer.”
“Of course,” he said, growing serious. “Cho Sonchiro’s dead, but I haven’t kicked his corpse a few times yet. Yamato’s still got to go down, and I want to help do it.”
“I’m likely going to get my father’s office once he decides to retire,” she said with a more vicious smile. “Wanna help me take them down once I get it?”
He smirked. “Sam, I’d do anything for you,” the mechanic said. “Except let that dinner go to waste.”
She grinned, then slipped out of his arms and headed towards the dining room. "So what'd you get?"
"Um..."
--Last Dance: Samantha Piper, Julius Whistler, Alanna Salvatore. Endgame Complete.
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Post by Aegis on Jul 10, 2004 0:20:28 GMT -5
Now, to end it off for me...
(Ryu, Camilla, and Logan) A Birthday to Remember...
~ July 27, 2006 NC ~
As the saying goes, in space, no one can hear you scream. Decrepit and ruined, a virtual ghost town of space, the colony of XO-112, affectionately known by the common man as ‘Tranquil’, is the perfect representation of that saying.
“P-Please… I beg of you… spare me!”
A remote colony blown out of its orbit, floating aimlessly in the vacuum of space away from the safety of the Moon. The victim of the war between Yamato and the combined Earth and Space forces, an unfortunate casualty in the massive bloodshed of lives, those who died in Tranquil were considered ‘lucky’ by those still alive.
“Beg?”
And for the unlucky ones?
”I don’t know about sparing you… but, please, do continue begging. It just makes spilling your intestines that much more enjoyable.”
“N-no, please, don’t hurt me! I beg you, don’t – “
SLASH!
One can only hope that their deaths would be as quick as this man, who’s last memories of life was the image of his intestines held in his hands, before slowly lifted off his feet by a delicate, yet powerful grip to the face, digging into his skull.
“I’d keep you a little longer… but our esteemed ‘master’ wants you disposed immediately.”
CRACK!
Another playmate played to death. His usefulness… and fun… has been worn out.
Letting out a mechanical moan of ecstasy, the tall, slender armoured figure slowly rolled her neck, gradually huffed out her chest, and stretched out her six pink wing binders clamped onto a large, golden ring on her back. The pink figure gaze through her large, black visor on her triangular helmet, seemingly grinning viciously at her victim, as what little illumination from the colony glinted against her sleek armour.
“That’s the last of the inhabitants of this hellhole,” a voice announced to the pink Nephtis trooper, as two additional MS Troopers, each covered in blue and white Nephtis armour of their own, landed next to their apparent leader. “All members loyal to the elders have been eliminated, as per orders.”
“What of the controls?” the pink Nephtis trooper asked in a commanding voice.
“Safe and secure,” one of the blue Nephtis troopers replied. “No one suspects a thing.”
The pink Nephtis trooper nodded. Gazing at the decapitated body, the pink Nephtis trooper slowly raised her slender, clawed hands to the sides of her helmet just below where the ears are, and pressed her fingers against the sides. The helmet let out a soft hiss, before lifting her helmet off her head, letting down her long, blonde mane. Her head remained lowered at the blue Nephtis troopers, her eyes hidden from view by her hair.
“Julie… Tomiko…” the woman whispered.
“Yes, Miss Diamond?” the two troopers responded.
The pink Nephtis trooper, Camilla Diamond, grinned evilly.
“Meet me at my quarters at 2200 hours,” Camilla replied. She raised her head at the other women, and gazed seductively with her cold, blue eyes. “It’s my special day… and I wish to reward the two of you… personally.”
The blue Nephtis troopers nodded in complete understanding.
“Yes… mistress,” both responded in unison. Camilla kept her seductive gaze at the troopers, as they slowly turned and took to the air, leaving the self-proclaimed queen b**** all by herself. Almost immediately, however, that peace was broken by a loud ‘warp’ with the air behind seemingly sucked into a vacuum, followed immediately by a loud ‘whoosh’ as said vacuum pushed the air outward. Her smile evaporated as fear and confusion took hold, a form of fear she always felt whenever he was around. She knew who it was without having to turn around, let alone feel the smooth, leather-like skin rub against her midriff.
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Post by Aegis on Jul 10, 2004 0:21:51 GMT -5
“Happy birthday… to you…” a low, soothing deep voice sang softly to her air, which made Camilla tense up even more. “Happy birthday… to you…”
“Please… you shouldn’t…” Camilla mumbled, her lips trembled, as she felt a large snout nuzzle against her hair.
