Into the Black

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #500 on:** December 15, 2013, 04:51:53 PM

As Emilena's group approached the looming factory, Lily crept up to their leader cautiously. "So...ma'am..." she said timidly.

Emilena spared her a glance. "Ah, yes, you wanted to talk to me about something."

"You're a police officer...right?" Lily asked. "I saw the badge."

"Let's go with 'yes,' I'm a police officer. Why does it matter?" Emilena narrowed her eyes, expecting further probing questions.

Lily played with her hands nervously, staring at her feet. "Well...I don't know what I'm on the run for. I'm not honestly sure what I did. Until a few days ago, I lived a perfectly normal life. I was wondering, if you're able to...that you could use your police powers to figure out why I'm a criminal."

Emilena thought. "Hmm. If the chance presents itself, I can help you with that. But you'll have to do something for me in return."

"Of course!" Lily brightened up. "Anything! Thank you so much!"

This female came with Mr. Almaya... thought Emilena. I'll have to gauge her loyalty to him before revealing any of my true intentions. "I'll tell you how you can repay me at a later date. For now, just stay close. None of these deals matter if you die in the coming Purifier ambush."

Lily nodded hastily. "Don't worry. You and your brother are the only friends I have that can hold their own in a fight. I won't get in your way at all."

"Brother?" Emilena wrinkled her nose in confusion. "You are mistaken. We are lovers who happen to share similar physical characteristics. Don't make assumptions in the future."

"But--I--o-okay..." Lily decided to end the conversation there and just stop bothering the police officer.

They'd reached the abandoned robotics factory. Rusted walls and windows whose glass had long since melted away loomed over the shadowy clearing flanked by groves of dark trees. The lapping of water from the cliffs on the other side of the bluff left a scent of salt in the air.

bushwacked · **Reply #501 on:** December 15, 2013, 07:55:45 PM

The car sat motionless adjacent to the curb, the shadows drenching it in darkness. It faced along Richardson street - street lights further up gave the occupants of the vehicle a good view of anyone who might be hanging around. The clouds gathering in the darkening sky had broken, and a light rain tapped against the roof of the car.

Marcus shifted in his seat and looked at the clock on the dashboard. It was almost time. "Geasbrecht should be here soon," he muttered to his accomplice sitting in the passenger seat next to him.

Pterano · **Reply #502 on:** December 15, 2013, 08:32:24 PM

Anthony "Tony" Stracci sat slumped down in Marcus's passenger seat, one of his footpaws placed irreverently on the car's dashboard. The ferret was picking his claws with a knife in a bored fashion, and nodded at Marcus's words. "Got it." he susurrated, his voice not rising at all.

Tony was the son of Anthony Stracci Sr., head of one of the biggest mob families in the world, along with his brother (Tony's uncle), Mario. They ran a "legitimate" shipping and hauling company whose trucks were also overweight and tore up the roads they traveled on one shipment at a time. Stracci also owned a large construction company which was contracted to repair these damaged roads every so many months, so business was rather lucrative for the family, though Tony had taken a different path from his father.

About a year ago, Tony had up and vanished from the family business, having grown impatient with his father's insistence he only drive delivery trucks until he had "matured" enough to assume more important posts in the family. Growing increasingly alarmed and horrified at all the technological implants going around these days, Tony had enlisted in the Purifiers shortly after vanishing, and had so far kept his head down and had avoided his father's attempts at locating him.

So here the young ferret sat, waiting to trap one of these disgusting cyborgs or whatever they were. The knife dug out some dirt from one of his claws, and he grinned to himself, ready for some action.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #503 on:** December 15, 2013, 10:09:21 PM

Emilena observed the decrepit buildings. "Perfect..." she smiled. It was just as she remembered it. "I know every nook of this place. Follow me."

She led her team into the middle courtyard, where rusted benches and dead grass soaked in afternoon dew. "From here, we can see anyone approach from any angle. Don't enter any building; they are all extensively booby-trapped."

