Wasteland II : Z-Factor

[The GrandMage]

Assantikkan al zef Rhilin eo'Tsan

He moved around, wanting to stay behind the two in body armor. They seemed the most prepared and in their element. All four were just standing there, talking. He readied his weapon, and looked around before turning his attention back to them.

 

[Moneytalks]

Sage...

"Thallon... strange... something..." She shook her head as if to clear it. She still leaned heavily against him.

"There!" She pointed to a passage further in front of them just as a garrison of heavily armed guards rounded the corner.

"Halt in the name of Zion, you are ordered to drop your weapons and yield your position."

Sage pushed herself away from Thallon so as to free him from having to hold her. She fell to her knees not far from him and leaned against the wall watching helplessly as the garrison confronted them.

"Yield your weapons!" Barked the commander again.

Without warning two of his men fired. Blue/green fingers of energy burst from their weapons creating a strange web like light that passed over the would-be escapees.

As the energy waves covered Sage she cried out in pain. Madge seemed unaffected, and Thallon felt an odd tingle that seemed to weaken him slightly but not enough to stop his progress.

It was Denoitnem who seemed the most affect by the energy. He didn't cry out in pain like Sage, but he seemed genuinely surprised as the webbing seemed not to pass through him like it did the others. It's spindly blue/green fingers clinging to him.

"Again!" Shouted the leader. Two more shots were fired. Sage seeming to writhe in pain as the energy flowed through her.

 

[Guest]

Satra...

Just as Satra reached the door of Walter's quarters her com-link bleeped impatiently at her. She switched it on. "Satra here."

"Sir, we have report from S-3, contact confirmed, two humanoids. One female, identifying herself as Nalia. Her memory is in question. One male, identifying himself as Dexter. Unwilling to supply further information."

"Copy."

"Reference from the male about the New Republic."

"Anything else?"

"Third life form still at large. Current situation considered stable."

"ETA to back-up from T-11?"

"Under five minutes."

"Tell S-3 to contain the two humanoids until T-11 arrives. I want the team to remain in the area to arrest that wandering alien. Get S-3 to bring the two humanoids to outer port 5. I don’t want them to have any contact with base until further questioning, understood?"

"Yes Sir!"

She switched off the communication link and pressed the tone button for entrance to Walter’s rooms.

"Enter!"

Satra waited for the door to slide open and entered Walter’s rooms.

"Walter. We have outside life forms to deal with. Two confirmed and contacted humanoids, one unidentified alien at large."


"S-3, we have confirmation. Await arrival of T-11. Take humanoids into custody for return to OP-5. No contact with base is allowed at this time. S-11 will take over scout duty and attempt to contain the alien. Over."

S-11 was a group of hardened human men and male Andromedian’s. They had trained together from first conception of the so-called "New Republic". Currently they were training new recruits. It was considered a top priority, so it was rare that they were asked out on active duty unless something was amiss.

"S-3?" Shouted out Drok, the group Andromedian leader. "We’ll take over from here, give us your current readings on the alien and then take the visitors to OP-5 for further instructions."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden/Andidria

"Copy." I returned, raising my weapon again. Coulter handed over his readings, merely giving up his scanner and taking one of those carried by S-11.
"Alright," I began. "Hands behind your backs. We have to cuff and blindfold you before we go any further."
THe man named Dexter did as he was asked, and Coulter had him cuffed and blindfolded in a minute or less. I turned to the girl, Nalia.
"You're turn," I announced. "Wh not make this easy on all of us?"
I waited for her response.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

I wasn't sure what was happening, but I didn't move, not just yet, not unitl I knew what was happening to Denoitnem. He was the strongest of us just then, and if he wasn't well enough to fight...
Madge readied her weapons, holding the semi-automatic as if to fire, but waiting to see what the rest of us did.
It would all depend on Denoitnem, it seemed just then.

 

[The GrandMage]

Assantikkan al zef Rhilin eo'Tsan

He gave a glance over the new group on the scene. A few of his own people were there, which was a good sign. If his own people trusted these humans, perhaps he could, as well.

