Darwin's Soldiers: Disruptive Selection

Serris · **Reply #4920 on:** May 10, 2012, 02:09:17 AM

Dr. Zanasiu looked at Gustave. The former Pelvanida biologist set down his ladder as Dr. Landon did the same. "Okay, so who goes up first?"

"I am NOT climbing a ladder," the Nile Crocodile growled. He did not wish to tarnish his manly image by revealing that he was afraid of heights.

"Sorry, steel horseshoes and hooves don't go well with ladders," Zachary replied. The tool bag and bolt cutters leaned against tbe broken door.

Sgt. Masters pointed to the ad hoc grappling hook that Gustave made and was now next to the ladder and coil of rope. "We're not climbing anything yet. If we tie the rope to that rebar grappling hook and toss it so it hooks the barbed wire, we should be able to pull the wire down."

"Good thinking, sir!" the Mongoose Cobalt soldier said. He then picked up the metal grappling hook. "It's a bit heavy though."

"Bunch a wussies," Gustave muttered. "If any of you wussy mammals can't handle it, I'll do it!"

Dr. Zanasiu immediately took umbrage to Gustave's speciest statement. He wisely kept his mouth shut as he did not want to provoke Gustave.

Sgt. Masters flicked his tail against the concrete, producing a dry rattle that carried over the sound of the waves. "Gustave, I'm only going to ask you once, cut the speciest s---!" He then slithered to the grappling hook and attached the rope to it. After testing it, he bobbed his head up and down - a serpentine nod.

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

Meanwhile, Sharon's ears pricked up as she heard conversation from the left hallway. "I hear James's voice. James and his group are down that way. And it sounds like they may have found an entrance or something!"

MrDrake · **Reply #4921 on:** May 11, 2012, 10:52:11 PM

"Well then, sounds like they've found something" Aimee replied back, glancing down the left hallway before her eyes fell upon a nearby vending machine and walked over to it "One moment...." and in turn, she shattered the glass on it with a quick elbow.

Seconds later, she grabbed a pack of chips and opened them up, glancing at the other two "What? I haven't exactly had anything to eat lately.....been busy and all that" she spoke as she started to munch on said chips as she did so, though offering Sharon and Neku some "Want some?"

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #4922 on:** May 12, 2012, 12:32:43 AM

"I can get my own!" Sharon smiled brightly, stealing jalapeÒo cheddar chips. Before she opened them, she saw glowing red eyes reflected in the glossy bag.

Glancing behind her, she dove backwards just in time as one of the robots smashed its way through an office window and attempted to grapple her. Skidding into the vending machine, she emptied a magazine into the robot's chassis before a rain of snacks obscured her vision.

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

Shelton led the way deeper into the facility, keeping the machanical eye as a sort of scanner in front of him.

"Hold it!" he suddenly blurted out, right before they walked past a certain spot. For a few seconds, he searched the area with the eye. "This is what's doing it; the area is charged with a proton-heavy electrical field. Living beings are fine, but electrical equipment will be permanently broken. Hawkeye, you will lose any electrical functions if you progress beyond this point, and I'll lose my thought chip. If anyone has anything they want to survive, leave it here."

"What about guns?" asked Neville. He removed his radio and other electrical items and left them on the hallway floor.

"If it's not electric, it'll be fine. And there's no way around; it's projected in a radius from the place Bailey's team is headed. Only Soundwave's cleared machinery is protected, and this eye is deadlock-sealed." Shelton was going through a personal dilemna. He didn't need his thought chip right now, but losing it will be like losing his sixth sense. He won't be able to communicate with ROSS anymore either. ROSS will probably be glad to find out, he thought wistfully.

He took a deep breath. He couldn't let Bailey's team walk unaware into certain danger just to save his chip. Taking a deep breath, he took a step forward. Something clicked off in his mind, and he felt alone for the first time in months.

He turned to his allies. "Who's going to keep going?"