"Are you sure the booby-traps still work?" asked Lily.

"Yes. Don't let the appearance of this place fool you; it's been renovated with state-of-the-art surveillance technology." Emilena crept up to a statue of a robot shaking hands with a scientist. Pressing several scratches on the side of the plaque, she heard a ding and a thin screen revealed itself behind the plaque. All the traps, surveillance equipment, and defense systems throghout the complex were at her command.

"None of you can be within eyeshot of me," she said quickly. "Or else we risk blowing our cover. Kujurro, the staircase in that building over there leads to a shielded surveillance catwalk; do not touch any of the walls on your way up there, and turn doorknobs counter-clockwise slowly and firmly. Adrian, underneath that row of ferns you'll find a network of underground tunnels that allow passage throughout the complex. When the Purifiers show their face, your job is to get behind them for the flank. Lily, stay with Kojurro. I'll be communicating through the intercom system which connects to both of your locations." She grinned. "Let's catch us a Purifier."

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #504 on:** December 16, 2013, 12:55:15 AM

Adrian nodded, smiling a little as he leaned in and kissed Emilena on the cheek.
"Right. That was for luck."
He said teasingly, as Kojuuro grabbed his rifle and nodded, assessing the area for clear lines of sight before making his way up the stairs, as Adrian placed a hand on Emilena's.
"Hey...promise me you'll come back alive from this one, okay?"
He whispered to her...

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #505 on:** December 16, 2013, 02:16:39 AM

"I should be telling you that," Emilena grumbled. "I have to stand here and be bait while you get to go engage the enemy. I hate being bait; it's like I'm a cadet again..."

Then she realized that he was giving her a sincere gesture, and attempted to return it with a kiss on his cheek. "I'll be safe," she assured him. "Keep an eye out for yourself while you're down there."

Lily had followed Kojurro towards the catwalk, being voerly careful not to touch the walls or anything. When they reached the top of the stairs, there was no sniper perch or lookout of any sort; just a long dark hallway extending in both directions.

"Err, where do we go?" she asked.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #506 on:** December 16, 2013, 01:23:02 PM

Adrian smile a little and murred.
"You know I will. After all. I have something to come back to."
He said softly, as he made his way towards the tunnel. Up above, Kojuuro flicked a light on the rail of his rifle on.
"Looks like this way. And Lily...thanks."
He said softly...

Serris · **Reply #507 on:** December 17, 2013, 12:47:54 AM

Aaron arrived at Richardson Street. The street was in a fairly grungy part of town. Storefronts with heavy steel shutters lined the street and strung out bums loitered around.

The German Shepard tried to ignore the medley of vile scents that wafted through the air.

"Hey man, creds?" a voice rasped out.

Aaron looked down and saw an emaciated Human holding out his hand. The man wore a scraggly looking set of clothes that appeared to have once been a construction worker's uniform.

"Sure, anything toó" Aaron then noticed a metal port on the man's chest. His muzzle was soon adorned with a bitter scowl.

"No."

"What, please!" The bum grabbed hold of his left leg and refused to let go. A crack was heard as the German Shepherd swung his right foot, clad in a steel toed boot into the man's face. The bum groaned slightly and slid onto the filthy sidewalk.

Aaron looked at the bloodstained puddle forming under his head. Faint breathing could be heard from the unconscious man. He looked at his booted feet and briefly debated whether he should finish off the unconscious bum with a quick stomp to the head. In the end , he simply shrugged and made his way to the single functioning lamppost in the area where he was told his contacts would pick him up.

------------

Soren finally located a delivery repulsortruck parked in front of someone's house. The engine was still idling but the doors were locked. Undeterred, Soren put his metal clad fist through the side window and unlocked the door.

"Axel, you drive. I'll be in the back." The Human then climbed into the back of the truck and took a seat amidst the crates and packages. He figured that keeping his armored exoskeleton on for now was a better idea than taking it off and risk having it stolen or worse, being recognized.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #508 on:** December 17, 2013, 01:13:53 AM

"Thanks for what...?" asked Lily, puzzled. She continued staying out of his way, slinking nervously down the hallway behind Kojurro.