Of course, he still had no idea who they were. He judged the situation. He carefully moved away, not wanting to be seen. It would be best to stay back, and see what they did.

 

[bobo_daclown]

Denoitnem:

The odd energy tendrels around him, Denoitnem finds himself frozen in shock and then in humor. After a minute of just standing there, he bursts into laughter to thet suprise of the guards and the others. In an instant, he shrinks and disappears under the webbing. His liquid form flows behind the guards and reforms as he begins to attack them from behind.

 

[Lady_Siren]

Nalia frowned at the cuffs. What kind of planet did she crash into? She didn't like this one bit but what choice did she have? Her only other alternative would be to wander the desert aimlessly and more then likely die. Sighing in surrender she held out her wrists her frown still prominent on her face.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden/Andidria

Once she was cuffed and blindfolded, we turned them repeatedly, getting them disoriented enough that they probably had no idea what direction they were pointed in. Then we led them through the desert, across the sand, leaving S-11 to complete our scouting route.
After a twenty minute walk, we were nearing the outskirts of East Camp. The New City (as we hadn't named it yet) was divided into several different camps, all being built beneath the group even as we led these two toward the interrogation Satra would no doubt pound them with. East Camp was where Coulter and I tended to be involved, almost in charge of actually, though all we really did was carry out Satra's or Walter's or Hum'Battaan's orders.
Currently, the seven camps that were set up were each nearly three miles apart. We'd dug, then bricked and cemented walls beneath the surface to enforce and seal the support structure.
Soon, we'd have at least ten encampments built, but building above ground would be impossible if we could't get our hands on an Oxygen Converter, and those were hard to come by. One would create enough oxygen to allow everyone within the city limits to breathe, but there were only so many in the world, and building one was nerly impossible.
As we neared the base, which looked no different than the rest of the desert from above ground, save for the short white pole that stuck two feet from the ground, the ground seemed to open up, some sand falling into the hole it created. The sounds of life erupted suddenly from below.
As we moved closer, we could see the stairwell leading down and the world we'd created below.
"Watch your step," I instructed, putting the two between myself and Coulter and leading them down to where Satra's guards waited just inside.
As we entereed, the ground swallowed us from above, closing off the desert and leaving us hidden inside.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

The attack was begun. Now it was a matter of not hitting our friend behind our enemies. I thought I could manage that.
I aimed for legs and arms, not wanting to kill the guards unless I had to. They were human afterall, and they most likely knew nothing of Zed's true intentions.
My aim was pretty true, clipping away at arms and legs alike, no bullets managing to slip by toward our friend behind. Guards shouted in pains as they fell to the floor. Madge followed my lead, hardly missing a shot in her well-maintained state.
Denoitnem tore through the guards from behind taking as many down as the two of us did together.
I grew impatient, however, wanting to get the fighting overwith to check up on Sage, who sat on the floor, seeming greatly distressed.

 

[chewbacca71]

Weasel

As usual, his ability to blend in stood him in good stead as Weasel avoided the guards attack. He was so small that he tended to blend in with the walls of the prison. Once the guards were past him and engaging his newfound friends, he was poised to go on the attack. Then he saw one of the companions shift shape and get behind the guards. Weasel had an incredulous look on his face as he has never seen that before. This person, at least he had thought it was a person, was taking out guards left and right. Weasel added two guards taken down of his own, the last two ones that attacked them. Weasel looked at the others over the fallen body of the guards. "So now what do we do?" He grabbed up one of the energy rifles that the guards had been using, secreting a small laser pistol in his overalls.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

"We move as fast as we can," Madge returned.
I grabbed up Sage and lifted her, hoping she'd be able to move well enough on her own, but ready to support her if necessary.
"Let's go," I added. "Before more come. Lead the way, Weasel..."
As Madge kept an eye out for more guards, I waited for his response.

 

[The GrandMage]

Assantikkan al zef Rhilin eo'Tsan

He sank back below the dune. They wer obviously looking for him. And they were getting extremely close to finding him. He'd been trying to avoid it, but he was outnumbered and they had good stratagy. He was impressed. He put his weapon away, deciding to wait and be found.