MrDrake · **Reply #4923 on:** May 12, 2012, 01:33:18 AM

"A robot?" Aimee asked herself as it barged in, in an attempt to grab Sharon. She looked at it for just a moment before she tossed the rest of her chips at it, not expecthing them to do anything before she rushed at said robot, fist pulled back.

"Hey! Metal head!" she called out as the robot turned just in time for Aimee's fist slammed right into its head, shattering part of its head and dislodging its CPU in the process.

The robot just stood there for a few moment, seeming to glitch up, twitching somewhat as it did so before it just stopped and fell forward, having been taken care of.

"Why are there even robots around here?" Aimee asked as she looked at the downed robot "I mean okay, a savage, evil and hateful AI I can understand....but robots?"

Mirumoto_Kenjiro · **Reply #4924 on:** May 12, 2012, 03:10:21 AM

As Vic got up to leave the room, Chase raced past him and hopped onto Dr Joe's bed, wrapping around her neck and sobbing.

The surprise visitor accidentally winded Dr Joe, and she had to adjust herself so she could embrace him. "Easy there, Chase," she consoled him.

Vic stopped and gave a half-smile before leaving. He walked down a narrow hallway to a hall lobby, where Snow and Ice were waiting.

"How is she?" Snow asked, worried.

"She'll be fine," the human replied. "She'll need some rest. And Erin?"

"Her left hand is mangled," it was Ice who answered, "but she'll pull through. She's even insistent that she'll continue to fight."

"If she can, then she'll still be helpful. We'll need everyone who can still fight Dragonstorm. Especially now... Is Aiko still on his laptop?"

Ice snorted and pointed his thumb behind him. "Just around the corner. Strange thing, is that I think he's not happy. That's not good, right?"

Vic stifled a chuckle. "I'll go see if he can be cheered up. You can go see Joe if you want."

As Vic walked past the canines, Snow decided to head down the hallway to see the scientist, while Ice chose to stay put and find a seat. Vic round the corner to see the Akita, his muzzle nearly pressed on the computer screen. "Joe's fine. She'll be out of bed soon. I hear you're not happy for once."

Aiko sighed. "More like frustrated, considering we were almost barbequed in one blast..."

Vic sat down beside him. "How goes it with Dragonstorm?"

"Right now, not much. We can confirm that the base in Texas is toast, but nothing outta Florida. It's as if the Dragonstorm freaks can't access the mainframe there either."

"Is it James & Shelton?"

"Honestly, Shelton's good a hacker, but not as good as me. Besides, the system blocking me is too complex to be one set-up by any computer whiz. Like...the mainframe itself is doing all of this."

"You mean like an AI?"

"Maybe, since Dragonstorm could create AI programs. But how can one of their own creations kick them out too?"

"Remember Hawkeye, Kagetora, and the others? They were meant to work for Dragonstorm, but they turned over a new leaf. Maybe this AI's doing the same."

"I hope so. But as to whether or not you're right, Boss, we're totally blind now..." He shrugged and gestured to the blank screen...

Serris · **Reply #4925 on:** May 13, 2012, 12:41:50 AM

"I don't have any electronics so I'll be fine," Alfred said. He then suddenly realized something. "Oh s---! That memory stick that Bailey's got it useless now."

"I'll go too," Neville said.

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

After several more attempts to contact Shelton, Spc. Crota sighed and dropped his radio on the ground. "F---ing thing's fried," he said.

Dr. Bailey shivered as he unholstered his can of pepper spray. "Well, we're on our own for this."

Spc. Crota closed his eyes and scanned down the hallway with his infrared vision. "On the plus side, I see a heat signature coming from behind that door," he said, pointing to a door in the middle of a T-junction. "It looks like it's coming from a server room!"

"That's it! Now we can finish our mission and get get the hell out of here!"

"Hold it!" Spc. Crota said, blocking Dr. Bailey's path with an outstretched arm. He then slithered in front of the Australian Monitor Lizard. "Have you noticed that there's no one here? And there are no defenses or anything?"

