============================== Maverick Hunter ===============================
Message: 10/28 Posted Author
Godless Communist Science Tue Sep 30 Sasha
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"This is on, right?"
The camera focuses in on the face of what appears to be a young human girl, though with the purple eyes, blue-white hair, and crystals on her face, she's probably not human. As the camera comes into focus, she glances toward it and gives a hesitant smile.
"Greetings, Hunters. My name is Sasha. I know you've already seen pictures of me, thanks to Ether Skunk's work. I was going to wait until Father had introduced me to you formally before I made my own introductions, but I got a little...eager, I think is the word." Her smile fades, and she nods to the camera.
"I am not sure how else this would go, so I will begin...at the beginning. I was created by the Doctor Cossack as an infiltrator for you. I expect to work well with my Hunter family, and do my job with efficiency and precision." She pauses, blinking slowly.
"I have already met many of you, and many more are in my memories. I expect--and would like to--speak to you all sometime soon." Once more, she hesitates, and gives another cautious smile to the camera. "In addition, Commanders Rock, Zero and Ether Skunk, I would like to request placement with one of the squads sometime soon."
With that, she raises a hand to wave the camera off...then pauses, turning to look back at it with calm violet eyes. "My name is not Grace. I have her memories, but Grace is dead. Please do not call me Grace; my name is Sasha."
With that suitably cryptic statement, she turns away. The camera clicks off once she's moved out of visual range.
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============================== Maverick Hunter
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Message: 10/30 Posted Author
AAR Tue Sep 30 Alloy
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<Spinnyflash to a text-only message. No salutations. Markers say it's from Alloy.>
While everyone was out stopping the Robot Masters from blowing the island to Kingdom Come, I dragged myself out of the medbay and hit the panic button on the computer systems. You'll no doubt be pleased to know our systems weren't corrupted by some virus or Mr. I'm A Math Man breaking down the electronic front door. Nonetheless, I'm gonna be doing some checks between now and Saturday.
If ANYTHING whatsoever on a computer seems out of the ordinary, -tell- me. Or Alia. I'd much prefer a dozen false alarms than one trojan hiding in a computer somewhere.
The message ends with a little animation of the tornado from Math Man wandering around an ASCII representation of the FSH network. It's even grumbling to itself.
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============================== Maverick Hunter ===============================
Message: 10/31 Posted Author
Report Tue Sep 30 Dr. Cossack
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< Dread Cossack Spinny. This can only mean one thing: >
The Russian appears in his laboratory. In the background, BORIS units are mending each other, with a few being restored during the course of the report and returning to their duties. The Madman appears particularly upbeat today, probably still riding a combat high from last night.
"Hunter HQ defenses held off zee Robot Masters wiff great effectiveness. While aerial defenses took zee greatest amount of abuse, our land defenses vere exemplary. My spike pits and disappearink blocks claimed many Joes, as did the detachment of BORIS units I sent out to attend to zee various stragglers."
The image changes to an overhead view of the island, with various defensive points highlighted in different colors for clarity. Cossack provides a voice-over. "Key defensive points are beink restored on schedule. Vee should be back at acceptable strength by end of veekend. Complete vepair vill take until next veek. Ziss also counts zee new randomization pattern beink used in replantink used mines, as vell as addink and vemovink locations of spike pits. Corona, Seismic, verk orders vill be assigned as per zee usual schedule. Until Elysium project initiates, ziss vill be your primary task."
The Cossack appears again. "Additionally, I vill be installink new defensive measures at various points on zee island to confound some expected countermeasures vee vill no doubt see next time. Additionally, I haff some new designs I vish to utilize to test for vide-scale deployment later. Robot Masters vill not find zee Hunter base hospitable to zem next time."
"If I am vequired, I vill be assistink in maintanence operations t'roughout zee compound area. I can be veached by radio as per usual method."
The Cossack waves his hand at a toggle off-screen, ending the transmission.