-------------------------

Emilena kept an eye on the time. They'd been waiting for a little under an hour. She calculated that she'd start feeling the chill of night in two more hours.

Her teammates were still in position, and the enemy had not showed their head...yet.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #509 on:** December 17, 2013, 01:19:51 AM

Adrian made his way through the tunnels, finding a vantage point from which he could see Emilena, and had easy access to a way out for when he was needed. As he stood, watching for the coming purifiers, he found his thoughts drifting to Emilena.
"Did Lily say that I was her brother? That can't be...right? I was alone all my life, according to...Ugh! My head...why's it hurt all of a sudden..."
_____________________________________________________

Kojuuro smiled back at Lily for a moment.
"For being my spotter. I know it may not seem like a lot, but it can be the difference between life and death."
He said softly...

bushwacked · **Reply #510 on:** December 17, 2013, 07:03:31 AM

Marcus looked at Tony picking his claws with some distaste when movement further up the street drew his attention. He turned the key and the engine rumbled to life. "He's here." Marcus pulled the car slowly forward until the German Shepard was next to his window, and rolled the glass down. His eyes passed over the beaten body crumpled on the ground, unconcerned, and came to rest on the figure looking at the car.

"Aaron Geasbrecht. You came. Good." He inclined his head towards the back seat. "Get in, we have work to do."

----------------------------------------

Axel winced as Soren punched out the window, then ran forward to the now open door. He climbed in, brushing aside the glass that covered the seat. He glanced around nervously as Soren climbed into the back.

"Hey! Stop!" A shout from the house startled Axel, and he turned to see the delivery boy charging down the driveway towards them.

"Crap!" Axel quickly shifted the repulsortruck into drive, and the vehicle took off. "Sorry!" he called out the window towards the human who was rapidly disappearing behind them. He turned to look in the review mirror at Soren in the back. "So how far away are we? And how're we going to get in?"

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #511 on:** December 17, 2013, 09:10:50 AM

"Oh, um, you're welcome..." Lily looked everywhere, trying to figure out what she could spot. She suspected he was just trying to make her feel useful.

Emilena wasn't feeling particularly useful either. Two hours had passed, and right on cue she was starting to feel the drafty chill through her fur. She began to worry nobody would show.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #512 on:** December 17, 2013, 09:58:57 PM

Adrian sat quietly in his hidden vantage point, his thoughts straying time and time again to Emilena. How he loved everything about her, from her fiery personality to her unflinching determination, to her beautiful body...to...everything.
Up above, Kojuuro smiled back at Lily, scanning the area below with his rifle every now and again.
"So...you lost your memory, huh?"
He finally said...

Serris · **Reply #513 on:** December 18, 2013, 01:54:09 AM

Aaron got into the backseat of the car.

"All right, so what's on the agenda?"

-------

Soren called up his HMD which was integrated into his glasses. "It's in the Silica district ó the corporate center of Lanthae. If I can remember correctly, Mr. Altyn should be getting off work now. Or so he says when he went in for the repair. I distinctly remember him saying he just got off work when he arrived at my house at this time. He drives an antique ó 2008 Tesla Roadster if I recall correctly."

Soren leaned back against the vehicle's hull.

bushwacked · **Reply #514 on:** December 18, 2013, 06:33:48 AM

"Our agenda is information," Marcus said as he pulled the car away. "Emilena Echo. A police officer. She's been seen in the company of Adrian Kibagami, someone who's been particularly problematic to our group. Earlier this morning, Echo visited the city hospital along with Kibagami for an operation to be augmented." Marcus spat the word out as if it were poison. "When she woke up, she attacked several members of staff, including some of our members, then escaped. She then made her way to Soren Almaya's residence, another one of our priority targets. It seems that Echo knows something of a certain... operation we have going on at the hospital and is working to expose it. But what doesn't make sense is that the police force also seemed to be attacking her..." He grunted. "Well, I guess we'll find our answers tonight."