“Happy birthday… dear, Cam-Cam…” the voice continued to sing, ignoring her plea. “Happy birthday… to… you…”
After the song finished, a second hand rose and touched the Nephtis girl’s face, the smooth, leathery skin, and long, sharp claws gently pressed against her skin, and traced a path along the curves of her chin. Joining the arms in embrace, a long, whip-like tail wrapped itself along her thigh, the leathery scales smooth and tingling to the touch. Camilla couldn’t move, couldn’t utter a single word, as she froze before the warm embrace of her lover… and master.
“Ryu…” she finally answered breathlessly, as the anthro moved his head down to deliver a soft, sensuous kiss to her neck. The half dragon grinned, as he nuzzled his head closer to her face for another kiss.
“I’ve got a present for you,” Ryu sighed, turning her face towards his, and kissed her passionately on the lips. Camilla gulped breathlessly, as she hypnotically accepted the anthro’s kiss and, surprisingly for herself, returned one of her own. For Camilla, it felt like hours, as the couple continued their embrace, their tongues lashing at each other in a passionate war. Finally, Ryu gently pulled his head back, and smiled fondly at the woman, her eyes closed and still feeling breathless. “And that wasn’t even the entrée.”
Camilla, eyes still closed, tried to suppress the smile on her lips, though her efforts only succeeded in encouraging Ryu to continue his advance.
“How is my little Cam-Cam?” he whispered softly to her ear, rubbing his face against the side of her head. “Are you being a bad girl today?”
The Nephtis girl’s lips trembled breathlessly, trying to utter out the words, as she slowly opened her eyes and gazed half fearfully, half longingly into his eyes.
“Always…” she trembled.
“That’s my girl,” Ryu grinned, smothering the woman in his massive frame. As the two locked lips once more, Camilla squirmed within his vice-like grip. Finally, finding the strength within her to resist his charms, the Nephtis girl broke the embrace and pushed herself off of the anthro, nearly tripping over the corpse as she stumbled forward. Far from upset, however, Ryu smirked at the girl, seemingly enjoying the effect he had over his one-time-commanding officer.
“Are you still going on about that?” Ryu chuckled.
Camilla’s eyes widened at his remark, and let out a soft gasp. Instead of saying anything, however, she remained quiet, and turned her head away as to deny him of any satisfaction from her reaction. Hard to believe that a little over a year ago, that half man, half dragon standing before her was once a subservient slave to Cho, and ultimately the clan, a mere drone to be used as seen fit. Though Ryu would have sparks of intelligence, he was simply a soldier with no real mind or will of his own; all he would do is follow orders, no matter how humiliating or dangerous they were. Indeed, many times over, for the sake of completing his mission, the anthro would often put his own life on the line, guns (or flames) blazing, the using his Altron armour to pulverise anyone and anything that gets in his way. Ryu always did his job, and always did it well; it’s just that no one truly realised just how well Yamato made him, not even the elders understood just how potent and effective a weapon he could truly be. A drone more perfect than a Hunter, one that could adapt to its surroundings, one that could learn to be a more efficient killer.
