Wasteland

[Quiet_Cool]

Madge

We reached the exit at nearly 1600 hours. The sun was too bright to look directly at at first. we rested there, checking supplies and preparing for the trek across the sands. It wouldn't be too far before we reached the plains. The desert was nearly at an end where we were to exit, though it certainly wouldn't appear that way.
"Be ready to share oxygen if it comes to that. We'll need to meet up with the Rebels from West End and negotiate a resupply of oxygen tanks and masks. We should be fine, though," Walter explained, to whoever would listen. The stress of the situation was taking its toll on him.
"Also, be prepared for attacks at all times," he added, "There've been many reports of Mutants traveling in these areas."
Yeah, i thought, like Thallon's rabbits.
I'd been talking to him fairly steadily as we traveled. We bounced war stories off of one another and talked about life before our time in the resistance. The odd girl hung close to him and the Andromedian, Valerios, acting almost motherly to them both. It amazed me how much she's grown attached to them in so short a period of time. What amazed me more is how attached they seemed to be to her. Two military leaders (Thallon definitely; I knew that from his reputation alone, not to mention his performance above ground--but Valerios had that certain something that was unignorable in a leader) growing so close to someone they'd met mere days before. Like a small, awkward family.
I hoped to befriend them all.
We gathered the essentials, leaving behind what seemed unnecessary, and started off into the light.

 

[poohlive]

They had landed on a huge plateau, standing hundreds of feet above the desert floor. Spike had already warned them of the atmosphere, and they sat tight as a few of his crew were suiting up to go out in the harsh air.
"Oh, that was so lucky," he said, leaning back against the seat, "Another couple of minutes and we'd have been goners. You showed some real resilliance out there. I have never seen someone fly that good with a piece of junk like this before."
The Lucian ship was a fine piece of machinery, but it wouldn't hold up in anything. It was slow, didn't have any weapons, and handles like a rabid bull. Still, when you had to get somewhere, it was reliable.
"Listen, thanks for saving my life back there. If it wasn't for you, I would be desert met kabab's."
Was she blushing? He couldn't tell for sure. Whatever she was doing, it wasn't normal though.
The back hatch opened up as two people came inside. They each handed portable oxygen kits to Terrin and Lucy.
"So, what's going on Spike?"
Spike shook his head, pointing back to his ship. Shrugging his shoulded, he decided to follow, honestly, he wasn't sure what to expect any more. Shit had been hitting the fan since the beginning.
He doubted it could get any worse.
Motioning for Lucy to go first, he couldn't wait to get back into his ship. His baby.
His!

 

[Lady_Siren]

Lucia smiled at Terrin blushing from all his praise. He was able to do that quite easily it seemed. following she felt unsure of what to say. "so what now?"

