The days following Jacke's death settled into a routine of endless patrols along the Empire's borders, joining militia fleets, and spending time with Tiger in her free moments- which had become something of a rarity.
Though she barely knew the boy, some part of her was in constant mourning for him. Often she'd find her thoughts drifting to the dark haired Minmatar child while she was drifting among the stars, patrolling from system to system.
In an almost restless drive to find out more about him, she spent her downtime in between fleets searching through various databases for more information. With a little digging, she found out she'd been the one to bring him to the Keep, that he'd been orphaned, and that his goal was to become a capsuleer.
She found the logs of his studies and admired the countless hours he'd spent in the flight sims at the Keep.
At first she thought he might have been the illegitimate child of Omnicide Incarnate, a comrade in the Amarr militia, but later read that Jacke admired the infamous often-solo pilot, that he wanted to be just like him and took his last name as his own.
Over and over she rolled it around in her mind, the idea that he was 'playing on the rooftop and fell'. It made little sense. The child had a remarkable mind and determination of an adult, and yet he didn't have the sense not to play out on the icy rooftop?
Sighing, she docked up in the 24th station in Huola, trying to force her thoughts away from the dead boy.
After showering and changing into her militia uniform, she took the lift to deck 407 and made her way to Huola Haze, a capsuleer cigar bar and social lounging area.
She settled into chair by the floor-to-ceiling window, her gaze captured ever so often by flashing lights beyond the glass. Destruction in all of it's macabre glory, beautiful colored explosions and lazor lights streaming across the dark vast void. She watched impassively, already wearing the dull, nonchalant expression of a capsuleer who could view such a thing and see only the mistakes of those who lost the skirmish, never once giving a thought to the cold brutality of those who did not survive. Crew members were another piece of equipment, another necessity to fufill the capsuleer's agenda, whatever that may be.
Crew members were expendable, easily replacable. Forgotten.
Another explosion lit the bar, this one much closer to where she sat. A thud followed the flashing light and as she looked to the window, she saw the bloody remains of some poor unfortunate crew chief as his corpse had landed against the glass, half of his face missing.
His eye hung from his skull, sticking to the window above his head as his body started to slide down the blood-slicked surface.
Wincing, she quickly looked away as a station scrubber drone vaccumed up the remains and cleaned the window.
"Well thats not something you see everyday."
She glanced up and nodded, "Yeah. Kind of creepy, huh." He wore a long black Amarrian robe trimmed in gold along the sleeves. As he pulled back the hood, she noted his dark hair and pale blue eyes. Shalee thought him ruggedly attractive.
He grinned as he took a seat in front of her.
Shalee watched as he lit his cigar then blew a ring of smoke upwards, "Miss Lianne, you've been something of a hassle to keep up with lately," he said.
Her thin brow quirked, "Pardon?" He knew her? Huh.
He narrowed his gaze at her, his expression equally inquisitive. "I'll be damned. I thought this was some kind of game you've been playing." He puffed on his cigar as the corners of his mouth twisted upwards into a slight smirk. "I guess this is the part where you tell me you have no idea who I am."
She stared blandly at him, "Should I know you?" she asked, feeling a bit uneasy.
He exhaled a mouthful of smoke then laughed. "You're good." He leaned forward, studying her face. "Really good, but that's why we hired you in the first place."
She stiffened, looking blankly at him still. "Hired me?"
He laughed again, "One assignment to Jove space and I come back to this? I haven't been gone that long." he sighed as he settled back into his oversized, leather chair. "Okay okay. Let's say I'm buying it. Let's say it's true, that you really have lost your memories. What is the last thing you remember before becoming a capsuleer?"
She jutted her chin up and gave him an icy roll of her eyes, "I don't believe I have to tell you anything."
"Ah, lost the memories but not that firey attitude that always has a way of getting you into trouble, I see."
"Who are you?" she asked finally, her curosity overcoming her anger for the moment.
Kathetel smiled, "A friend."
"Don't suppose you have a name?" she inquired.
He hesitated for a moment before responding, his amusement having melted away as he realized she was sincere. "How about this. I'll give you my name after you tell me what you last remember."
She blew out a frustrated breath. "Okay fine. I'll play your game. I last remember living on Adia, at my Father's house. There were rumors of the Empress's new proclimation of freeing slaves to the eighth generation I think?"
He nodded, "Go on."
"There was to be a ball that week, nothing out of the ordinary really. It's all kind of hazy." She scrunched up her brows, "I think I had to go to the doctor, I wasn't feeling well."
He nodded again, "Ah. So you lost over two years of memories?"
She shook her head, "So they say."
"And you remember nothing of those lost years?"
"...no. I try, I really do. They say I'll regain my memories in a matter of weeks, but so far...nothing."
"They? Jonathan?"
"No. My chief pod tech, Arrok."
He frowned, "Your chief pod tech is Jonathan and has been since you've been a capsuleer."
A memory tugged at the edges of her mind. "Wait. I think I do remember him." She became excited, "I do! Is that his name? Jonathan? He was there the first time I ever woke up...but I've not seen him since."
"Interesting."
"I'll ask Keon. He was there, he must know what happened to him," she said excitedly, happy to have some kind of memory. It had been too frustrating living in a world where she remembered nothing. Finally. Perhaps she was starting to remember.
Kathetel's face twisted into hot anger, "Sonnovabitch! Keon?"
She nodded very slowly, "...yeah."
He calmed instantly, regaining his composure. Grimly, he asked, "Do you see Keon very much now?"
"My brothers have rented a villa near the Keep, I try to see them as often as I can, but often I'm too tired to travel back to Amarr after patrols."
"Jacobi is there too?" He asked incrediously.
She nodded, "Yeah....do you know them?" she asked.
"Something like that. And your corpmates, have they met your brothers?"
"Keon and Jacobi have dropped by once or twice, but mostly I visit them." she said warily, wondering why he was so interested in her life.
He shook his head as he exhaled a series of smoke rings, "Have you not questioned why you are here?" He swayed his hand, "This is a far cry from Adia. Have you not wondered why you are fighting a thankless job in the militia? Why you are even a capsuleer?"
"Every single day," she admitted. "I told you what I remember, now tell me your name."
"Why do you think you are here?" he asked, ignoring her question.
"I..." she hesitated, obviously afraid to tell him the truth, that her Father had orchestrated the whole thing, that she was sent there to make connections for the family. Unfortunately he had died in a shuttle accident, but her brothers wanted to continue his work. Later on, Jacobi and Keon told her the real reason she had been sent into the world of the capsuleers. Revenge. She was to be the instrument that was used in destroying Aldrith Shutaq, a man who had seduced and ultimately caused the death of her Mother.
