Darwin's Soldiers: Disruptive Selection

Serris · **Reply #5280 on:** May 27, 2013, 01:00:14 AM

"We must be the luckiest bunch of f---s on the planet," Gustave said. He ignored Shelton and focused on the others.

Neville kicked a remnant of tentacle overboard. "Let's get back to shore."

Sgt. Masters nodded and slithered back into the lounge.

Gustave looked at the ocean's deep blue depths, his metallic body and everyone else. He then did something shocking. He let loose a single sob.

Alfred put a hand on his friend's back. "You okay buddy?"

Gustave clenched his hands so tightly he left dents in the ship's gunwales. "I have no family; I'm practically f--- broke; I have a criminal record and to top it off, I look like I came off the set of some s--- sci-fi flick." He took a deep breath as he suppressed another sob. "Ever since...that day, the only thing that's kept me going was the thought of revenge. Now that Dragonstorm's assets are literally underwater, what do I do now?"

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #5281 on:** May 27, 2013, 11:27:05 AM

Cale's arm flopped over the side of the boat, waving a little.
"Ugh...little help here. Really would appreciate it guys."
He muttered wearily.

Neku nodded at Aimee, standing shakily.
"Yeah...I did. It's over...at last."
He said with a small smile...

Roux reappeared on the edge of the boat, then flung herself into Aisha's arms...

Hawkeye simply landed, armor damaged in several places as he nodded to the group.
"Luck had nothing to do with it, I don't think. It was our strength and our resolve that saw us through. Heh...though I wonder what some of us will do now, with Dragonstorm gone."
He said with a lightly jovial chuckle...

Nick22 · **Reply #5282 on:** May 27, 2013, 03:06:07 PM

Aisha hugged roux back as nix cam,e up to them. ' It's over.. fionally' Aisha said, taking a few moments to collect herself. landon tossed his blunted knife aside. ' after all this time, its finally over. how many lives destroyed and lost, due to those pyschopaths' he grunted.
- ' if you need a place to stay gustave, you're welcome to stay at my place" Aisha said as roux continued to hold onto her..

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #5283 on:** May 28, 2013, 03:53:38 AM

A life-preserver flew over the side for Cale, and Aimee, dressed in a sailor's outfit, hauled him up. "Don't know where we'll go," she winked, "but who cares? We'll find a way to live."

She led him away from the others.

Aimee had brought a stack of towels; Shelton quickly handed some to Kerzach while hastily drying himself off. "So, it's been a while, how many of these people do you even recognize?" he asked Kerzach jovially.

Zyanya rushed to help Landon. "Just consider how many lives have been saved because we stopped them," she consoled. "Including mine. You saved me from them, and I'll be forever grateful," she smiled.

"We're going to have quite the busy place," commented Nixx to Aisha. She looked approvingly at Gustave. "So is every part of your body made of steel...?" she asked him cryptically.

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

Once they were alone in a berth, Aimee took Cale by both hands. "I need to tell you something," she said. "The first time we broke up, when I went with Aydin. I couldn't tell you because I had been betrothed to him, but I never loved him. I'd much rather be with you. I love you...and I hope we can take this opportunity to fix our previous mistakes. What do you think?"

Nick22 · **Reply #5284 on:** May 28, 2013, 03:58:50 AM

Aisha hugged nixx with a smile " thanks for your help Nixx ' you just proved you don't need those vials anymore..
- thanks ' landon said, giving zyanya a big hug, which drew a big grin to her face.. ' what should we do , now that this is over?' he asked her.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #5285 on:** May 28, 2013, 02:58:32 PM

Cale smiled and simply pulled Aimee close, giving her a tight affectionate hug.
"Of course, Aimee. All that time, I never once stopped loving you. I'm looking forward to spending a long time with you."
He said softly, giving her a gentle kiss...
_________________________________________________________________

Neku grinned, flexing his hand a little.
"Heh...well, would you look at that. It looks like my powers have burned out. Guess that works out perfectly."
He chuckled...

Roux giggled girlishly.
"Well, this is gonna be fun~."
She murred happily.

Serris · **Reply #5286 on:** May 28, 2013, 09:26:55 PM

Gustave smiled - a real one. "Thanks for the offer," he said to Aisha. He then turned to Nixx. "Care to find out?"