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

During the trek across the sand, the groups that had stayed so closely together underground were slowly dissipating into one general mass of people. I guess it has something to do with feeling trapped in when your underground. I hadn't really noticed it until we reached the exit of the tunnel system, when the sudden feeling of freedom swelled within me. I walked with Sage and Valerios at first, the Andromedian now walking on his own for the most part, then I started to move away, not intentionally, but because my mind was wandering aimlessly and my feet followed suit.
When I realized I was no longer close to them, i looked to my left and saw Andidria, walking a few feet away. She'd taken to herself mostly, not having bothered with anyone else for a few hours at least. Now she was keeping her distance from Satra as well.
She looked over and saw me, and I could tell she wanted to smile, to make allies. Why? I wasn't yet sure. Sheer need would be my first guess.
"So, what have you been doing with yourself?" I asked, trying to sound genuinely interested, but not managing it. She would understand the attempt to be civil. I hated to do it, and I could never trust her, but we were in this together, at least for now.
"I...went to Zion, after..." She trailed off. Who knew what she'd done to have to run there. "I met Satra and a few of the other leaders and that, and I found myself here again. I don't really know why. I don't understand exactly what had happened between her and Zed. I just know that Zed is too dangerous to trust."
She shifted uncomfortably when she said that. She was hiding something else, but guessing what that could be...? Almost impossible. She would have gone there because, in her her words "fate had taken her there," which in reality meant she had no where else to go, and had to go somewhere. She'd lie and mistreat, and do whatever she felt was necessary to get what she wanted, then she'd burn her bridges somehow and have to leave. A cycle, I suppose, though I doubted it had to be that way.
Loyalty; she lacked that, and the morality that made most of us strong wasn't apparent either.
"You?"
"Don't know where to begin," I replied. "Let's get this out of the way..."
She looked back, knowing what was coming, and surprising me when she didn't refuse to listen.
"We've got to deal with each other, and any further conflicts within the Republic won't do anything but harm. Whatever the conflict between us was before, it has to be over now. It can't go any further..."
She looked back for a second, then said, "I thought you were a traitor. I didn't know what I was hearing wasn't the truth. We knew there was one in the High Squadron, and we were certain it was you. But it wasn't, I guess. That's why Filda fell. The alarms didn't work, but they weren't broken, they were turned off. When the Martians attacked, we barely..."
"I know, I was there..."
She just looked back at me, then offered me her hand. "Friends?"
"No, not friends, but not enemies either," I said, not bothering with her hand.
SHe lowered it and nodded slowly.
We walked in silence for a few minutes, then I said, "I should probably clear things up with your boss, where...?"
An explosion then, not too far up ahead. Sand, seeming to burst suddenly from the ground, rained down on us.
Martians, I thought, pulling the weapon Walter had given me from my shoulder and running to where Sage and Valerios were.
"Weapons!" Walter was shouting back at us. "We're under attack!"
I started toward the front ranks, running with the weapon out in front of me, falling into rebel mode again.
"Martians?" I asked, reaching Walter and Hum'Battaan.
"Nope," Walter replied. "It looks like Zion soldiers. And too many of them to beat, at least without significant casualties."
Another explosion, this one closer, sending people backward from the force, but not injuring anyone.
"We can't win, but we can slow them down and let the others get away. We'll need a small group and a leader with some..."
"I'll do it," I replied. "Get me some help."

 

[Moneytalks]

Satra

"Walter!" She shouted out with authority. She held that sort of authority even without anyone directly under her command. Her expression was severe.

"Walter, this is insane, you know as well as I do that Zed is more than likely after me... otherwise those blasts would have hit us by now. I had no idea his informants were so well connected, but I can't think why he'd have found us so easily otherwise." Another explosion. Satra didn't even flinch. She scanned the horizon unhurriedly as if checking something.

"It's the armoured unit... I wouldn't be surprised if it's a death squad... let me surrender, maybe I can save the rest of you."

She saw Thallon then ready to take a few troops to try and save the rest of them.

Sage walked up her eyes darting from Walter to Thallon and seeing the look in Thallon's eyes she said very carefully.

"I go with Thallon... protect Thallon's people!"

Satra looked up seeing the line of troops making their way over the sandy dunes.

"This is insane... there is no way a small group of men could deter those guys enough to help all of you escape."

"Still, if Zed wants you that badly, all the more reason to make sure he doesn't get his hands on you." Walter mused

"This is ludicrous! You're willing to gamble the lives of your soldiers for one person? I'm not worth it!"

"Listen Satra, you're inside intelligence, Zed wants you back, possibly dead OR alive. We don't know for sure. You can follow my orders and help us... or sacrifice yourself and help Zed... which do you prefer?"

Satra stared at him hard as if trying to think of some reason why she could still sacrifice herself and save them all.

"Walter... " she started, then she seemed to come to a decision. Her eyes hardened and she looked him in the eye. "Fine! I pledge my allegience to you, command me as you see fit, I hereby recind my ties to the Colony. What is your first order?"

Walter told her to organise the scattering groups and get them moving towards safety. She glanced once more at Thallon and then back at Walter before saluting abruptly and marching over to the nearest group that was firing at random towards the oncoming troups.