Her Mother. Jea Cerra. She died, pregnant with Aldrith's child.
Keon had mentioned to her several nights prior that he was putting together a plan to bring Aldrith to his knees. He was going to have the foolish Mitara, Aldrith's wife, podded. It wouldn't have been a big deal in the grand scheme of things, capsuleers were podded all the time. But rarely did capsuleers fly while pregnant.
An eye for an eye.
A child for a child, he reasoned. And Shalee would be the one to do it. She'd be the one to get close enough when Mitara's guard was down.
"What have they told you?" Kathetel asked again.
"It doesn't matter. I'm here, I do my job, I defend Amarrian sovereignty."
"Your job?" he laughed. "Your real job is far different than your fleets within the militia. You're not just a militia pilot. You're an Imperial Agent and have been for over two years." He handed her a card, "This is my comm number. Unravel the truth, Shalee. Consider it an assignment. Figure out who you are and why you are really here. Then, and only then, will things make sense." He snubbed what was left out of his cigar in the ashtray before standing.
"We will be watching," he said as he grinned, "Just like the good old days eh. A pity you've forgotten them."
Friday, September 16, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Entry 141: Falling
"Jacke!" she screamed his name as she watched him fall, snowflakes bright against the dark abyss he was plummeting in to.
"Noooooo!"
The snowflakes bled into long streams of light.
"Warp drive active," the automated voice announced as her ship lurched into hyperspace, pinpoints of starlight stretching across her camera lens.
The dream shifted again; she started to fall through the inky blackness of space as her ship exploded around her.
***
Sitting up in bed, she laid her hand against her chest as her heart thudded loudly. Her pulse raced and her breathing was quick and gaspy as she forced herself to awaken fully.
"It's just a dream it's just a dream," she told herself over and over as she tried to calm down, trying to reign in the sea of emotions that were drowning her.
The nightmare lingered, the same she'd been having for weeks. She'd dream of dying. Of the Brutor boy. And falling. Always falling. It made little sense to her and yet it terrified her at the same time.
She glanced to the open window, watching as snowflakes drifted into the room. The sheer curtains danced on the breeze, blowing inward as gusts of cold snowy wind chilled the air.
Sliding out of bed, she neared the enormous window and gazed out into the dark sky.
She tipped her head back, half closing her eyes as she felt ice cold flakes landing against her flushed skin. Fever burned through her, her eyes were glassy, rimmed with dark shadows. She'd become exhausted to the point of getting sick from lack of sleep.
The long gown she wore silhouetted her lithe body as the stepped up onto the ledge, the hem of it rippling around her ankles.
"Always, always falling," she whispered to herself as she stretched her arms out. For a moment she entertained the idea of falling and waking up into a new world, one that made sense to her.
"Come away from the window," a voice whispered in return.
Shalee tensed, the child-like voice frightening her.
"Who is there?" she called out as she looked over her shoulder seeing the shadowy image of a young girl with long black hair.
"You must come away from the window, you might fall and your brothers will be horribly upset with you." Raven commanded.
Compelled to obey without understanding why, she stepped down to the floor. Shafts of moonlight poured into the room, illuminating Shalee by the window, casting Raven into the shadowy darkness.
"Who are you?" Shalee asked. Her brows scrunched together as her gaze narrowed. She couldn't make out her face.
"Your brothers call me Raven."
"What are you doing here? Did they send you here?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"To protect you. To guide you."
"You're a little young to be protecting me, don't you think?"
The little girl giggled mischievously.
Shalee stepped into the shadows with a sigh, "Enough of this, go back to the nursery where you belong. Does Brystal know you're running around in the middle of the night?"
Raven laughed again, "I don't live in the nursery," she said matter of factly.
Shalee stretched out a hand attempting to grab the girl by her arm, "Now look here-" her voice faltered when the child disappeared.
"Fooled you," Raven said as she suddenly appeared behind her.
Shalee spun around and gasped as her hand went straight through the child. "Stop it!" she yelled, moving over to the holodrone equipment, "You should know better to be playing with holo devices, it can be dangerous."
As Shalee disconnected the holo receiver into her suite, she turned around expecting Raven to be gone.
The little girl smirked, her eyes lit with an eerie devilish glint. "You can't get rid of me that easy."
Shalee gasped, "What are you, some kind of...ghost?"
Raven snorted. "Ghost aren't real. I am an AI device that has been implanted within your mind. To help you."
"...okay," Shalee said, clearly unnerved.
"Your brothers assumed you would have difficulty adjusting to your new life and had me designed. I am a failsafe, of sorts."
"Why am I just now seeing you?"
"You haven't needed me until now."
Shalee glanced towards the window, "Ah. You thought I would jump."
Raven nodded. "And thus, I had to stop you."
"I see." Shalee threaded her fingers through her hair. "So...you're just sort of...lurking? Inside my mind?"
Raven nodded again, "Something like that."
"Can you read my thoughts?"
"No. But I can see what you see." She pointed to her eyelid, "Your implants allow it."
"Interesting." And creepy.
A knock at the door sent the slaver hound puppies into a whirl of barking. Raven disappeared as Shalee called out, "Who is there?"
"It's Brystal," replied the blond Gallente in a muffled voice.
"Come in," Shalee said as she pulled a beige silk robe over her nightgown. "Is something the matter?" she asked as she noticed the heartbroken expression Brystal wore.
The Gallente nodded, sniffling, "It's Jacke. He's dead. He had been in a coma for weeks after falling from the rooftop and....tonight he died. He just.." she choked up, "died."
"He didn't just die he was MURDERED don't you remember!" a tiny voice screamed inside of her head. "Raven killed him and she's going to make you kill someone else!"
Blood dripped from her nose as her eyes rolled into the back of her head. Seconds later Shalee hit the floor.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Entry 140: A New Possession
"You're different."
Shalee flicked her gaze to the young Brutor boy who stood in her doorway, arms crossed casually across his chest. He leaned his shoulder against the door and stared at her with eerie coffee colored eyes, not once blinking.
"What do you mean?" she asked, feeling a moment of unease.
"Every one's talking about how you've forgotten stuff since you were podded. Some people say that it's normal sometimes to forget some stuff. But you've forgotten everything, haven't you? You don't even know who I am..."
Her chin jutted up arrogantly as a smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth, "You are Jacke Incarnate."
"Yes. You know my know name. Guess you read a file..."
A look of anger flashed across her delicate features. Of course she'd read a file. She'd been drowning in them since she had been thrust into this bizarre capsuleer's world weeks ago. Files on everyone, the people of the corporation, the people she flew with on a regular basis, and everyone who lived in the Keep.
"Brutor boy. Came here last year. Your tutor is Mister Perelli. When you're not in school you spend your time in the flight simulators." she said flatly as if repeating something she'd recently read verbatim.