-----------

Dr. Kerzach stripped naked as he was covered in feathers and had little to hide. "Only a few of them like Aisha, Landon and of course Dr. Zanasiu."

Dr. Zanasiu breathed in the salty air. "Well, there's only one thing left to do..."

The ship automatically set a course for land.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #5287 on:** May 29, 2013, 06:12:18 PM

Aimee kissed him back, until a smile formed over her lips. "Nobody's going to bother us in here," she whispered, kneeling down in front of him. "Let's consummate this with me giving you something I refused to ever give Aydin."

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

Nixx's eyes flashed mischievously. "Our cabins on this boat don't have locks on the doors. I'm in A9. I'll let you decide if I find out tonight." She glanced at Aisha. "Maybe I should take this new lease on life to start trying things I'd never been able to do before," she grinned.

Zyanya overheard her, and couldn't help but come to the same conclusion. "Err, doctor, she whispered. "Care to share quarters with me tonight?"

Shelton folded his arms. "Could y'all keep it behind closed doors...oh, forget it. I guess you all just survived something pretty insane and are already showing remarkable restraint." He then answered Kerzach, "I'll make sure to introduce you to everyone, there are some great people in this group."

"There certainly are," agreed Sharon, hugging Zanasiu excitedly. She met his eyes and shed a single tear. "I can't believe we actually did it..."

(OOC: How many more posts until the epilogue? And should we talk about how exactly the epilogue will plot out? I'm thinking 5-10 years after the fact would be a good number for the dates, but if it's more than twenty it'll ruin the chronology of something I'm working on.)

Nick22 · **Reply #5288 on:** May 29, 2013, 06:19:43 PM

shes with us actually, we're all sharing A9" Aisha said, so by all means come in ' she winked at gustave.' and nixx, do whatever you want, but remember once we get home we're deciding what area of the house is yours.
( i'm thinking 5 more posts asctually. as for my group. Aisha roux and nix all live together at her house. her father, being high up in the military and has pulled strings to get any and all charges against her and her friends dropped, classifying their group,and their efforts, as 'a covert operation to infiltrate and destroy the terrorist organization known as Dragonstorm. Basically a secret pardon)

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #5289 on:** May 29, 2013, 06:26:51 PM

Cale smiled and blushed a little.
"Uh...wow...uhm...okay, then..."
He stammered shyly...
____________________________________________________________

Neku raise a hand from where he had flopped down on the deck, waving at Kerzach.
"Name's Neku. Former Pelendavia experiment. Nice to meet you."
He chuckled...

(Also, Ridley/Hawkeye will help with that pardon by "leaking" several of the Dragonstorm files that indicated their involvement in illegal and terrorist-related attacks if that's okay.)

Nick22 · **Reply #5290 on:** May 29, 2013, 06:42:10 PM

(sure, that works)
Aisha let roux go, and headed over to nix. ' why don't we say you get the tv remote tonight? we watch whatever you want. How does that sound?"

Serris · **Reply #5291 on:** June 02, 2013, 12:06:34 AM

The ship finally docked at a commercial shipyard somewhere near Elizabeth, New Jersey. It was night time and the shipyard was silent.

Dr. Zanasiu was the first to disembark. He looked around and saw no guards. "Okay let's get away from that ship and debrief somewhere."

"If by somewhere, you mean a s---hole motel," Dr. Kerzach replied. He had on a blue jumpsuit he pilfered from the crew quarters.

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #5292 on:** June 02, 2013, 06:21:34 AM

Aimee was awoken by the feeling of the ship grinding to a halt. She nudged her lover in bed beside her. "Wake up, Cale. Time to put some clothes on, we're disembarking," she smiled.

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

Nixx was less pleased in room A9. "He never actually showed! What's wrong with me, not desirable enough? Are all men just unreliable flakes? I thought him of all people..."

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

Shelton stepped off the gangplank observing the dings and scratches covering the upper floors of the battleship's decks. "Wonder what they're gonna do with this thing," he wondered aloud. "A remnant of Dragonstorm, but an incredibly well built one."

He was in a pensive mood. "Honestly, Dragonstorm was corrupt and it's good they're gone, but the tech advances they've left behind are going to change the world. I'm going to be curious to see the true after-effects of this whole thing, good or bad."