Command Leader In Charge of Armoured Unit

"This is command leader calling base, we have arrived at point and are engaging the enemy. Are scouting for the target and will report on contact."
"Roger command leader, you have the go from HQ"
"Understood, command leader out."

The commander checked his visor screen. On the digitalised visor itself before him data blipped its way across his perifial vision.

A small pic of Satra from the HQ files sprung up with details of her training and background, along with the words. 'Highly Dangerous, Consider Lethal'

He scanned the horizon checking the mass of people scattering before them. He indicated with his fist for his own men to start surrounding them, rounding them up. He used his visor to zoom in on the small groups immediately in is view. Zooming he saw a group in intense conversation and decided that they were probably in command. The digi-visor extended his vision futher just as Sage looked up curiously.

"We have identification... match..." He spoke to his troops. "Take aggressive force if necessary, location acquired... zero - niner - alpha"

His troops immediately moved to follow his command honing in on Sage, Thallon and Walter and Valerios who had now joined them.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Madge

I could see them then, moving across the sand toward us, too many to fight, that was for certain. I hurried over to where the conference was taking place. Satra (I think that was her name) was arguing with Walter to let her surrender, but Walter was refusing.
You can follow my order and help us...or sacrifice yourself and help Zed...which do you prefer?"
The woman was unhappy, but conceded. I felt as though the Republic were stronger just by her presence.
Walter set her to organizing the others and moving them to a safe position.
"What's going on? Why aren't we all running?" I asked.
"We're sending..." Walter trailed, unable to find the appropriate words.
"We're sending a welcoming committee," Thallon interjected, "To ensure that they keep their distance until the others get further away."
I looked at him, seeing the determination in his eyes, like when we were in the ruins of Filda.
"You're going, aren't you?"
He nodded. "I'm leading."
"I'm in," I said, thinking that Sten would be proud.

 

[Guest]

Sage

"Thallon!" She tugged on his elbow drawing his attention to where he pointed.

"Not Thallon's people?" She asked as they watched the troops gathering and heading distinctly towards them. Their weapons at the ready. The command leader signalling with his fist towards them.

They were being stalked with military precision.

Command Leader

"We have confirmation, we are 3 clicks and counting to engagement, advise."

"Command Leader... you have a go... repeat you have ago... attempt live capture... consider lethal... take all necessary precautions."

"Roger HQ, arming weapons... Men... we have visual... HQ advises that the contact be considered lethal... take all necessary precautions... capture required alive if possible."

"Roger" The voices of his men responded.

"Engage! Fire baton nets!"

Several men from the back shot the netting which lept into the sky like a black swarm of insects. The nets snapped open and floated down on top of Sage and also managed to nab Madge. Thallon and Walter rolled out of the way.

Sage looked up in fright seeing it come down on her and then squealed angrily at the heavy netting which tightened around her the more she struggled. Madge had seen these before and stayed calm knowing that the netting tightened when you struggled.

Finally the netting had Sage wrapped up and the troops were close enough to fire stun shots at the group. Sage cried out as she saw Thallon take a hit, struggling even more.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

The nets came down with incredible precision. I dove, hoping everyone knew to but not having time to suggest it should they not. I knew before I saw it that Sage had been caught. She would never have known what to do, would probably never have seen netting before.
I glanced back, seeing her fight against the quickly tightening mesh.
"Sage, no," I opened my mouth to say, wanting to calm her some, but before even a syllable emitted, I was hit, knocked to the ground. At first, it felt like a pellet, sinking into my kidney from behind, as I'd turned away from the enemy to face the others. Then, the pain began to grow, a numbness spreading throughout my back.
I struggled to get to my feet, hearing SAge's cries of frustration. I looked over at her, making sure she hadn't been hit.
Madge was trying to raise her weapon to point at the enemy, but couldn't manage it with the netting pinning her arms back. I motioned with one hand for her to settle, hoping Sage would see that I was okay. The stun rounds were incredibly painful, but would only slow us down. What surprised me was that I wasn't really injured or killed, but only stunned. They wanted us alive. Or maybe...
I glanced toward where Satra had gone, the others following behind her.
"Okay, Walter," I managed, between clenched teeth. "Go. Take some of the others and send a few volunteers here if you can manage. Try to lure them in another direction than SAtra's heading."
Walter hadn't been hit. He crouched next to me, looking off toward where the soldiers advanced.
"What about you? They're netted, and we don't have time to release them, but you--"
"Just go," I responed, cutting him off. "Take Valerios and get the hell out of here. We'll try to slow them, and hopefully just be taken prisoner."