Dr. Bailey then came to a sudden realization; they hadn't seen anyone at all. And back at Pelvanida, hallways were filled with scientists, technicians, janitors, mechanics, IT personnel and other workers. And automated turrets along with various other defenses protected critical areas - one of which was the server room. "You know, maybe we should see if there's another way into that room. Something stinks about how easy it was to gain access to such an important area," he said.

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

Gustave sighed as he picked up the ad hoc grappling hook. "All right back away from me so I can throw this thing!" he ordered.

Dr. Zanasiu, Zachary, Sgt. Masters, the Mongoose Cobalt soldier entered the room they had come out of.

"Aisha, Dr. Landon, if you don't want to possibly get smacked with a big ass hunk of metal, you'd better go back into the room," Gustave said as he held the grappling hook in his hand and sized up the distance between him and the barbed wire.

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

Sharon threw her finished bag of chips on the ground and slid more shells into her shotgun. "Pelvanida did do some research on AI systems for robotic guards; it is possible Dragonstorm did the same."

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #4926 on:** May 13, 2012, 01:17:38 AM

Hawkeye sighed.
"Damnit. Alright, I'll stay back until you can find a way through. Or...Hmmm...that could work, Ridley."
He chuckled.
"I think I may have found a workaround. For me, at the least. My power recently enabled me to create a nanite shielding system. As long as this system isn't too overwhelming, and we move through quickly, then I should be able to keep my systems online."
He said calmly.
"Failing that, I can probably repair myself, given time."
He added.
_____________________________________________________________________

Neku chuckled.
"Probably because even crazy AI get lonely sometime."
He joked, as another laugh joined in.
"Very funny, Neku. Now, what's the plan?"
Cale asked, materializing from a nearby wall...

MrDrake · **Reply #4927 on:** May 13, 2012, 03:57:12 AM

Aimee folded her arms as she looked at the downed robot, then towards Sharon and Neku for a moment, yet, before she could answer, Cale appeared with a single question "Well, I was under the impression that we're suppose to be joining up with the others right about now, just had a little run-in with metalhead there" she spoke, motioning to the robot again before she sighed a little "And I didn't even get to finish my chips either...."

Though she then just shook her head at that "Anyway, that's not important right now, we should really get going before anymore robots decide to show up unexpectedly" she added in, flexing her fist she had used to punch the robot with.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #4928 on:** May 13, 2012, 02:32:09 PM

"Wait, did you just say Ridley?" asked Shelton. He had memories of a metallic hawk, a cured Dragonstorm experiment from Pelvanida. "I thought Ridley died last year during Lab 101's escape. At least, that's what James told me."

They were still walking to their destination.

A few rooms ahead, an unusually large turret slunk into the floor. Unlisted on the official maps and immune to sensors due to a inch-thick layer of rust, the decrepit sentry was the only thing in the whole base that didn't appear to be in pristine condition.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #4929 on:** May 14, 2012, 02:49:36 AM

Hawkeye nodded.
"That's partially true. But the good thing about cybernetics is that they can be salvaged, restored, or put into other systems. In this case, Ridley was duplicated and installed into both my runtimes and a predator drone that I can uplink with. So while his body died, his core programs, his...soul, I guess, is still alive."
He said softly...

MrDrake · **Reply #4930 on:** May 14, 2012, 03:44:25 AM

"So anyway.....you guys just wanna stand around here and chat? Or do you actually want to go in and find everyone else?" Aimee asked, a tone of annoyance hinted in her voice as well as she then looked at the group for just a moment before she just simply turned around herself and started to head off down one the right hallway, the one that Sharon had said that the others weren't down.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #4931 on:** May 15, 2012, 12:58:37 AM

"Wow, uh...say hi for me, I guess." Shelton wasn't sure what to say. He had been the one who actually cured Ridley's mind, and arguably saved his life.