"Halt!" A voice cried behind him, in his own language. He turned his head, looking over at the lone Andromedian. "Tsan Rhilin?" The voice asked in wonder. "What are you doing here?"

"Halting."

 

[bobo_daclown]

Denoitnem:

With the guards dispatched, he is happy to follow Madge's advice. "Well, Weasel, you know the way? After you!" Denoitnem follows Weasel, ready for another attack.

 

[Moneytalks]

"Halt!" Drok ordered in Andromedian.

The figure turned his head, looking over at him.

"Tsan Rhilin?" Drok asked in wonder. "What are you doing here?"

"Halting." Retorted Tsan Rhilin.

"Always the smart ass, did they finally ditch your sorry ass?" Drok retorted lowering his weapon but still holding it steady. "Do you come as a friendly? Or do I have to take you out?"

*********

Satra watched as Walter worried over the news of people getting close to their position.

"I told you this was going to happen. It's bound to anytime you create a stable position. This one has been growing rapidly in the last few months, things get noticed, supplies being routed and movements of the new recruits. And the bigger we get the bigger risk of fall out through just one person willing to give us all away."

"Satra, I won't have you suggesting there are traitors amongst us. You've been bringing that up every chance you get."

"That's because it's human nature. Maybe not your's, maybe not even mine, but you're a fool to think that we can just blindly trust anyone around us. We can't!"

Walter sighed, sitting down heavily at his desk.

"What do you suggest?"

"No more new recruits to this location. We need a dummy front. I need to be able to evaluate NR's before they get anywhere near this location. If it's compromised we are fucked! There are no second chances after this."

"Fine, get things rolling, I'll make sure the work get's done here. Where are you thinking of..."

"I'm going to have to withhold that even from you Walter, we need to keep the two locations completely cut off from the other."

Walter frowned.

********

Sage seemed to perk up slightly as they made their escape. She felt nauseous but she knew that they had to keep moving so she forced her feet to respond and staggered along beside Thallon...

********

Zed sat back and watched their escape.

"Perfect..." he sighed happily, "just perfect."

"Sir, we have an unusual reading from one of the escapees."

"Yes..." he frowned, "that alien."

"No Sir, it seems to be coming from Satra Sir."

"Satra? Show me."

He looked at his visual display and frowned.

"Interesting..."

 

[The GrandMage]

Assantikkan al zef Rhilin eo'Tsan

"Take me out? You're kidding, right? I'm not called 'The Warmaker' because it sounds pretty. And for your information, I do come as a friendly. My unit was decimated, and my suit is damaged. I need to get back to base, or, barring that, get repaired and a fix on the movement of the enemy. I'm not here on business, comrade, I'm just lost and need to be pointed back to the fighting."

He shifted his feet into the ground, barely moving at all. The sands shifted constantly, and he needed to stay standing, and ready to bolt should he get trigger-happy. He kept his hands up, waiting to see what would happen.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

I thoughyt at first that he was leading us straight into the main prison, which seemed too risky, but then he stopped ina short hallway, looking both ways, then popped the grate from a lower ventilation shaft.
"In there?" Madge asked. Then shrugged, and, not waiting for a response, waved for Sage and I to enter first. The strong covering the rear of the weak. Madge was proving one of my most reliable new friends.
I led her into the shaft, holding tightly to Sage, and disappearing into darkness.
"You two next," Madge insisted.
I led Sage a few feet in, giving the others room to join us, then waited to see if the two complied.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden/Andidria

"We're inside," I announced into the comm unit.
A few second slater, guards entered the room from either side, three taking custody of either of our prisoners. They led them into a room off to the left, and Coulter and I followed. Once inside, we removed thier blindfolds.
"Now," I began. "You're currently in our custody, and that means you will remain in the presence of the three guards assigned to you at all times. I believe a long questioning period might be in order."
I was getting bored with this, but Satra's orders were to always remain on duty.
Why? I didn't know. They were here, I'd done my job.
"Should you attempt to flee or act aggressively toward anyone here, you will be terminated on sight."
I wanted to yawn, but fought it back.
"Any questions?"
I looked to the girl first and waited.