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Post by Aegis on Jul 10, 2004 0:22:23 GMT -5
Thus the downfall of the elders, now arisen a new master, and the dragon is wearing the trophies to prove it. “Come on, baby,” Ryu sighed, wrapping his arms around Camilla. The arms of Naked Jehuty, once worn by the elder of the North, now fully integrated as part of his new armour. “Am I really so… repulsive?” Repulsive doesn’t even begin to describe it… Camilla thought, though she didn’t dare say the words out loud. “You are… unique…” was all she could blurt out without flat out telling a lie. The anthro snickered, and forced the woman to turn around and face him. From there, Camilla is able to see Ryu face to face, and the rest of the ‘trophies’ that make up his new armour. Though each part has been seamlessly integrated together, keen observers would be able to make out the upper body of Mazinger Z, once worn by the elder of the west, complete with the metallic ‘crests’ that decorate the chest area, along with the ‘hind legs’ and the hexagonal fragments floating behind his back belonging to Auuman Anubis, armour once worn by the elder of the South. Completing the rest of the armour was the helmet and v-fin crest on his forehead, the helmet of the RX-78 Gundam, worn by Shinryu, elder of the East, CEO of Yamato, and the mightiest member amongst the clan. To slay the self-proclaimed ‘god of dragons’ is to slay the worst monster one can imagine, a monster so powerful and so cruel, the mere sight would be enough to kill an average person. To defeat someone of the calibre of the ‘god of dragons’ requires more than simply strength. One has to be as cruel, ruthless, merciless, demonic, and manipulative as Shinryu. To do so, one would have to lose their soul to the darkest depths, and become a dragon himself. In Ryu’s case, literally. And so much worse. “Now don’t give me that face,” Ryu pouted, running a clawed finger down her right cheek and tilting her head to meet his eyes. “It’s your birthday, precious. I want to make this day special.” Before the Nephtis trooper could open her lips, Ryu released his embrace on the woman, and stepped aside to reveal a large, pink box, wrapped in a bright green bow. Curious, Camilla gave Ryu a quizzical look, to which the dragon mouthed the words ‘open it’. Unsure what to make of her lover’s intentions, the blonde trooper walked up to the package, tentatively placed her hands on the bow, and began to unwrap the box. With the bow and ribbons strewn on the ground, Camilla then placed her hands on the sides of the lid, and lifted the package open. The woman shirked back, dropping the lid at the same time as she eyed the contents with surprise. “I had fun baking your cake,” Ryu approached the woman with amusement. “I apologise for the presentation, but in this special case, I needed to make sure the cake doesn’t run away.” Walking up to the opened box, Ryu reached inside with his left hand, and yanked the contents out of the package, dropping it to the ground with a dull thud. “Besides, considering the past I once had, I felt the need to return the favour,” added Ryu with a snicker. “Isn’t that right… Logan?” he added, and gave the ‘contents’ a hard kick for good measure. Barely recognisable from all the wounds he had sustained, Logan, one time drill sergeant, survivor of the War of Ages and April Fools Massacre, and Yamato’s toughest soldier is now nothing more than a decrepit mess. Stripped of his cybernetics and his armour, mangled to the point of total deformity, the former Gouf Custom trooper was beaten and cut in several places, with fresh scars and stitches meticulously strewn along several parts of his body. The wounds themselves were very serious, yet Camilla recognised the methodical inflictions of each particular wound on the drill sergeant. Every punch was specific, every cut was pre planned, right down to each and every last stitch. Though damaging enough to keep the man from being able to heal properly, and therefore too wounded to even move let alone escape, certain punctures and bruises were made specifically to both incapacitate the victim while maximising pain. It was a technique Camilla herself likes to use during her interrogation sessions, and it seems that Ryu has added his own style to the technique. Even she had to admit she was impressed. “You know… as much as I like what you did,” Camilla spoke, “I can’t say that he’s the first choice for a plaything.” “I know,” Ryu nodded in agreement. “I know you’d rather play with something a little more… attractive. But in this case, I’d like to make an exception.” Pulling out a small switchblade, the dragon grabbed the mangled Logan by the back of his neck, and hoisted him to his feet. Along the ex-sergeant’s body, several black X’s are marked on several places, almost as though they were points on a map. Picking one of the X’s on Logan’s back, Ryu flipped open the blade, and slowly cut open the skin amidst the victim’s trembling. Dropping the blade to the ground, Ryu then reached out with his talon fingers, peeled the flesh back to create an opening for his fingers, and pulled out a small, round object drenched in fluid. “Here, catch!” Camilla caught the object in both her hands, the viscous red fluid splashed lightly against her metallic fingers. Curious, Camilla wiped away the fluid with a quick swipe of her thumb, and ripped open the rubbery ‘casing’ to reveal a shiny, stainless metal case. Opening the case itself, the Nephtis girl opened her mouth in surprise, revealing what has to be the biggest, most brilliant diamond she ever laid eyes on. “What do you think?” Ryu nuzzled behind the psycho blonde, dragging Logan’s body along the way. “I… I… where did… you… my… gosh…” “It matches your eyes,” Ryu winked, nibbling her ear gently. “There’s more of where that came from,” he added, handing Camilla a larger knife. “Just cut along the X’s, and you’ll find many other surprises underneath. Let me warn you, some are buried deeper than the little diamond I just gave you… you may have to rip your way through a few.” A sadistic smile appeared on Camilla’s visage, as she toyed with the prospect of tearing open the mangled drill sergeant with her bare hands. Ryu merely nodded, as he clasped the knife in her small, delicate hand, and guided the knife to one of the X’s marked on Logan’s body. “Oh, yes, I almost forgot,” Ryu snapped in mock forgetfulness. “Make a wish.” Amused, Camilla played along with the dragon’s game, closed her eyes, and pretended to blow out an imaginary candle on a cake. Chuckling to herself, Camilla then reached out with the knife, and began to saw at her ‘birthday cake’, tearing through flesh with blade and hand alike, as she pulled out each present one by one. It is perhaps the most excruciating punctuation to what has been a long life of survival for Logan, and is the last memory he would have in this war torn existence. *** Thus is the end of my writing on this thread. Well, it's a happy ending... depending on your definition of the word 'happy'.