He continued to stare at her. "Like I said. You read a file." He shrugged, "Red doesn't come around anymore. She used to come almost every single night but since you were podded, she's disappeared."
A thin line of worry etched her forehead as she furrowed her brows, "Why doesn't she come...have I done something to upset her?"
He continued to smile at her, "Perhaps."
Shalee frowned, "I'm sorry..." She fidgeted with her hair, tucking it behind her ear, "Should I mail your little friend, ask her to return to the Keep?"
He kicked away from the door and entered into her room. She watched him as he neared her dressing table. He paused by the mirror, looking at her in the reflected glass, "She will come when she is ready, I suspect. I just...hope she knows that it's okay to come back."
"Why wouldn't it be okay?" she asked, completely confused by the child.
"It's hard to explain...I don't think you'd understand."
"Why not? Just because I don't remember some things doesn't mean I am completely useless," she said with a hint of annoyance.
"I'm sorry," he said as he turned around to face her. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just... I miss her. I just want her to come back, to let us know what's going on..." He stared at her.
A look of pain radiated across her face as she suddenly started to rub her temples, the onslaught of a headache pounding against her skull. "I think I need to lay down," she said as she stumbled towards her bed.
Jacke moved to her side, grabbing her arm, helping to ease her down on the bed, "Are you alright? Do you want me to call for a medic?"
"No no, I just...have a headache. A blinding headache. I think...I'll be alright," she said as her nose started to bleed. She panicked as she brought her hand up to her nose, tilting her head back. "Oh god, I'm bleeding."
He squeezed her hand. "Shhh. She's coming." He said soothingly as she passed out.
The holodrone whirled nearby as the image of a red-headed little girl appeared. She rushed towards Jacke, "I can't stay!"
"I thought you were gone forever! What's happening to her?"
"It's her brothers! They kidnapped her. They took away the last two years! They put her back to the time when she lived at home, when she was a Sani Sabik with them!"
"But how are you here if she can't remember?"
"Jonathan helped, he had my files separate from hers, he was studying me. When she was podded last time, he snuck me back in when he put in those implants but I can't stay out here for long else they will find out!"
"Her brothers?"
She nodded.
"Why are they doing all of this?"
"Because they are going to make her do something horrible. They are going to-" The holodrone fell to the floor as it was deactivated.
Another one activated and Jacke turned, expecting to see her, "Red, what's-" his voice faded as he stared at the image of Red, except this time she had jet black colored hair pulled back into a ponytail. She grinned at him.
"Hello Jacke."
"...who are you?"
"Her, of course." She tipped her head towards the bed where Shalee lay unconscious.
"...no you aren't."
"Sure I am." She gave a dimpled grin. "But you can call me Raven. I'm sure we're going to have lots of fun together." She slanted her eerie gaze towards the door as it slammed closed, followed by the sound of the lock clicking in place.
Her lips twisted devilishly, "Let's play a game, shall we?" The windows flew open suddenly, followed by a blast of icy cold air. Snowflakes drifted inside, melting on the floor.
"It's a long way down...don't you think?"
Shalee flicked her gaze to the young Brutor boy who stood in her doorway, arms crossed casually across his chest. He leaned his shoulder against the door and stared at her with eerie coffee colored eyes, not once blinking.
"What do you mean?" she asked, feeling a moment of unease.
"Every one's talking about how you've forgotten stuff since you were podded. Some people say that it's normal sometimes to forget some stuff. But you've forgotten everything, haven't you? You don't even know who I am..."
Her chin jutted up arrogantly as a smirk pulled at the corner of her mouth, "You are Jacke Incarnate."
"Yes. You know my know name. Guess you read a file..."
A look of anger flashed across her delicate features. Of course she'd read a file. She'd been drowning in them since she had been thrust into this bizarre capsuleer's world weeks ago. Files on everyone, the people of the corporation, the people she flew with on a regular basis, and everyone who lived in the Keep.
"Brutor boy. Came here last year. Your tutor is Mister Perelli. When you're not in school you spend your time in the flight simulators." she said flatly as if repeating something she'd recently read verbatim.
He continued to stare at her. "Like I said. You read a file." He shrugged, "Red doesn't come around anymore. She used to come almost every single night but since you were podded, she's disappeared."
A thin line of worry etched her forehead as she furrowed her brows, "Why doesn't she come...have I done something to upset her?"
He continued to smile at her, "Perhaps."
Shalee frowned, "I'm sorry..." She fidgeted with her hair, tucking it behind her ear, "Should I mail your little friend, ask her to return to the Keep?"
He kicked away from the door and entered into her room. She watched him as he neared her dressing table. He paused by the mirror, looking at her in the reflected glass, "She will come when she is ready, I suspect. I just...hope she knows that it's okay to come back."
"Why wouldn't it be okay?" she asked, completely confused by the child.
"It's hard to explain...I don't think you'd understand."
"Why not? Just because I don't remember some things doesn't mean I am completely useless," she said with a hint of annoyance.
"I'm sorry," he said as he turned around to face her. "I didn't mean to upset you. It's just... I miss her. I just want her to come back, to let us know what's going on..." He stared at her.
A look of pain radiated across her face as she suddenly started to rub her temples, the onslaught of a headache pounding against her skull. "I think I need to lay down," she said as she stumbled towards her bed.
Jacke moved to her side, grabbing her arm, helping to ease her down on the bed, "Are you alright? Do you want me to call for a medic?"
"No no, I just...have a headache. A blinding headache. I think...I'll be alright," she said as her nose started to bleed. She panicked as she brought her hand up to her nose, tilting her head back. "Oh god, I'm bleeding."
He squeezed her hand. "Shhh. She's coming." He said soothingly as she passed out.
The holodrone whirled nearby as the image of a red-headed little girl appeared. She rushed towards Jacke, "I can't stay!"
"I thought you were gone forever! What's happening to her?"
"It's her brothers! They kidnapped her. They took away the last two years! They put her back to the time when she lived at home, when she was a Sani Sabik with them!"
"But how are you here if she can't remember?"
"Jonathan helped, he had my files separate from hers, he was studying me. When she was podded last time, he snuck me back in when he put in those implants but I can't stay out here for long else they will find out!"
"Her brothers?"
She nodded.
"Why are they doing all of this?"
"Because they are going to make her do something horrible. They are going to-" The holodrone fell to the floor as it was deactivated.
Another one activated and Jacke turned, expecting to see her, "Red, what's-" his voice faded as he stared at the image of Red, except this time she had jet black colored hair pulled back into a ponytail. She grinned at him.
"Hello Jacke."
"...who are you?"
"Her, of course." She tipped her head towards the bed where Shalee lay unconscious.