< Cossack Spinny >
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============================== Maverick Hunter ===============================
Message: 10/32 Posted Author
Note Tue Sep 30 Dr. Cossack
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< Cossack Spinny >
< Text >
I would appreciate it if Kalinka would be brought to me promptly, once she is determined to be in satisfactory condition. I wish to speak to her about her actions last evening privately.
-- Cossack
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============================== Maverick Hunter ===============================
Message: 10/33 Posted Author
Vehicle Maintenance Update Tue Sep 30 Rigger
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TO: all@lightlabs.org
FRO: jrigm@lightlabs.org
SUB: Vehicle Maintenance Update
Gunslinger
Status: Under Repair
Gryfalcon
Status: Fully operational
Inferno
Status: Under Repair
Vorpal
Status: Fully operational
The Gunslinger and Inferno were heavily damaged during the defense of the island. I'll be working on the Gunslinger first as the damage to it is considerably less than what the Inferno sustained. Injured folks receive priority to vehicles so the repair time will be slower than my normal work. I should have the Gunslinger back in top condition by the end of the week when Dr. Cossack finishes reworking the island's defense grid. Barring no unexpected delays, the Inferno should be back in working order by next weekend.
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============================== Maverick Hunter ===============================
Message: 10/36 Posted Author
Sasha Tue Sep 30 Blues
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*basic, simple, black on white text.*
Sasha is to be assigned to me.
-Protoman.
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Small Laboratory <SL>
The interior of this laboratory is somewhat claustrophobic, not only in square feet, but the windows are also shuttered much of the time. Whatever goes on in this place, the owner does not want it to be anyone's business. The front portion of the building is a small waiting room, complete with a receptionist's booth. Perhaps at one time, this place was a clinic of some sort. Threadbare but clean burnt-orange carpeting and beige walls flesh out the bland decor of this front room.
The back portion of the office, however, is entirely different. It is part laboratory, part classroom, and part dorm room. There's a computer station that's always on, an old-fashioned chalkboard on one wall (with equations written all over it), several lab tables with machines and various chemical experiments in progress, an old wooden study desk with what appears to be Russian textbooks spread across it, and a few bookshelves of scientific reference manuals in both Russian and English. In the corner of the room, a twin bed is set up and neatly made. There's a few posters on the walls, closet and bathroom doors...mostly of young Russian hockey and soccer stars, though there's a few beefcake pictures taped up of some egotistical-looking Mexican fellow as well.
[Radio] Dr. Cossack sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "I vill go out on limb and assume you know vhere Kalinka is."
Bowie is in the bathroom, staring at himself in the mirror. He's bound up his hair in a loose ponytail, in spite of its ragged condition. His knife lies on the edge of the sink.
[Radio] You send Dr. Cossack a direct message: "An if Ah do?"
[Radio] Dr. Cossack sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Zen you vill do zee /smart/ t'ink and send her to me. I vish to speak to her in private. I am at zee Labs, in zee vec voom. Send her zeir."
[Radio] You send Dr. Cossack a direct message: "Ah assume full responsibility fer Kalinka's actions."
The front door opens, and Kalinka comes in, carrying a cup of coffee. She's humming softly, not particularly distraught as much as she is just exhausted from the previous evening's exploits.
Bowie's frown becomes a scowl as a certain individual decides to give him a call - the first words spoken to one another in over a month. Queitly, he picks up the knife, tests its sharpness with his thumb...then reaches back and begins to cut off the ponytail on the inside of the band.
[Radio] Dr. Cossack sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "You. Vill. Send. Her. Here. Or I vill haff her /brought/ here."
[Radio] You send Dr. Cossack a direct message: "If she doesn't want t'see you?"
Kalinka hears noises coming from the bathroom, and she places her coffee down on a table. "Bowie? Are you okay?" she calls. "I am here now, I only stepped out to get some coffee..."
By the time Kalinka reaches him, his ponytail is already shorn off, loose hairs falling to the floor. The bulk is held in his other hand. "Howdy, sunshine," he says quietly, looking at her through the mirror.