Serris · **Reply #5293 on:** June 02, 2013, 10:49:03 AM

Gustave entered Room A9. "Sorry. I took a nap and then I got lost."

He sat on the floor, fearing that his great weight would break the bed

-----------

Dr. Zanasiu followed Shelton down the gangplank. "Maybe we'll be living in something out of a William Gibson novel with augmentations for all."

Nick22 · **Reply #5294 on:** June 02, 2013, 04:24:17 PM

better late than never Aisha said , getting up and getting gustave something to drink from the rooms kitchen. ' we have water, milk or tea i'm afraid' she said to gustave. Aisha had been keeping Roux "compsany, and had comforted nixx while they waited. landon stirred in his bed zyanya in his arms.. ' he smiled at his slll sleeping companion. ' tea for me, pleae Aisha, I have to plan out where my next area of practice is, since my previous hospital got blown up..i worked in vegas part-time before all this happened.

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #5295 on:** June 02, 2013, 11:43:15 PM

Hawkeye stepped off the gangplank after Shelton, smiling up at the sky as what looked like a UAV swooped down towards them, quickly transforming into a small hawk and landing on his arm.
"Ridley and I agree with you. Perhaps, when this whole things comes to light, either you or Dr. Landon should consider asking the government to form a new department, perhaps take the lead of that."
He said with a grin...
___________________________________________________________________

Cale smiled, sitting up and yawning, then leaning over and giving Aimee a sweet, affectionate kiss on the cheek.
"Mmm...and here I was having such a good dream, too~."
He teased her...
___________________________________________________________________

Roux giggled, giving Nixx a teasing kiss on the cheek.
"Oh, don't worry silly. You're still plenty desireable~"
She smiled coyly...

aabicus (LettuceBacon&Tomato) · **Reply #5296 on:** June 03, 2013, 03:25:52 AM

Nixx smiled coldly. "Yes, naps are what one takes when its nighttime," she stressed. "But now everybody's leaving the boat. See you on shore."

Turning her nose, she left the room, leaving Gustave confused and alone on the bed.

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

Aimee climbed out from under the covers and slipped back into her sailor's outfit. "Much as I'd like to just stay, the others will be leaving soon. We should join them."

She paused. "Unless...you know...we could leave them. Dragonstorm's dead, after all. Go our own way, together. Find a small town...live the rough life, the way I've always wanted. It's got to happen some day."

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

Zyanya groaned and stretched as she returned to the world of the conscious. She smiled for the benefit of the others as everyone left the room, but once they were alone confided in Landon. "Could we have our own room in the future? I was kinda hoping to have more...'alone time.' Hard to do in a room of five."

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

"Nothing wrong with small hotels. I lived in one my entire time in Southport, prefer them over fancy places," Sharon checked to make sure her wardrobe didn't look odd. She'd spent most of her free time preparing gadgets she could hide on her person; at this point she had a few pounds of tools and weapons hidden in various parts of her body. She wasn't interested in being taken surprise again.

Also, God had seen it fit for her arm to be restored to working health, which she knew was a minor miracle. It was the least she could do to put it to good use for the future. "What is our next step? I mean, it's over. Is there even anyone we can go talk to? It's all going to be in the news soon enough, I'm a bit afraid about our names going public. Half of us have been using credit cards this whole time."

StarfallRaptor · **Reply #5297 on:** June 04, 2013, 05:00:21 PM

Cale climbed out of the bed, grabbing his jumpsuit and slinging it on.
"Y'know...that actually sounds nice. Just the two of us, living someplace quiet... someplace peaceful...That sounds wonderful."
He smiled and walked over behind her, giving her a big hug.
"Let's go start a new life together."
He said happily...

Serris · **Reply #5298 on:** June 05, 2013, 12:13:58 AM

"Wait, whaó"

Gustave stared opened mouthed at Nixx as she left.

Finally, he unleased a torrent of profanity as he punched a hole in the metal door of the room.

Fuming, he stomped down the hallways as he headed off the ship.

Nick22 · **Reply #5299 on:** June 05, 2013, 12:26:04 AM

getting lost didn't help you with her gustave' landion said as he and Aisha followed gustave out the door ' and you do need to keep that anger in check' he advised.