As they joined the main flow of traffic, Marcus pulled out his phone, pressed a button and tossed it in the back to Aaron. It showed a section of a map, with a red dot glowing in a secluded area far from the main roads. "We were able to place a tracker on her. Two hours ago, she made her way to an abandoned factory and hasn't moved ever since. This could be some form of hideout, or she's leading us into an ambush. Either way, we'll be prepared." Reaching into the back seat, he pulled aside a grey blanket next to Aaron to reveal three assault rifles, a large number of ammo clips and 5 flash-bang grenades. "I don't care what happens to anyone she has with her. If you can, kill them. But we need her alive."

"Since you're on our team, you might as well know who you're working with. I'm Marcus. This is Tony," Marcus introduced, indicating towards the Ferret sitting next to him.

----------------------------------------------

Axel nodded. "Silica district is about ten minutes away. Gonna have to gun it if we want to catch him. Hold on!" He pulled into the fast lane and slammed his foot down. The weak engine of the delivery truck puttered unhealthily, and they moved only a little faster. Axel groaned. "Come on!"

Fifteen minutes later, Axel swung the repulsortruck into the parking lot of Pelvanida. He scanned the cars as he drove along. "Roadster... I don't see a Roadster. Crap, I think we missed... Hey, there! Is that him?" A Tesla Roadster was parked a little ahead of them, and a figure was making his way around the vehicle, preparing to get in.

Pterano · **Reply #515 on:** December 18, 2013, 11:59:07 AM

Tony shook his head as Marcus described their target. Another scum who felt the need to augment herself, apparently. Who were these people? Why did they feel compelled to do such things to their bodies? And she had attacked members of the hospital staff after having the procedure completed? This just further convinced the ferret that what he was doing was right. More than anything he'd ever felt working for his pops, he felt like he was truly doing good in the world; that he was stemming back some furious tide that threatened to swamp them all.

He continued picking his claws with his knife, and flicked a finger up to knock the fedora on his head back a tad as way of greeting the newcomer, Aaron. He also gave a slight wave of his paw (more like a sudden jerk really), but didn't fully turn around. "Pleased to meetcha!" he exclaimed. As Marcus hadn't offered any last names (save for Aaron's), Tony didn't offer his either.

One thing he was grateful for was the weapons' cache in the backseat. He had only brought a sidearm (in addition to the knife), but it was nice to know they were packing substantial heat as well. Would make taking this... freak easier. They needed her alive, which was fine. So long as he got a chance to take out some of her friends, he wouldn't complain.

While he had initial reservations upon hearing she was a cop, he threw them all out the window at the news that the police seemed to be hunting her as well. Good... made things considerably easier in terms of questionable legality, and put his mind at ease.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #516 on:** December 18, 2013, 01:43:56 PM

Lily nodded. "Though Axel and Soren have helped pin the pieces together...it looks like I was just a regular housewife who liked to go hiking. Three days ago, something happened to me in the forest while on a hike...and hopefully Emilena will be able to help me find out what."

The air was incredibly cold, but she didn't seem to notice. As a matter of fact, her skin seemed slightly greyer than usual. "I'm so grateful for all the help everyone has been giving me...hopefully I'll get the opportunity to pay you all back someday."

_---------------------

Three hours now...Emilena hit the intercom, ready to give up and return to Soren. Apparently the Purifiers weren't as efficient as she'd been led to believe.

But then, a faint red light blinked on the edge of the radar. A vehicle had pulled up to the perimeter of the factory. She narrowed her eyes.

"Possible visitors on the southeastern perimeter," she warned her allies. "Hold position for now. Let's see what they do..."

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #517 on:** December 18, 2013, 02:17:59 PM

Kojuuro smirked, folding his sniper rifle's bipod out and smirking a little.
"Understood. Setting up for the shot."
He chuckled into the radio. In his hiding spot, Adrian nodded, holding his sword and tensing.
"Alright. I'm ready, Emi."
He said softly...