[Radio] Dr. Cossack sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Vhat she vants is no longer velevant to me. Perhaps she should haff t'ought about vhat /I/ might haff vanted for her. Perhaps she should haff t'ought about all I haff DONE for her! How many people haff I sent into zee jaws of HELL ITSELF for her liff, zee liff she cavalierly t'rows avay as if it vere hers alone! You vill send her here /now/, or she vill be *brought* to me! Is zhat clear, Bowie? Am I makink myself perfectly understandable? Do not t'ink for a moment zhat I am in zee mood to tolerate beink dictated to by somevun who all but OWES ME HIS VEDDY EXISTENCE."
Kalinka steps up behind him, eyeing his reflection in the mirror as she gently wraps her arms around his midsection. "I love you, sweetie," she murmurs, peering at the reflection fondly. "When I can, I will fix your hair, okay?"
Bowie trembles at her touch, knife and hair both slipping through his fingers. The knife makes considerably more noise when it hits the floor. He seems almost ready to cry, except no tears fall.
Kalinka seems bewildered, and maybe even a little bit frightened by this show of emotion. "Are you mad?" she asks, carefully scooping the knife up and placing it back on the counter. "Did I upset you? I have a good reason for showing up to the fight last night...please do not be mad at me, I can explain..."
[Radio] You send Dr. Cossack a direct message: "*quietly* Have you ever thought about whut she wants, instead a what ya thank is best fer her? Have ya ever realized jus how hard she's pushed herself jus t'please ya? Have ya ever considered she will kill herself tryin t'reach yer expectations? An now, that she's failed ya, you cast her aside an found someone more pliable."
[Radio] Dr. Cossack sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Zee vell is dry, Bowie. You haff five minutes."
Bowie does not answer, getting that distant look associated with talking on the radio. "Let's move, Kali," he says quietly, his head hanging. "Move to San Angeles. Get a little apartment. Jus the two a us. You go back t'school an finish yer degree, an Ah'll get a job somewhere as a cook...." He's babbling now, unusual for him.
[Radio] You send Dr. Cossack a direct message: "Why, so ya can remind her that she failed ya once again?"
[Radio] Dr. Cossack sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Four minutes t'irty seconds."
Kalinka looks up at Bowie, bewildered by his strange behavior. "Bowie, what is wrong? What is happening?" Her hand reaches up to touch his cheek in concern. "You sound scared, I never heard you sound like that before."
Bowie lifts up his hand to rest on hers. "Cossack wants t'see ya," he says. "He's demadin me t'bring ya to him."
Kalinka blinks a few times. "...I see," she says softly. "Well, then, I suppose I should get this over with..." She pauses for a long moment, then muses hopefully, "Maybe he wants to make up. Or maybe that is just me hoping for too much."
Bowie shakes his head, letting his hand drop back to his side. "Ah...Ah don't want ya to go...Ah don't know whut he'll do."His hands curl into fists. "But if yer goin, then Ah'm goin with ya. An thare's no way in hell Ah'll let him do anythang to ya."
Kalinka nods. "Okay. If you are coming along, I am not going to worry." She smiles very sadly, then says... "I am ready."
Bowie nods. Leaving the knife where it is, he begins to head for the door.
[Radio] You send Dr. Cossack a direct message: "We are en route. Sir."
[Radio] Dr. Cossack sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: ":sends an automated acknowledgement signal."
Kalinka follows along, grasping Bowie's hand with faint pressure.
Light Labs - Recreation
The recreation room is traditionally the busiest idle-time location in Light Labs. Decorated with glass and steel walls and a hard floor, games and idle distractions of all sorts dominate this room, and the noise of games is seldom absent. Several pool tables dot the floor, and other gaming tables reside as well, where games of chance and simple idle chatter can commence. One wall is lined with various console game units, dating from the dawn of video gaming to current. On the opposite wall is a small bar where many kinds of drinks can be made, though the stock is more bare than it would be in a building occupied primarily by humans. A final touch is a jukebox in the corner, filled to the brim with a wide variety of music.
Dr. Cossack [MH] Chess Board <Light Labs>
Pool Table
Door <TR> leads to Light Labs - Training Room.