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Post by dragonclaw15 on Jul 10, 2004 3:22:11 GMT -5
I'll bite. Except that this would require me writing all of Drake's story as well as his ending.
--------------------- Claw's Edge
Drake tensed, every muscle in his body buzzing with energy. The massive machine before him drew ever closer, drawing its sharp, angular lines into focus. The monster leaned forward over Drake, its massive red monoeye swiveling on its track to look straight at the man standing before it. It hesitated for a moment.
Drake smiled as he raised his vibro ninja-to. "Obey," he whispered as his armor sprang free from his flesh and closed over his body. The seams glowed red as the armor sealed itself, closing Drake completely in a metal shell. His helmet sprang out of the base of his neck and closed around his head. The visual sensor flashed red. "Obey," repeated Drake, his voice distorted by the mechanical filters of the helmet.
The machine shuddered violently. The mechanical monster known as a "Hunter", one of the metallic dreadnoughts responsible for the murder of untold millions of people, raised a massive clawed left hand.
Drake smiled as he lowered his own left hand and the monster mimiced his motions. He laughed. The sound of it echoed off of the broken and destroyed cityscape around him.
Yes, said a very familiar voice. Do you see your own power now?
Do you understand?
No. I don't. But does it matter? Does it really matter if I understand?
You need to understand. You need to know why.
Drake turned away from the Hunter. The oddly-shaped colossus moved closer to him, its wickedly clawed hands gleaming in the small amount of sunlight filtering through the clouds.
"No," said Drake out loud. "I don't. I just need to know where to go now." He touched the red outlines of the familiar letters carved into his armor. "DC..." he said softly. "I will remember," he promised himself as he stepped forward.
Behind him, the Hunter fell into his stride like a dog at the heels of its master.
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Post by Mega Raptor on Sept 8, 2004 1:23:41 GMT -5
(Beter VERY late than never, I suppose. For the record, it took this long because I needed to know some stuff from AM, and it took him a bit to finally settle on an ending)
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Dai sighed as she laid back in the grass, staring through the artificial sky of the colony and simply watching the stars. The other people in the park kept their distance, still not comfortable around the bioweapon, but with the news reports clearly showing her as one of the soldiers who brought an end to the madness, she was more or less left to do as she pleased.
It's been one month, almost to the hour, since it all ended... and still... she shook her head, her tail flicking back and forth a bit, betraying her discomfort at the thought.
One month ago, the war had finally come to a true end, but many had been lost, including one whose life mattered more to Dai than her own.
Ekitai... a few tears threatened to well up at the thought, but she suppressed them. It wasn't possible, it simply was not possible. She couldn't really be gone. Dai was certain that any minute now her lover would show up at the other end of the park.
The entire rational part of her brain tried to convince her that wasn't possible. After all, just like everyone else she'd seen the explosion that had swallowed up Mel, along with her Jehuty armor, but much as the others tried to convince her, she knew. She knew deep down, past all explanation and rational thought that Melanie was alive out there, somewhere.
In the end, she hadn't been able to deal with the others trying to make her 'feel better', and stayed behind when the rest of them had left. Every time someone had nearly convinced her, she remembered. She remembered standing in the hangar, preparing to launch, and she remembered Mel's promise. She would survive the fight and return.
She'd never break that promise. No matter how badly she might have gotten injured or how much time passed, she'd never forget that promise... Dai reminded herself, sitting up with all the enthusiasm of a slug as she wrapped her arms around her knees and observed those around her.
All those happy people, seemingly oblivious to how close they came to losing it all, and how easily their happiness could be shattered.