They had kept moving forward, and were about to enter a laboratory to cut across the sector.

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

Sharon nodded. "Uh, Aimee? The others are that way." She pointed toward the control room with her thumb.

MrDrake · **Reply #4932 on:** May 15, 2012, 02:40:33 AM

Aimee stopped and glanced back and groaned again somewhat "I knew that...." she muttered at turned, starting to head back to the others when something crashed through a nearby wall, grabbing onto Aimee and in turn, crashed through the next wall, letting her go and tossing her over its shoulder, into the nearest wall.

It stood there, another robot, but one that seemed more advanced than the usual ones. It had mechanical like wings, and hidden underneath were boosters, allowing for it to fly.

The robot just looked at her before it begun to hover once again eyes not moving from her.

Aimee looked back at the robot "Uh guys....a little help?" she asked in a raised tone so that the others could hear her as she slowly stood up, fists clenched as she just eyed the robot all the while.

Serris · **Reply #4933 on:** May 17, 2012, 03:37:07 AM

Alfred tried the laboratory door, which unlocked with a click.

The room was dark and smelled of oil and metal. Unfortunately, his shotgun did not have the tac light so he had to feel around for a light switch. When he flicked on the light, he saw at least five battle robots looking at him. Luckily, these appeared to be "grappler type" robots for use where firearms would pose a danger. Unfortunately they were endowed with heavier armor than regular battle robots. The robots activated and them headed towards the group.

"Guys, I think we'd better run," Dr. Bailey said, edging towards the door.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #4934 on:** May 17, 2012, 12:57:01 PM

Cale was the first one to react to the machine burst through the wall, lunging forward and throwing several glass knives at the joints of it's wings.
"All over it, Aimee."
He chuckled, as Neku stepped forward next to Aimee, swords flaring to life...

MrDrake · **Reply #4935 on:** May 17, 2012, 04:05:47 PM

The robot landed on the ground with its wings seeming to be damaged as it reached around for the knives and pulled them out before it threw one of the knives in their direction, only for Aimee to bring up her arms and actually block said knife, watching as it clattered to the ground "Huh....that was....lucky..." she spoke before she shook her head.

Aimee's eyes gazed at both Neku and Cale then towards the robot again as she flexed her fists before rushing forward, striking the robot across the face a few times. But as she did so, what seemed to be four more of the same types of robots rushed into the areea in order to surround the group.

Aimee just stepped back quickly as she looked to the robots "Yup...I think I'm already over fighting robots now...." she deadpanned to the group.

Nick22 · **Reply #4936 on:** May 17, 2012, 04:51:38 PM

Landon and Aisha followed Gustave request and gave him a vgood twenty feet of space.. " Just make sure you can get it up there' Aisha said to him. "once you do, you can tear dowbnn the barbed wire..

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #4937 on:** May 17, 2012, 08:02:05 PM

Sharon reloaded and fired at the nearest robot, but the bullets didn't phase it. "Time to get creative," she muttered. Rolling to the destroyed snack machine, she pried a panel away to get to the cooling unit. Within a minute, she had a liquid nitrogen dispenser. "Come closer, I dare you!" she taunted the nearest robot, who obliged despite not speaking English.

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

Shelton led the way into the other lab. "Strange..." he muttered, "this doesn't look like a lab..."

Suddenly the floor opened and the turret rose out of the ground. Cocking itself, it blasted a brown ray of light straight into Shelton's chest.

To Shelton's surprise, it hit him and went right through. Neville, behind Shelton, was also hit. He tried to draw his gun to his surprise it rusted away in his hand.

"Guys..." Neville tried to speak, amazed.

Alfred unloaded a clip into the turret, but its armor endured. The turret fired back, and Alfred's gun melted into a puddle of corroded iron oxide.