 

[Moneytalks]

Sage

Sage was in a panic. She had never experienced anything like this before. The idea of being bound like this, essentially vulnerable was something that had never occured to her.

She saw Thallon raise his hand and knew then he wasn't dead but still she strained to reach him. Her overwhelming fear somewhat minor compared to her need to know he was safe.

She saw the troops in black draw near as Thallon shouted to the man Walter. Walter seemed to agree and he and Valerios ran towards a group that had turned to go and help them. Sage's eyes widened as she realised that they were leaving them.

She turned now to see that Thallon hadn't managed to stand as another black net fell over him. He lay perfectly still.

She looked up and saw the men in black come closer.

[Command Leader]

"HQ we have acquired the subject, subject was travelling with large group which is scattering... please advise."

"Roger Command Leader... we are assessing the situation... hold..."

The Leader nodded to his men. Two men grabbed up Thallon, one by each arm. Two picked up Madge. Four men surrounded Sage picking her up bodily.

"Command Leader... HQ advises that the mission is accomplished bring in the suspect ASAP... we await your arrival... HQ out."

"Ok men... bring 'em in..." He turned an began to lead them back to their ship.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden/Andidria

We were running, how fast I was moving or how far I had gone already I wasn't sure, but we were moving at a good pace, scattering. Organization seemed to be a minor point here.
I could see Satra behind me, trying to get the people together while still moving.
I didn't worry, or even think about them. I just kept moving, hoping that whoever we were running from would spare us. Martians? I wondered. i hadn't gotten a good look at them.
Zed perhaps. And technically, we shouldn't have been in too bad a position then. He just wanted Satra. He should let the rest go.
I didn't slow though. With Zed. Who could know?

 

[Moneytalks]

Satra

"Listen!" Satra shouted harshly. Those nearest her stopped automatically and turned to face her.

"We've got to get ourselves together. You... and you... organise those falling out to the East slope. You... come with me... we'll try and gather the rest. We'll rendevou in approximately 1 hour over the other side of that rocky outcropping. Go!" She ordered. Immediately they responded to her command. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Walter running towards her. Looking beyond him her eyes widened as she saw Thallon go down and the troops hauling Madge, Sage and Thallon away.

"What the..." She was cut off promptly.

"No time to worry about that, we have to regroup... they'll be fine, Thallon is with them."

Satra frowned but said nothing... "but why are they calling off the armoured unit? I was sure they were after..."

"No TIME!" Walter warned cutting her off again.

Satra paused as if considering her next move. Walter relaxed as he noticed her turn and take the one other troop with her to organise the scattered and confused groups.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

I didn't bother to struggle against the net. It would constrict too quickly that way. No sense in causing myself any more discomfort or pain.
"Sage," I said. "Stay calm. They've netted us for a reason. Let's wait and see what it is."
"I don't like this," Madge said. "First they try to blow us up and then..." She trailed off as they came near within earshot.
Three came in the lead, pointing their guns at them. Two more walked behind them, carrying stunrods.
So much for more discomfort, I thought.
One stopped before me, extending the rod and pressing it into my stomach. THe jolt was instantaneous and intense. Then the world around me blacked out.

 

[Moneytalks]

Satra

Satra spotted Lunden.

"Lunden! Help out here, call them into formation, we're heading for that rocky outcrop over there." She pointed before turning to organise the groups she had already formed. She didn't even think to check whether Lunden would comply.