"...no you aren't."
"Sure I am." She gave a dimpled grin. "But you can call me Raven. I'm sure we're going to have lots of fun together." She slanted her eerie gaze towards the door as it slammed closed, followed by the sound of the lock clicking in place.
Her lips twisted devilishly, "Let's play a game, shall we?" The windows flew open suddenly, followed by a blast of icy cold air. Snowflakes drifted inside, melting on the floor.
"It's a long way down...don't you think?"
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Entry 139: Drowning
Location: Amarr Medical Facilities
Date: 07.02.113
Memories played like a holoreel on fastforward as she climbed her way out of the inky darkness of unconsciousness. Voices were all around, surrounding her, drowning her. A cacophony of familiar and unfamiliar bled together, making little sense to her.
Her hands frantically grasped at the sides of the cloning vat and she pulled herself up from the shimmering ambiotic fluid. She yanked out the breathing tube and inhaled her first breath as she rubbed her eyes, smearing away congealed fluid. Memories became clearer, the last moment in space. She'd been in a military complex in Kourmonen with Eran. She had lost her Omen, and then her pod, she couldn't get out and then....everything went black.
She could still feel the adrenaline rush of combat coursing through her, the euphoric high that sustained her night after night as she battled it out on the field against the Minmatar.
She blinked several times trying to force away the cloudiness.
She shook her head, thinking something was wrong. "Jonathon?" she called out in a raspy voice, asking for her chief pod tech. He was always there to help her through those first few moments of being 'resurrected'. Gods, how she hated being podded.
As the room came into focus, the voices settled upon her like a shard of ice being drug down her spine.
Keon.
Her brother was here? In the medical facility? But why? "Keon? Keon what's happening...what are you doing here?" she lifted a hand to her neck, feeling as if she had a sore throat.
Silence filled the air suddenly as both men turned to face the cloning vat.
"She's awake. It's too late." Jonathan said to Keon, "She's awake. There's nothing I can do now." His voice was strained.
"Unacceptable." Her brother replied, his bright vivid blue eyes locked on her.
"Look, theres nothing I can do! Only one clone can be activated at a time, no matter what. That's more than just Imperial law, it's science." Jonathan argued.
His chin tilted, "Then it looks like we have a little problem on our hands here, don't we?"
"It's done. You were too late." Jonathan said as he took a step towards the door.
"Do not move." Keon said as he pulled a pistol from beneath his robes, steadily aiming it at the pod tech.
"Too late for what?" she asked in a fearful voice. "Keon please, I don't know what's going on here but we can work it out...just put the gun down, please!"
"This wasn't supposed to happen." Keon aimed the pistol at Shalee, "And if I kill her now? This one dies and you can wake her up again, as before?"
Jonathan paled, "...that is murder."
"What is murder to a capsuleer? You have any idea how many lives she takes in a single night?"
"I cannot be responsible for this, I will not!" he threaded his fingers through his hair. "Do not ask this of me, I cannot kill her."
"But you can wake her up again?" Keon demanded.
Jonathon nodded.
Panic seized her. "No!" She screamed as Keon was upon her. "Don't worry little sister, you'll be fine soon enough," he whispered as he grabbed her by the throat.
She gasped, choking for air, hands frantically slamming against his chest. He shoved her down beneath the fluid and held her there until she stopped fighting.
He watched the life drain from her eyes, waited until her body was completely limp before he pulled his hand up out of the vat.
"Was that so difficult?" he asked as he stood, turning towards Jonathan. "Now bring her back, but this time a little more docile?"
Jonathan doubled over a trashcan, retching.
Keon stared down at her lifeless body. "And destroy every god damned file you have on her, everything from the last two years. From this point on, she will resurrect as the data I had given you. Send that to every cloning facility she has contracts with."
Date: 07.02.113
Memories played like a holoreel on fastforward as she climbed her way out of the inky darkness of unconsciousness. Voices were all around, surrounding her, drowning her. A cacophony of familiar and unfamiliar bled together, making little sense to her.
Her hands frantically grasped at the sides of the cloning vat and she pulled herself up from the shimmering ambiotic fluid. She yanked out the breathing tube and inhaled her first breath as she rubbed her eyes, smearing away congealed fluid. Memories became clearer, the last moment in space. She'd been in a military complex in Kourmonen with Eran. She had lost her Omen, and then her pod, she couldn't get out and then....everything went black.
She could still feel the adrenaline rush of combat coursing through her, the euphoric high that sustained her night after night as she battled it out on the field against the Minmatar.
She blinked several times trying to force away the cloudiness.
She shook her head, thinking something was wrong. "Jonathon?" she called out in a raspy voice, asking for her chief pod tech. He was always there to help her through those first few moments of being 'resurrected'. Gods, how she hated being podded.
As the room came into focus, the voices settled upon her like a shard of ice being drug down her spine.
Keon.
Her brother was here? In the medical facility? But why? "Keon? Keon what's happening...what are you doing here?" she lifted a hand to her neck, feeling as if she had a sore throat.
Silence filled the air suddenly as both men turned to face the cloning vat.
"She's awake. It's too late." Jonathan said to Keon, "She's awake. There's nothing I can do now." His voice was strained.
"Unacceptable." Her brother replied, his bright vivid blue eyes locked on her.
"Look, theres nothing I can do! Only one clone can be activated at a time, no matter what. That's more than just Imperial law, it's science." Jonathan argued.
His chin tilted, "Then it looks like we have a little problem on our hands here, don't we?"
"It's done. You were too late." Jonathan said as he took a step towards the door.
"Do not move." Keon said as he pulled a pistol from beneath his robes, steadily aiming it at the pod tech.
"Too late for what?" she asked in a fearful voice. "Keon please, I don't know what's going on here but we can work it out...just put the gun down, please!"
"This wasn't supposed to happen." Keon aimed the pistol at Shalee, "And if I kill her now? This one dies and you can wake her up again, as before?"
Jonathan paled, "...that is murder."
"What is murder to a capsuleer? You have any idea how many lives she takes in a single night?"
"I cannot be responsible for this, I will not!" he threaded his fingers through his hair. "Do not ask this of me, I cannot kill her."
"But you can wake her up again?" Keon demanded.
Jonathon nodded.
Panic seized her. "No!" She screamed as Keon was upon her. "Don't worry little sister, you'll be fine soon enough," he whispered as he grabbed her by the throat.
She gasped, choking for air, hands frantically slamming against his chest. He shoved her down beneath the fluid and held her there until she stopped fighting.
He watched the life drain from her eyes, waited until her body was completely limp before he pulled his hand up out of the vat.
"Was that so difficult?" he asked as he stood, turning towards Jonathan. "Now bring her back, but this time a little more docile?"