I know... I know if she was here we'd be just like they are... Much as we know better, we wouldn't care... she finally managed to pull herself to her feet, and slowly walked into the city.
Omega was waiting for her just outside the tram station, "Dai! We must hurry or we will not be able to take the shuttle you requested!"
Dai just nodded, picking up the pace a bit and joining the android in line, "Everything already loaded?"
"Affirmative, all of your belongings, armor included, are now on the ship. All that is left is to board it ourselves. It will depart in a half hour," Omega said as he procured their tickets.
"Okay, the sooner we get moving the better..."
"I still do not understand your plan, Dai. But I still support your decision, regardless of what you are trying to do."
"Heh... it's not that complicated, Omega... I just... I dunno, need to explore a bit. Truth is, the more I stay put, the more I'm reminded of what I almost had... and I'm not going to stay put until I'm sure."
"Sure of what?"
"Sure of whether or not I still have that chance," Dai replied as she took her seat on the tram.
Omega simply nodded as the tram began to move, carrying the two towards the port.
No matter what, I will find you, Ekitai. You have my word. I will never stop looking for you until we're together again, on this side or the next.
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Post by Aegis on Sept 8, 2004 22:25:09 GMT -5
It is both worth the wait, AND about farkin' time. >=)
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Cybaster
Delta
Roadkilled. Repeatedly.
Posts: 231
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Post by Cybaster on Sept 8, 2004 22:44:39 GMT -5
Heh. Nice one, MR, although I think AM's just bein' lazy with Mel's story... XD And with that, I think the only characters unaccounted for and not yet told in this thread --- from the Shining Hope crew, anyway --- are Wind and Sara. Wind! Where the chicken bollocks are ya, man!? -Cyb
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Post by Airmaster on Jul 4, 2005 0:00:56 GMT -5
Last Dance: Chapter one
Colony Hanger: “Mel wait up..” Dai said as she walked up behind Mel as they walked from their shuttle into the space port of the colony. “We’re gone over the play many times Dai, I know what I am doing Utsukushii...” Mel smiled as they walked out into the main port.
The two walked by the small army of MS troopers they had been able to enlist to help. The plan was to stop the colony from being dropped on earth and to stop Kain’s forces once and for all. “Ekitia...” Dai started but was cut off by Mel turning and stopping right in front of her and looking her in the eyes. “We’re gone through hell twice over, I’ve lived through more then I should have, And this will be no different..” She smiled at Dai. “I promise one this is all over we can finally live out the quite peaceful life we’ve always dreamed of..” Mel giggled a little “It’s a promise I won’t break even if I have to pull the same trick you did and come back from the dead.” Dai smiled weakly at the silly look on Mel’s face, but she knew Mel to well and could see even she was worried about this. “You better not keep me waiting long or I’ll to find some way to punish you when you get back.” Replied jokingly.
Both women walked out the double glass doors of the space port and the heat from outside hit both right away, the smell of smoke and the sight of fighting could be seen all over the place. “Report!” Mel snapped as he walked over to the make shift command center made up of a few tables a large tent and a few chairs. “The circuit to the main reactor are all off line... And the sub station is under heavy guard by Kain’s main attack force.. We haven’t even been able to get a team past their front lines...” A man said as he pulled off his head set and looked at the two women. “I see... And How is the evacuation of the colony going?” She asked. Dai looked around at the make shift tents and the mass of people going into the other end of the space port from where they had come out. “Evacuation is at about 39%, But we are having trouble getting some of the people to leave their homes...” The man replied. Mel sighed and opened a com line with the others. “Saki, Yuri, Aya... You three get help with the evacuation and then get off this colony.” Mel said. Dai gave her a odd look and Mel just sweat dropped and laughed lightly at Dai. “It’ll be fine we can deal with these guys no problem.” she whispered to Dai. The bioweapon looked at Mel and just signed, she knew once she set something up it was to hard to change her mind on it.
The other com officer looked up at the two women. “Ma’am... Scouts say they think they have spotted what they think is a heavy transport truck moving towards the L7 area..” The man reported. “That’s them..” Dai said sure of the plans they had found and also cross referencing it with the time table she had hacked into some time ago. Mel nodded. “Have as many units of troops as you can spare to backup the attack squad.” And with that her and Dai took off towards the L7 area.
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