Many of the scattered men/women/andromedians could see the structure returning as Satra organised them and were coming back to her automatically. She commanded them all easily, not allowing them to bombard her with panicked questions.

Slowly they formed and followed her towards that rocky outcrop where they would meet up with Walter and the rest.

 

[Moneytalks]

Sage

Sage screamed angrily at seeing Thallon go down. Tears streamed down her face as she could only think he'd been killed. The guard nearest her back-handed her across the mouth to silence her but she spat at him in retaliation and then she got exactly the same treatment. She cried out at the intense pain before blacking out and going limp.

The Leader led them onboard one of the shuttle craft that had carried them there. Once inside they secured the prisioners and shuttled back to HQ.

On arrival there were several heavily armed guards to transport them to lock-up. Also, Zed was there to inspect.

"Show me."

Sage was dragged forward and her head lifted roughly.

Zed looked surprised. He frowned, but it was definitely her face. "She was quick to try and change her looks... that hair colour... but... it is definitely her." He pinced at her face to make sure it wasn't a mask. Digital technology being quite impressive these days... he'd used similar techniques for infiltration before. Sage moaned in pain even in unconciousness.

"We will interrogate in 0500 hours... take them to the lock-up."
"Yes Sir!" Saluted the Leader, before indicating the men carry the three in his direction.
"WAIT!" Shouted Zed apon seeing Thallon and Madge. He peered at Thallon carefully. "Hmmmm..." He called his second in command. "Take vid-pics of all of them... especially the male... I'm sure I've seen him somewhere before. Leader, you could make a promotion from this, seems you may have captured even more than the prize."
The Leader bowed stiffly hiding his pleasure before again taking the three out to lock-up.

They were thrown unceremoniously into the same cell. Lazer AND chrotanium bars sprung up all around them in a secure dome structure. At 5 points in every direction, armed guards on quarterly rotation. The netting was removed, but their wrists were cuffed, and ankles chained so that if they needed to walk it would be at a slow shuffle.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden/Andidria

I heard Satra's voice, telling me what to do, but I ignored it at first. I kept moving, not wanting to even look back. I felt it then, something I'd only felt a few times before.
Guilt?
I slowed and looked back, seeing her quickly organize those near her, drawing others in already.
I took in a deep breath, thinking back to something Thallon had said to me when I was a few years younger. Until that moment, I didn't understand it. "You only live once, and sooner or later, you're going to have to be better than what you are. Otherwise, what's the point?" Odd. I thought he was crazy then, and the words still seem jumbled. But I got it then, standing on the sand dune and looking down there.
My chance to help, to actually be a part of what was going on.
I ran back, moving carefully, waving people nearby over to me, and shouting to others.

 

[Moneytalks]

Zed

Zed entered the room.

The three captives there made him smile. His eyes grazed over the two women, taking in Thallon. His eyes flickered. He looked down at his hand-comm and up came a visual check on Thallon. He read this history of his prisoner with rising interest.

"Ah... it seems we have a famed personage in our midst yes?" The smile did not reach his eyes. These remained cold and reptilian-like.

"Satra I had no idea you would throw yourself into such... questionable company... you really have outdone yourself this time..." His eyes staring hard at Sage. "Did you seriously think that that pathetic dye-job and hair cut would help you escape me?"

Sage blinked and looked back at the man. She felt and instant dislike of him. He seemed. Cold.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Thallon