Jonathan doubled over a trashcan, retching.
Keon stared down at her lifeless body. "And destroy every god damned file you have on her, everything from the last two years. From this point on, she will resurrect as the data I had given you. Send that to every cloning facility she has contracts with."
Friday, June 24, 2011
Entry 138: The Grandest Ruse of All
Eighteen hours ago...
"Eran! I can't warp. I'm going down!"
"Get your pod out okay?"
"I'm trying! Something's wrong! It's not letting me-"
Comms fell silent as the Kourmonen sky blazed with the sudden explosion of her Omen, an Amarrian cruiser classed vessel.
Earlier, after finishing a long patrol, she had docked up in Kourm intending to shuttle it back to Houla. The system was relatively quiet with only a handful of militia members assistating the Navy inside one of the military complexes. She and Eran had decided to offer support and after the plex was secured they remained inside, practicing a few dog-fighting maneuvers.
Unaware that the enemy militia had entered system and scanned them down, they were caught off guard as eight Minmatar pilots landed right on top of them.
There would be no escape.
Paralyzed, she was only cognizant of the next few seconds. Pieces of her mangled ship engulfed her capsuel, flames burned along bits of metal and electronics that floated around her pod.
Her tomb, a fiery pyre in the blackness of space.
Realization of imminent death seized her thoughts, and all she could do was offer up a silent prayer before they shredded her pod.
Ambiotic fluid sizzled as it sprayed into the flames, her lifeless body suspended in the wreckage.
***
Pain throbbed at her temples as she shifted restlessly on the bed. She could hear whispering, soft voices nearby though she couldn't quite make out what they were saying.
Something nagged at the edge of her subconsciousness. Keon's voice. Her eldest brother. She felt his hand along her cheek as he soothed her, "Shhhh. You need your rest."
Her body releaxed at the familiar voice and seconds later she was lost to dreams once more.
"She's asleep again."
"Good." said her middle brother, Jacobi Cerra. "She looks the same, I think. All except the hair."
"She did that more than a month ago," replied Keon.
"She always was impulsive."
"And foolish. Just like her Ni Kunni Mother."
"So how did you manage it?" Jacobi asked.
"Paid off the right people. They were almost ready the last time she was podded, had it been another few hours and we would have had her then. Fortunately she was podded again a mere eight days later."
"Quite brilliant, brother. So our dear little sis is going to wake up and have absolutely no memory of her life as a capsuleer?"
"Not exactly. It was explained to me as 'rifting'. The part of her mind that allowed her to learn flying and whatever else she used in space is still there, it's just melded with a soft-clone scan of when she was with us."
Jacobi nodded, "But how do you expect her to return to her normal life? Wont they suspect when she hasn't a clue who they are?"
Keon shook his head, "Once she is awake, we explain everything to her..." His mouth twisted deviously. "Remember, she loved us at one time and her loyalty was to us, not them." He stroked her hair from her face, "And now it will be so again."
"Can't we just keep her here? Why do you insist on sending her back into that world? She is safe with us."
"She is the best instrument of revenge we have at our disposal." He said matter-of-factly.
Jacobi nodded reluctantly, "I suppose you're right, brother." He folded his arms and looked to the sleeping girl, "I just hope she can pull it off."
"You remember how I told you she started visiting me as a hologram? Of when she was a child?"
He nodded.
"Apparently she has done that with many others, but here is the interesting part. Only when she was asleep. She had no control over the hologram, no control over her subconscious." Keon smirked, "That little girl, the one they call 'Red', is going to help her."
"I'm afraid I'm not following..."
"Before, Red was essentially her, a part of her mind that manipulated her implants that allowed her to access the holodrones and holographic realms. But now, Red will be the AI I had inserted into her mind."
"So Red is gone?"
The eldest brother nodded, turning his gaze to Shalee as she slept. "Her implants allowed her to become Red, to interact with everyone as the hologram. Essentially we've silenced Red, and instead have given her an AI. Others will think the AI is Red."
Jacobi gave a thoughtful nod, "And what about her? Will she think she is part of some conspiracy?" He said as his gaze shifted to the window, absently noticing a handful of pod techs passing down the corridor. "How will you explain the last two years to her?"
"I've decided to tell her that Father sent her to the Academy and that it was his desire for her to become a capsuleer, to gain the favor of the Amarr militia and all the right people, that she was a plant for the Sani Sabik, and that when the time was right, she would fulfill his wishes."
A haughty smirk stretched across Jacobi's lips, "Very clever. So anything that anyone tries to tell her now, she will think is either a lie or part of the grand ruse she's been involved in this whole time."
Keon chuckled, "Precisely. She's a smart girl, she will play the part thinking she had been all along."
"Aren't you afraid she will just make all the same mistakes again? Falling in love with heathens, betraying the Empire by freeing slaves, etc."
Keon shook his head no, "She ran away. All of those choices she made on her own. This time she will have us."
Jacobi stroked a finger along her ankle, "And this time she will never leave us."
Shalee murmured in her sleep.
"Looks like she is waking up again. Shall we?" Keon said as he dropped a hand to her shoulder, shaking her very lightly.
"Shalee dear...time to wake up. We have so much to tell you...."
"Eran! I can't warp. I'm going down!"
"Get your pod out okay?"
"I'm trying! Something's wrong! It's not letting me-"
Comms fell silent as the Kourmonen sky blazed with the sudden explosion of her Omen, an Amarrian cruiser classed vessel.
Earlier, after finishing a long patrol, she had docked up in Kourm intending to shuttle it back to Houla. The system was relatively quiet with only a handful of militia members assistating the Navy inside one of the military complexes. She and Eran had decided to offer support and after the plex was secured they remained inside, practicing a few dog-fighting maneuvers.
Unaware that the enemy militia had entered system and scanned them down, they were caught off guard as eight Minmatar pilots landed right on top of them.
There would be no escape.
Paralyzed, she was only cognizant of the next few seconds. Pieces of her mangled ship engulfed her capsuel, flames burned along bits of metal and electronics that floated around her pod.
Her tomb, a fiery pyre in the blackness of space.
Realization of imminent death seized her thoughts, and all she could do was offer up a silent prayer before they shredded her pod.
Ambiotic fluid sizzled as it sprayed into the flames, her lifeless body suspended in the wreckage.
***
Pain throbbed at her temples as she shifted restlessly on the bed. She could hear whispering, soft voices nearby though she couldn't quite make out what they were saying.
Something nagged at the edge of her subconsciousness. Keon's voice. Her eldest brother. She felt his hand along her cheek as he soothed her, "Shhhh. You need your rest."
Her body releaxed at the familiar voice and seconds later she was lost to dreams once more.