Serris · **Reply #518 on:** December 18, 2013, 08:16:56 PM

Aaron nodded and shook hands with Tony. "You probably already know my name."

He then smiled as he laid eyes on the weapons cache. "Nice."

He took a deep breath, grabbed a rifle, slapped in a magazine and chambered a round. "All right, ready to rock and roll?" he said with a grin.

---------------

Soren leapt from the back of the moving vehicle, letting his exoskeleton and shock absorbing clothing take the impact. The pavement wasn't so lucky, small cracks showed where his fists and feet landed. He sprinted over to the Tesla Roadster and blocked off the driver's side entrance.

"W...what do you want?" Mr. Altyn said, gazing at the armored Human.

Soren took off his helmet. "Mr. Altyn, I would like a word with you."

Mr. Altyn gasped. "Soren?" He looked around nervously. "Look, I already paid for the repairs!"

Soren sighed. "It's not about the repairs. I want to know what you did to your hand."

Mr. Altyn revealed his right hand, a black carbon fiber prosthesis. The pointer finger had a visible hinge ó indicating that a small compressed air duster was part of the prosthesis. In addition, all the fingers were very narrow and fine, like tweezers, allowing the technician to easily handle small parts. "Uh, nothing."

Soren shook his head. "I'm not interested in playing games. Tell me what happened to your hand."

"What's with this? Maybe I don't want to tell you! Is it that hard to understand!?" He made a move to reach past Soren.

The cyberneticist reacted, blocking the movement. "Don't bother, I'm much stronger than you are in this suit." That was partially true. At the lowest setting, he could easily qualify for the Olympics ó the Baseline Games, at least. At the highest setting, he could lift nearly two and a half tons.

Soren then scowled. "This relates to something that cost me my house and records of my business. If I have to flip your car over or hold you down to get info, I will do it."

Mr. Altyn looked around the parking lot, lit up by streetlights. "Well, I said that I had an accident because I was filling in for a guy at the manufacturing plant." He took a breath. "Well, that's not true. I had an encounter with some thugs ó think they called themselves the 'Purifiers' or something. Anyways, they beat me up, stole all my stuff and one guy cut off all the fingers on my artificial hand with an angle grinder or something."

Soren nodded and waved down Axel.

bushwacked · **Reply #519 on:** December 18, 2013, 09:16:48 PM

Marcus looked at Aaron in the mirror. "At least there's nothing wrong with your enthusiasm," he said finally, turning his attention back to the road. Soon, they came to a small turn-off, and after a while the road became increasingly bumpy. The tires kicked up small clouds of dust on either side of the car. "Pass me the phone," Marcus demanded, taking it back from Aaron. He looked at it quickly, then grunted with satisfaction. "Good. She's still in the same position, and we're almost there."

20 minutes later, a dark shape loomed out of the darkness. Marcus quickly dimmed the headlights, and slowed the car to a crawl. He stopped just outside the main entrance and killed the engine. Reaching back, he took the remaining rifles and handed one to Tony, then distributed the rest of the ammo.

"Remember the plan," Marcus said as he loaded a magazine, and clipped a flash-bang to his belt. "The female fox has to be taken alive. Tony, you've seen a plan of this factory. There's a rear entrance on the other side of the building. Go there and flank them. Aaron, you're going in the front with me. It's the most direct route, so expect resistance." He looked at the them and nodded his head. "Alright, let's move." Letting himself out of the car, he started making his way stealthily towards the entrance.

---------------------------------------

Axel saw Soren signal to him, and he brought the repulsortruck to a stop next to the pair. "Hey," he said, leaning out of the window. He saw Altyn's hands and gasped. "Woah, nice augments! I always wished I could afford something a little more specialised, these are so clumsy..." he said, flexing his fingers which had been designed to resemble normal digits. Axel realised he was rambling. "Anyway... are we good?"