 

[chewbacca71]

Weasel

Weasel scouts ahead of the others, coming to a branch in the tunnel. He looks both ways and then hears the characteristic sound of an engine starting on a shuttle. "Come with me down this left hand tunnel, we will be able to take a shuttle and get away from here. "

 

[bobo_daclown]

Denoitnem:

Doubtful, Denoitnem hears the Weasel ahead. This trek has become much too easy, other than the time required to make it. It's almost as if the guards want them to escape, or at least to come this way. Trailing the rest of the group, Denoitnem turns left into a new tunnel and sees that sure enough, there is a hangar with a few unattended shuttles. "Would you like me to occupy those guards and technicians?" Denoitnem asks.

 

[Moneytalks]

Drok...

"Take me out? You're kidding, right? I'm not called 'The Warmaker' because it sounds pretty. And for your information, I do come as a friendly. My unit was decimated, and my suit is damaged. I need to get back to base, or, barring that, get repaired and a fix on the movement of the enemy. I'm not here on business, comrade, I'm just lost and need to be pointed back to the fighting."

"Hmph, the fighting huh? Brother, you been away too long." Drok took his weapon off line to show he was no longer aggressive.

"When was the last time we fought together?" He shrugged as he recalled the years that had passed.

"I work for the underground now, we finally got ourselves a kick ass leader who really knows what the deal is, I'm sure they'd like to talk to you, maybe offer you a place amongst us. Either way, we may need to ask you what you've seen in the area before we let you move out. We'll probably be able to repair your suit as compensation."

Drok spoke into his comlink.

"This is 11, we have identified the unknown. Appears friendly. Single male Andromedian. Requires suit repair. Over."

"Understood 11, await further instruction."

*******

"11, be advised. HQ wants to question the friendly in person. Take to station A3, over."

"Got that, ETA 30 minutes."

"We'll be expecting you."

*******

"Well Tsan Rhilin, looks like your lucky day, our head honcho wants a word with you." Drok grinned beneath his suit it was unseen but heard in his words.

"C'mon, you'll get a kick out of this."

 

[Moneytalks]

Satra...

Satra left Walter. He wasn't happy, but Satra was used to that. They rarely agreed on anything these days. It was only when he grudgingly agreed to do things her way that anything got done around here.

She took a speed shaft to one of the outer encampments. The shafts were basic and only connected to three of the encampments. They were also booby trapped for quick colapse should any of those three encampments become volotile.

"Sir!" Two guards saluted her as she exited the shaft.

She nodded briefly before walking briskly towards the holding area.

**********

"S-3?" She called out.

Lunden & Coulter turned to face her.

"Report!" Satra ordered even as she looked down at her own com-screen for verification.

 

[The GrandMage]

Assantikkan al zef Rhilin eo'Tsan

He lowered his hands, giving a little nod as he started to follow. The sands shifted under him as he moved. He glanced to his left once, silently, before grunting and pushing on.

"I'll get a kick out of getting back into battle. Although it would be nice to have a capable leader for a change."

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden/Andidria

"Sir," I began, trying to sound formal, as much as I hated to. "We've found these two not far from camp. THere was another, but we were ordered to return here with these two. The man says little about himself, and the woman says she remembers little."
Coulter nodded as I spoke, agreeing but adding nothing.
I awaited Satra's response.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

The hangar was a surprisingly short distance through the ventiallation shafts. When we reached it, I peered in and saw the crafts sitting around.
It was too easy, but what choice did we have.
"I'll go first," Madge offered. I debated being chivalrous, but what was the use, when she was more capable just then.
I nodded, and followed her out inot the hangar.
We crept, and as we went, I couldn't help but feel as though we were being watched.
We reached a hovercraft a moment later. In the desert, it would be as good as transportation can get.
Once inside, I looked to Madge and said, "That was far too easy."
SHe shrugged. "We haven't any choice but to keep going."
SHe seated herself in the driver's seat and switched it on. The craft purred to life that quickly. As it did, guards began to hurry into the hangar, weapons poised to fire.
"Halt! Get out of the hovercraft!" One announced.
"Buckle up," Madge said, then pressed the stick forward, sending the craft jolting ahead.