"She's asleep again."
"Good." said her middle brother, Jacobi Cerra. "She looks the same, I think. All except the hair."
"She did that more than a month ago," replied Keon.
"She always was impulsive."
"And foolish. Just like her Ni Kunni Mother."
"So how did you manage it?" Jacobi asked.
"Paid off the right people. They were almost ready the last time she was podded, had it been another few hours and we would have had her then. Fortunately she was podded again a mere eight days later."
"Quite brilliant, brother. So our dear little sis is going to wake up and have absolutely no memory of her life as a capsuleer?"
"Not exactly. It was explained to me as 'rifting'. The part of her mind that allowed her to learn flying and whatever else she used in space is still there, it's just melded with a soft-clone scan of when she was with us."
Jacobi nodded, "But how do you expect her to return to her normal life? Wont they suspect when she hasn't a clue who they are?"
Keon shook his head, "Once she is awake, we explain everything to her..." His mouth twisted deviously. "Remember, she loved us at one time and her loyalty was to us, not them." He stroked her hair from her face, "And now it will be so again."
"Can't we just keep her here? Why do you insist on sending her back into that world? She is safe with us."
"She is the best instrument of revenge we have at our disposal." He said matter-of-factly.
Jacobi nodded reluctantly, "I suppose you're right, brother." He folded his arms and looked to the sleeping girl, "I just hope she can pull it off."
"You remember how I told you she started visiting me as a hologram? Of when she was a child?"
He nodded.
"Apparently she has done that with many others, but here is the interesting part. Only when she was asleep. She had no control over the hologram, no control over her subconscious." Keon smirked, "That little girl, the one they call 'Red', is going to help her."
"I'm afraid I'm not following..."
"Before, Red was essentially her, a part of her mind that manipulated her implants that allowed her to access the holodrones and holographic realms. But now, Red will be the AI I had inserted into her mind."
"So Red is gone?"
The eldest brother nodded, turning his gaze to Shalee as she slept. "Her implants allowed her to become Red, to interact with everyone as the hologram. Essentially we've silenced Red, and instead have given her an AI. Others will think the AI is Red."
Jacobi gave a thoughtful nod, "And what about her? Will she think she is part of some conspiracy?" He said as his gaze shifted to the window, absently noticing a handful of pod techs passing down the corridor. "How will you explain the last two years to her?"
"I've decided to tell her that Father sent her to the Academy and that it was his desire for her to become a capsuleer, to gain the favor of the Amarr militia and all the right people, that she was a plant for the Sani Sabik, and that when the time was right, she would fulfill his wishes."
A haughty smirk stretched across Jacobi's lips, "Very clever. So anything that anyone tries to tell her now, she will think is either a lie or part of the grand ruse she's been involved in this whole time."
Keon chuckled, "Precisely. She's a smart girl, she will play the part thinking she had been all along."
"Aren't you afraid she will just make all the same mistakes again? Falling in love with heathens, betraying the Empire by freeing slaves, etc."
Keon shook his head no, "She ran away. All of those choices she made on her own. This time she will have us."
Jacobi stroked a finger along her ankle, "And this time she will never leave us."
Shalee murmured in her sleep.
"Looks like she is waking up again. Shall we?" Keon said as he dropped a hand to her shoulder, shaking her very lightly.
"Shalee dear...time to wake up. We have so much to tell you...."
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Entry 137: Dubious Intel
"Okay. You have my attention," she said as she glanced around the room, her gaze skimming across the network terminal.
Earlier, she'd been sent a mysterious message from someone within the VETO corporation, and letting her curiosity override her common sense, she responded.
He said he had a message, one to be delivered in person. In between patrols, she decided to fly over to Goinard just to see what the message was. A part of her was reluctant, thinking it was some kind of prank, but as she was lead deep within the secure perimeter of VETO's headquarters, she quickly realized it was for real.
As she was lead into the heavily fortified armoured security room, she felt a moment of unease. Video monitoring equipment lined the walls. Thousands of network lights flickered, fluid router cables shimmered around the room as data transferred between various data banks. The airlock door sealed behind her, leaving her alone with a young Brutor.
Drem Haklar pulled his headphones from his head as the door sealed behind her. He straightened up, setting his feet on the floor as he grinned, "Ah, I was right. You did change your hair color. I thought so. It was a while ago, no?" He spoke with a heavy Venal accent, flashing her a white smile between pierced dark lips.
She nodded, "Yeah, I changed it. And you are who exactly? And what do you have to give me?" she asked skeptically as she rested her hands on her hips.
He watched her curiously as he stood, gesturing to the seat at the other side of his desk, "Have a seat. My name's Drem. Drem Haklar. I uh... well. Probably should explain this place and what I do first. I'm the Secure Comms officer for our corporation. Our boss likes to keep a solid network of Intelligence. You're stood right at the beating heart of Veto Corp right now. This is our mainframe control room. The equipment you see around you is our main frame's communications layer. We're hacked into pretty much every fluid router network you can think of here, watching, listening, and recording."
"I see." she glanced around the room again as she took a seat at his desk, her nose wrinkling, "So you're spying....got it."
"So, my boss wants to do business, but wants to keep distance, as do you, from the mails I've intercepted and monitored. He's asked me to offer you our eyes and ears, for anything you might need."
She frowned, "You're reading my mail? That is private!"
"I read every one's mail, with my boss's authorisation. For instance, I know there's a few Angel Cartel loyalists who've been tryng to figure a way to infiltrate us for months, but their CEO is too much of an idiot to get to grips with it. I know about a certain Gallente clone who was visiting you, about a certain Cartel Loyalist who's fucking his sister."
She sighed a soft little sound, "So he just lets you read my mail!" she threw her hands up in the air, obviously frustrated with the situation, not really caring about the Angel Cartels.
Drem shrugged his heavy shoulder and smiled, "Nothing leaves this room, I'm paid a lot of money to ensure that. That's why the walls are so thick. This place has a suppression field, and ten metre thick walls, with one of the best electronic firewalls available. It's quite secure in here, the two weakest links ironically are you, and me."
"Wait. So why would he offer me intel? Whats the point?"
"He's extending an olive branch to see if you take it. It's a common practice. If business ties can be healed, then it's a start."
***
Kathetel frowned as the video went blank. "You were gone for twenty eight hours and this is what you come back with? A two minute video?"
"It's all you need to know."
He looked skeptic, "That one of the most powerful crime lords in low sec is offering to share intel with you." He laughed a sound of disbelief. "A loyalist. A known Amarrian loyalist. Why would he lift a finger to help the Empire?"
She made air quotes, "An olive branch." She said with a shrug.
"I thought you two weren't friends any more."
"We aren't."