Archway <West> leads to Light Labs - Corridor 2.
Kalinka arrives from the Light Labs - Corridor 2.
Kalinka has arrived.
The rec room has been cleared. There is no one else present but the Cossack, who is standing at the large transparisteel window facing out towards the street. All of the vidscreens and other electronic appliances are off. Only the lights remain activated.
Kalinka walks into the Rec Room, holding hands with Bowie. Her heart leaps as she sees her father...but then again, her heart's always reacted that way. On some level, she is happy to see him. Even if he never turns around to look at her, she's still happy to see him.
Bowie looks worse for wear when he enters. His hair is unevenly cropped, as if someone had given him a haircut with a straight knife, and his clothes are in a disheveled state. His smile is noticably absent, his jaw set firm. There is no happiness in his eyes, replaced with an expression few have seen: anger.
The Russian does not turn. His hands are folded behind his back as he looks out the window, expression invisible from this distance. After the two enter, he takes a few seconds to collect his thoughts, still not turning to face them.
"Bowie. Ziss is family matter. You may go."
Kalinka turns to look at Bowie, and she squeezes his hand as she murmurs something to him softly.
Kalinka whispers: Let us talk in private, he probably just wants to vent for a while. I will be okay. Wait out in the hallway?
Bowie looks to Kalinka, then to Cossack, then back to Kalinka, expression unchanged. He squeezes her hand in return, but does not let go.
"I'm goink to ask again," says the Russian, continuing to look out the window. "Bowie, ziss is a family issue. I vant you to leaff so I may speak to /my/ daughter in private."
"It is okay, Bowie," Kalinka can be heard telling him softly. "Please? It will be okay, I promise."
Her pleas fall on deaf ears. Bowie does not move, voice quiet but nonetheless defiant. "You've made it clear that Kalinka is no longer a member of yer family."
The Russian turns very slightly. His gaze, led by his perfect biomechanical left eye, rests on Bowie. He is silent for several seconds, then he turns back towards the window.
"My patience has been exhausted. Leaff."
Dr. Cossack sends a radio transmission to Blues.
Dr. Cossack receives a radio transmission.
Dr. Cossack sends a radio transmission.
Kalinka begins looking unnerved. "Bowie, please...please do this one thing..." Her tone is bordering on pleading.
Bowie refuses to flinch under the Cossack's glare. His gaze falls to Kalinka once more. "Give me yer word that you will not hurt her, and Ah'll go."
Blues has arrived.
It is very quiet in here today. All of the vidscreens and other electronic appliances are off. Only the lights remain activated. It's a little unnerving.
The Cossack is standing at the large transparisteel window facing out towards the street, hands behind his back. Kalinka and Bowie are not too far off, having only recently arrived. They are holding hands; Kalinka looks increasingly distressed, giving Bowie a pleading look, while Bowie appears openly hostile.
The Madman remains silent for several seconds after Bowie finishes speaking, staring up into the evening sky. Then, slowly, he begins to speak in very deliberate English. The accent all but disappears.
"You think you know me, you little ^(&$. But you are nothing to me. I tolerate my daughter's indulgence of you out of a sense of profound loff, because no matter how many nightmares I haff suffered because of her, I loff her more than life itself."
He turns, staring at Bowie evenly. The full power of his anger is felt; the silent, burning fury that only one other man in this building has ever demonstrated before. Blues knows what that look is. Blues knows what it means. The lack of volume just makes it worse.
"You think I would hurt her? You think I would lay hands on her? She is all of Alina I haff left. Everything else has been /torn/ from me, *cast* down by zee enemies that lurk in the shadows to /consume/ me. Even the /unforgivable/ sins I haff witnessed over ziss past month would *never* allow me to strike her!"
His fists ball, subdermal plating in his hands straining against his skin. "You dare call me such a man? You, you tiny, mewling *infant*, you vould dare to challenge *me*, dare to say *I* am a poor father? I would slay /all/ of my bretheren, allow Sigma to reign across zee Motherland, if zhat meant she vould liff a life of PEACE."