Alfred swore. "What the hell‽"

MrDrake · **Reply #4938 on:** May 18, 2012, 01:09:21 AM

Something else, in a blink of an eye, slammed into one of the robots, which in turn, slammed into a second one and right into the nearest wall. A human girl landed upon the ground and seemed to just have what looked like angel-like wings, just suck right back into her back.

She wore cargo pants, combat-like boots and a white shirt. She had black hair that ran down to her shoulders. She also seemed to be carrying a small bag of sorts strapped around her waist, but what was in it, no one but herself knew. But there was a single problem with why she was even there, and what she had thrown at the two robots, being another human girl. It was noted as she just seemed to completely ignore the other robots, Aimee, Neku, Cale and Sharon's presence and walked over to the downed girl.

She crouched down and poked her in the forehead "Hey, Zyanya....get up....we still have a fight going on here" she spoke in a sing-song like voice, yet, the other girl did not move at all. Again, she poked the other girl, who let off a groan "Well, at least you're not dead"

Aimee however, just pointed at the girl, mouth agape somewhat "Uh....is anyone else seeing this right now?" she asked as even the three remaining robots were also just looking in the same direction too. Though Aimee just stood up, grabbing two of the robots by the heads and slamming their heads together multiple times in order to get rid of them "Hey! You!"

No answer came from the other girl as Aimee called out again "Hey! I'm talking to you!"

The girl again sighed "Wait right here" she poked the downed girl in the forehead again before turning her attention to Aimee "Me?"

"Yeah, you....just who are you, and where the hell did you even come from, let alone....what the hell are you and her doing?" Aimee asked, trying her best to get some answers from the other girl.

"Nixx, spelt with two xs, came from....what you fleshlings call South America, and me and her, we were just fighting, that's all....just trying to kill her, but she's not exactly putting up much of a fight for round two, thought it would be more interesting than this....I mean, you know how it goes, round one, she fights me, she kills me, I come back and we start round two" Nixx replied back in a casual tone, still ignoring the others present.

"Wait, she killed you....and you're still...here?"

"Yeah, that....I just got bored of being dead you know"

"You got bored....of being dead?" Aimee glanced to Sharon and the others, stepping back towards them "Who gets bored of being dead?" she asked them, though a bit rhetorically.

And as if on cue, the other girl pushed herself up to her feet, though a bit weakly. This girl wore shorts and a tank top, but no shoes on her feet. She too was human with black hair, longer black hair that went past her shoulders. On her hands she wore, what seemed to be metal gloves. She herself had a more darker skin tone colour, more bbrown than anything else "Has tenido suerte es todo..." she muttered a little to Nixx.

"Yeah, oh and that there is Zyanya....and I have no idea on what her name even means" Nixx added in "So don't even ask" though her attention turned to Zyanya next "Phew....thought you were dead....so glad to see you're still alive" she seemed to just smile to the other girl.

"I don't think I'll ever understand how your mind works" Zyanya spoke in English, yet, with an accent in her voice to boot.

(ooc: And don't worry, the two of them, they do tie into a story I'll end up writting up at a later date, explaining who they are more properly. I'll just note too, Zyanya's accent is that of Spanish/Aztec sort of thing, in a way, like a native, I suppose you could say.....also, Zyanya does speak Spanish too, but I'll be using the Google Translate for that....so um yeah, just a warning incase the Spanish would seem....off XD)

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #4939 on:** May 20, 2012, 03:44:27 PM

"Are you two...like...reincarnated Aztec gods or something?" asked Sharon, confused.

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

The turret blasted Alfred a second time, sending his bulletproof vest crumbling away.

"I thought that was rustproof," Alfred muttered, amazed.

Shelton steeled himself. "Well, if it can only hurt metals..." he muttered, cautiously approaching, ignoring the fire he drew.

It was then that two miniguns emerged from both sides of the turret. Shelton had just enough time to dive behind a desk.

Neville drew his knife and tried to reach Shelton. A rust blast destroyed his body armor. "How are we supposed to fight back if we lose all our weapons?" he exclaimed.