"This seems pretty friendly to me."
"Ethan has his quirks. Maybe it will amuse him, hell if I know."
"And what do you have to give him in return? Your intel?"
"No. Not that I have any yet anyhow, I haven't even formed the group, though I have a couple of people in mind for it. I don't have to share anything with him. I wont even see him, only Drem. He'd be my handler."
"It's too generous." He frowned in puzzlement.
"So you're saying it's a bad idea?"
"Not necessarily," he conceded, "Having someone who can operate outside of Empire law is not a bad thing. It's just odd."
She shrugged. "I told him I wanted no part of VETO, but he was more than welcome to come work for me."
"And why would he do that? You don't have the resources and ISK that VETO allows him."
"Well, he didn't accept it exactly. Yet, anyhow."
"But what makes you think he will..." Kathetel laughed, "Ah. He has a thing for you?"
"Something like that."
"Romantic," He said with a laugh, "No doubt he has been watching you? Were you his assignment?"
"For two years..."
"This should get interesting. I bet he thinks he's in love with you."
She rolled her eyes.
"So whats with the bandages?" he nodded towards her wrist.
"Nothing."
"You can tell me now or I'll get it out of Red later. Your choice."
She frowned, "It's complicated."
"Isn't everything?" His smile widened.
"Drem and I got into a fight of sorts...he told me some things and thought I'd tell Ethan. He thought Ethan would kill him so...he was going to beat him to it. Right in front of me."
Kathetel quirked his brow, "He tried to kill himself and make you watch? But that doesn't explain your bandages..."
"I was stuck in the securest room in New Eden with no way to get help. Only he could open the doors...so I tried to force him to."
He clicked his tongue, "I see. So you hurt yourself to force him to open the doors to call for medics, using his affection for you against him."
She nodded, "Yeah, something like that. And it worked too. He survived. I woke up in VETO infirm the next day, the nano's healed most of it. So yeah. It worked out."
"I take it Ethan didn't kill him?"
"No. I guess he felt sorry for him," Shalee murmured. "Anyhow, he's a good kid, and good at what he does."
Kathetel smirked, "That crush run both ways?"
She argued, "I barely know him."
He shrugged, "Makes little difference. What I do know is that if I tell you to stay away from him you'll go to extraordinary measures to get close to him. So, do as you will, but be careful. He's so far off the radar that he isn't likely to make waves. As for your friend Tiger..."
She stiffened.
"Precisely what part of 'hes a dangerous man stay away from him' did you not understand, hmmm?"
Earlier, she'd been sent a mysterious message from someone within the VETO corporation, and letting her curiosity override her common sense, she responded.
He said he had a message, one to be delivered in person. In between patrols, she decided to fly over to Goinard just to see what the message was. A part of her was reluctant, thinking it was some kind of prank, but as she was lead deep within the secure perimeter of VETO's headquarters, she quickly realized it was for real.
As she was lead into the heavily fortified armoured security room, she felt a moment of unease. Video monitoring equipment lined the walls. Thousands of network lights flickered, fluid router cables shimmered around the room as data transferred between various data banks. The airlock door sealed behind her, leaving her alone with a young Brutor.
Drem Haklar pulled his headphones from his head as the door sealed behind her. He straightened up, setting his feet on the floor as he grinned, "Ah, I was right. You did change your hair color. I thought so. It was a while ago, no?" He spoke with a heavy Venal accent, flashing her a white smile between pierced dark lips.
She nodded, "Yeah, I changed it. And you are who exactly? And what do you have to give me?" she asked skeptically as she rested her hands on her hips.
He watched her curiously as he stood, gesturing to the seat at the other side of his desk, "Have a seat. My name's Drem. Drem Haklar. I uh... well. Probably should explain this place and what I do first. I'm the Secure Comms officer for our corporation. Our boss likes to keep a solid network of Intelligence. You're stood right at the beating heart of Veto Corp right now. This is our mainframe control room. The equipment you see around you is our main frame's communications layer. We're hacked into pretty much every fluid router network you can think of here, watching, listening, and recording."
"I see." she glanced around the room again as she took a seat at his desk, her nose wrinkling, "So you're spying....got it."
"So, my boss wants to do business, but wants to keep distance, as do you, from the mails I've intercepted and monitored. He's asked me to offer you our eyes and ears, for anything you might need."
She frowned, "You're reading my mail? That is private!"
"I read every one's mail, with my boss's authorisation. For instance, I know there's a few Angel Cartel loyalists who've been tryng to figure a way to infiltrate us for months, but their CEO is too much of an idiot to get to grips with it. I know about a certain Gallente clone who was visiting you, about a certain Cartel Loyalist who's fucking his sister."
She sighed a soft little sound, "So he just lets you read my mail!" she threw her hands up in the air, obviously frustrated with the situation, not really caring about the Angel Cartels.
Drem shrugged his heavy shoulder and smiled, "Nothing leaves this room, I'm paid a lot of money to ensure that. That's why the walls are so thick. This place has a suppression field, and ten metre thick walls, with one of the best electronic firewalls available. It's quite secure in here, the two weakest links ironically are you, and me."
"Wait. So why would he offer me intel? Whats the point?"
"He's extending an olive branch to see if you take it. It's a common practice. If business ties can be healed, then it's a start."
***
Kathetel frowned as the video went blank. "You were gone for twenty eight hours and this is what you come back with? A two minute video?"
"It's all you need to know."
He looked skeptic, "That one of the most powerful crime lords in low sec is offering to share intel with you." He laughed a sound of disbelief. "A loyalist. A known Amarrian loyalist. Why would he lift a finger to help the Empire?"
She made air quotes, "An olive branch." She said with a shrug.
"I thought you two weren't friends any more."
"We aren't."
"This seems pretty friendly to me."
"Ethan has his quirks. Maybe it will amuse him, hell if I know."
"And what do you have to give him in return? Your intel?"
"No. Not that I have any yet anyhow, I haven't even formed the group, though I have a couple of people in mind for it. I don't have to share anything with him. I wont even see him, only Drem. He'd be my handler."
"It's too generous." He frowned in puzzlement.
"So you're saying it's a bad idea?"
"Not necessarily," he conceded, "Having someone who can operate outside of Empire law is not a bad thing. It's just odd."
She shrugged. "I told him I wanted no part of VETO, but he was more than welcome to come work for me."
"And why would he do that? You don't have the resources and ISK that VETO allows him."
"Well, he didn't accept it exactly. Yet, anyhow."
"But what makes you think he will..." Kathetel laughed, "Ah. He has a thing for you?"
"Something like that."
"Romantic," He said with a laugh, "No doubt he has been watching you? Were you his assignment?"
"For two years..."
"This should get interesting. I bet he thinks he's in love with you."