His will begins to waiver, the accent returning. "I haff destroyed myself for zee Maverick Hunters. I haff committed atrocity in their name. I haff risked everyt'ink I ever found valuable in myself simply to let you all /liff/ anozzer day, because I belieff ziss cause is the ONLY vun zhat can save us all! And ziss is how I am vepayed."
The Cossack goes silent for a few seconds, right eye starting to go pink. Veins pulse in his neck and forehead, an involuntary shake starting to make its way through his body. Gods and monsters live within the Cossack ... and the monsters test their strength. That terrible power has been loosed from its cage.
"AND ZISS IS HOW I AM REPAYED!" he roars, spittle flying from his mouth involuntarily. "BY ZEE ACCUSATIONS OF A PIECE OF AMERIKAN TRASH WHO DARES TOUCH *MY* DAUGHTER! BY ZISS MOCKERY OF A RELATIONSHIP ZHAT SLAPS EVERYT'INK I VALUE IN ZEE FACE! BY ZISS MORAL OUTRAGE ZHAT SHAMES ME EACH DAY I LIFF!!"
Blues sends a radio transmission to Dr. Cossack.
Dr. Cossack receives a radio transmission.
Kalinka closes her eyes, shaking and weeping as she clings to Bowie's arm, ever-tighter. Her trembling grip is like the one of a desperate person ripped from their home by a tornado-force wind. It's more or less the anchoring grip of life.
Blues returns to the Cossack's lab in time to see just what has happened. Scowling, his eyes are hard. Looking to Bowie, and then Kalinka, he does not stop frowning. "I take it that you decided to say something rather stupid." Sighing, he turns, and injects himself between Cossack (Male) and the pair. "I'm going to suggest you get the hell out of here."
Perhaps what he said was indeed stupid. However, in Bowie's mind, it needed saying. He remains standing as Cossack begins his tirade, expression firm but not quite crossing over into defiance. He closes his eyes, letting Cossack's anger wash over him like a verbal tsunami. He flinches only once, at the point where his origins and relationship are openly vilified.
Well. That answers that.
Bowie squeezes Kalinka's hand gently, then with equal care removes himself from her grasp. Without a single word in reply, the gunslinger, the American abomination for loving above his station, walks out.
You enter the Light Labs - Corridor 2.
Light Labs - Corridor 2
The business atmosphere that dominates the lower level is absent here. The walls are still steel, with large glass windows, but the marble floor has given way to an attractive carpeted pattern, and the entire area is decorated with cool, relaxing colors. Doors dot the hallway, each leading to a different room, and the chatter of off-duty Maverick Hunters fills the air, especially near the two most prominent doors, one leading to the mess room, the other to the recreation room. At night, warm light fills the halls, and the noise is greatly subdued as humans and reploids both rest. Doors at either end of the hall lead to the elevator and barracks.
Pneumatic Door <GL> leads to Light Labs - Grav Lift.
Archway <East> leads to Light Labs - Recreation.
Plasteel Door <West> leads to Light Labs - Mess Hall.
Double Doors <South> leads to Light Labs - Barracks.
[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "Ah will be moving off base. Mah continued presence isn't conducive to Hunter activities."
[Radio] Rigger sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "What brought this on?"
[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "Ask Cossack. Ah'd suggest askin much later."
[Radio] Rigger sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "Right."
[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "Second thought, don't bother askin. He hates me."
[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "Fer that reason, Ah will move out frum unner his roof."
[Radio] Rigger sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "It's hardly his roof... But it is your decision. Perhaps the labs? He hardly goes there anymore and you'd still be nearby for the most part."
[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "If thare's a spare room."
[Radio] Rigger sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "There is. If there isn't I'll clear out the second one I keep there and let you have it. I just use it for when I work late nights in the labs."
[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "Only if ya want."
[Radio] Rigger sends you a tightbeam radio transmission: "It's fine. You are still a Hunter, Bowie. I'm not going to let you forget that."
[Radio] You send Rigger a direct message: "*no answer, but his radio is active*"