When Zed eyed me, I wondered if he would recognize his old "friend." When he looked down at the hand-comm, I realized he didn't. It was better that way. Anonimity had its benefits. Still, it would have been nice to be remembered.
Then he looked at Sage and referred to her as Satra. It sank in then, and I wondered if indeed we were in worse trouble that she was not who the man wanted.
"Did you seriously think that pathetic dye-job and hair cut would help you escape me?" Zed asked Sage.
I wasn't sure if Sage was afraid of him or not. I guessed it was possible, but doubted she realized exactly who Zed was, or what power he possessed, regardless of her uncanny intelligence and instincts.
"So tell me, Zed," Madge began. Her voice was strangely steady, and I sensed she was about to say something she would later regret. "What interest do you have in us? Or is this just some power trip you're sending yourself on? Something to say to the fellas when you get back home. I didn't do anything myself, but I managed to talk others into going out into the desert and capturing two women and one man, while I sat on my ass and ate cookies and milk. Yeah, that'd impress me if i was one of your old training camp buddies."
Zed glared at the woman. I wondered if Madge realized exactly who he was, or even if I understood what he'd become since I'd last seen or heard of him (it's been some time).
"She's got a point Zed," I added. "I mean, anyone can make command decisions, and sit back while others do the work. Hell, I turned that kind of position down when offered it in ZIon. Too much sitting, not enough doing." I glanced over at Madge. "Maybe he's got some sort of inferiority complex. Jealousy built up inside because of the abilities of those around him. Y'know, the things he can't do and all that?"
Talking about him, with him in the same room, like he wasn't even there, had to get to him.
"Could be," she returned. "Maybe it's just a basic inferiority, y'know, a few inches short in all the wrong places..."
I wondered if we were having the desired affect, and hoped greatly that Sage wouldn't catch on and join in. If she spoke, he would definitely know it wasn't SAtra, and that might make us all three dispensable.

 

[Moneytalks]

Zed

"SILENCE!" Zed roared. Immediately as the anger flared he calmed again though looking at Thallon with a wry look in his eyes.

"Ah... you do know how to push buttons... but I expect no less from a man of your reputation... as for you," he looked pointedly at Madge, "I'll assume sheer stupidity is the culprit, no matter, I have what I need now that Satra is in my custody."

He turned as if to leave and then turned back again looking with narrowed eyes at Sage.

"You're... uncannily quite Satra... cat got your tongue? That won't do at all you know... I'm counting on you regalling the Council with your absurd story of corruption... you realise you're all but condemned to execution? A sad loss to Zion, but you've really stepped too far out of bounds on this one."

Sage blinked up at him curiously.

"Stupid man." She stated clearly.

 

[Darklord]

Valerios

A lot had happened, and that was no lie. He had just followed orders the past few hours due to sheer extent of his injuries, and when healing he was always kinda spacy. Then the attack happened, and being unarmed and unarmored, he couldn't do a damn thing to help Thallon or Sage. But Walter had left a small tracer tag in the folds of Thallon clothes so they had an idea where they were, Zion.

While Satra and Walter went about reorganizing the tropps, he had gone in search of Hum'battan. Once he founf him there insued a long arguement, but in the end he had bowed his head to Valerios's request. A few minutes later Yournal and another Andromedian had brought over a new suit of combat armor. Falling to work with a will, they soon had the suit up and running. With a few minutes more work, they had in fitted to Valerios's size, and he was in it. Turning to them he merely said "Thanks" and toggling the suit into overdrive he began loping over the desert sand dunes at close to 100 mph, his mission? Save his friends, even as injured as he was.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Lunden/Andidria

The Andromedian was leaving, which suited me quite well. Those I had the most trouble with were gone now, especially now that he was leaving. I hoped they all rotted. Let them go to Hell. I had Satra to watch over me here, and without HIM and that look-alike, not to mention that bitch that pulled the gun on me, my problems were solved, save Coulter's prescence, and that was dealt with easily enough, given the right manipulations and enough time.
I gathered those Satra told me organize and waited for further orders.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Bump!

--for sequel casting call purposes--

 

[Moneytalks]

Yeee Haaa!

Count me in on the round-up.

Happy to play any characters I did previously that you may want to have in the sequel.

Would be happy to hand over Zed to any suitably nasty types that wanted him... unless he's been defeated and we have a new bad guy?

I bow to QC's direction... am GREATLY looking forward to the sequel!

M.T.

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Another BUMP for CC:Wasteland II purposes...

 

[Quiet_Cool]

Yet another bump....