She rolled her eyes.
"So whats with the bandages?" he nodded towards her wrist.
"Nothing."
"You can tell me now or I'll get it out of Red later. Your choice."
She frowned, "It's complicated."
"Isn't everything?" His smile widened.
"Drem and I got into a fight of sorts...he told me some things and thought I'd tell Ethan. He thought Ethan would kill him so...he was going to beat him to it. Right in front of me."
Kathetel quirked his brow, "He tried to kill himself and make you watch? But that doesn't explain your bandages..."
"I was stuck in the securest room in New Eden with no way to get help. Only he could open the doors...so I tried to force him to."
He clicked his tongue, "I see. So you hurt yourself to force him to open the doors to call for medics, using his affection for you against him."
She nodded, "Yeah, something like that. And it worked too. He survived. I woke up in VETO infirm the next day, the nano's healed most of it. So yeah. It worked out."
"I take it Ethan didn't kill him?"
"No. I guess he felt sorry for him," Shalee murmured. "Anyhow, he's a good kid, and good at what he does."
Kathetel smirked, "That crush run both ways?"
She argued, "I barely know him."
He shrugged, "Makes little difference. What I do know is that if I tell you to stay away from him you'll go to extraordinary measures to get close to him. So, do as you will, but be careful. He's so far off the radar that he isn't likely to make waves. As for your friend Tiger..."
She stiffened.
"Precisely what part of 'hes a dangerous man stay away from him' did you not understand, hmmm?"
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Entry 136: Red Tiger
She froze the holoscreen and stared at it, still wearing a look of disbelief that had plagued her face for the past half hour.
Tigerfish Torpedo, a former Sani Sabik and right hand man of the notorious Revan Nefarious, stood frozen in the holovid she'd just paused.
She studied the lines of his face, the glint of his eyes, the twisted curl of his mouth. A sadistic, eerie grin of pleasure.
His gloved hands were soaked with the blood of his crew members, men he'd just murdered for the sake of forcing someone else's will to his own. They were nothing more than pawns in some macabre game he was forcing Tiberious Thessalonia to play. Submit to his will, else more would die.
She pressed play again and heard him say, "If you don't help her, I'll go back and purge the rest of them. Their blood with be on your hands."
Again, she pressed pause and stared at him, her thoughts racing.
"You're a cold blood murderer...and you enjoy it," she whispered into the darkness.
With trembling hands, she poured a shot of whiskey and lit a cigarette, needing to calm her nerves.
It was one thing to hear rumors of such deeds, it was easy to dismiss them as idle gossip, half truths twisted to reflect a person in the worst possible light.
It was entirely different to have actual proof, to see the blood dripping from their hands, to see the look of pleasure gained from such gruesome acts.
She downed the shot then took a long draw off of her cigarette, placing it in the ashtray before she started to pace the dimly lit room. Behind her, Tiger's holographic form flickered.
An eerie feeling slid down her spine. "Why?" she asked as she turned to face the frozen image of him. "Why?"
"Because he is a bad, bad man," the holographic form of a little red headed girl responded.
Shalee jerked, darting her head as she searched for the girl. "Go away."
Red spoke rapidly, "You know he is bad but he reminds you of Hadrien. You feel guilty for not saving him. You killed him cause he was bad, you didn't even try to save him did you? You didn't try to help him."
"Stop it!" Her vision started to blur as her head pounded, throbbing with pain just behind her eyes.
"You want to help Tiger because you feel guilty! But you can't fix him. You just can't. Evil is evil and you know that. It doesn't go away...." the little girl laughed an eerie little sound, "...does it?" Her tone was accusing.
"Stop." Shalee lifted her hand and curled it in her hair, fingers tight in her long raven strands. "Stop, you're hurting me."
"You're hurting yourself." she said as she blinked into view finally, standing in front of Shalee. "Hurry up and pass out, I have to go tell Aldrith or Eran. I have to make them understand what you're doing!"
"Go to hell," she said as the blood dripped from her nose, staining her lips. She brushed the back of her hand across her mouth and chin, wiping away the blood, "I'm not going to let you do this. I am going to help him, he needs a friend. He needs me."
"You can't stop me," the girl challenged as she waited, watching Shalee's face as her eyes rolled back seconds before she collapsed to the floor. "Told you so."
Tigerfish Torpedo, a former Sani Sabik and right hand man of the notorious Revan Nefarious, stood frozen in the holovid she'd just paused.
She studied the lines of his face, the glint of his eyes, the twisted curl of his mouth. A sadistic, eerie grin of pleasure.
His gloved hands were soaked with the blood of his crew members, men he'd just murdered for the sake of forcing someone else's will to his own. They were nothing more than pawns in some macabre game he was forcing Tiberious Thessalonia to play. Submit to his will, else more would die.
She pressed play again and heard him say, "If you don't help her, I'll go back and purge the rest of them. Their blood with be on your hands."
Again, she pressed pause and stared at him, her thoughts racing.
"You're a cold blood murderer...and you enjoy it," she whispered into the darkness.
With trembling hands, she poured a shot of whiskey and lit a cigarette, needing to calm her nerves.
It was one thing to hear rumors of such deeds, it was easy to dismiss them as idle gossip, half truths twisted to reflect a person in the worst possible light.
It was entirely different to have actual proof, to see the blood dripping from their hands, to see the look of pleasure gained from such gruesome acts.
She downed the shot then took a long draw off of her cigarette, placing it in the ashtray before she started to pace the dimly lit room. Behind her, Tiger's holographic form flickered.
An eerie feeling slid down her spine. "Why?" she asked as she turned to face the frozen image of him. "Why?"
"Because he is a bad, bad man," the holographic form of a little red headed girl responded.
Shalee jerked, darting her head as she searched for the girl. "Go away."
Red spoke rapidly, "You know he is bad but he reminds you of Hadrien. You feel guilty for not saving him. You killed him cause he was bad, you didn't even try to save him did you? You didn't try to help him."
"Stop it!" Her vision started to blur as her head pounded, throbbing with pain just behind her eyes.
"You want to help Tiger because you feel guilty! But you can't fix him. You just can't. Evil is evil and you know that. It doesn't go away...." the little girl laughed an eerie little sound, "...does it?" Her tone was accusing.
"Stop." Shalee lifted her hand and curled it in her hair, fingers tight in her long raven strands. "Stop, you're hurting me."
"You're hurting yourself." she said as she blinked into view finally, standing in front of Shalee. "Hurry up and pass out, I have to go tell Aldrith or Eran. I have to make them understand what you're doing!"
"Go to hell," she said as the blood dripped from her nose, staining her lips. She brushed the back of her hand across her mouth and chin, wiping away the blood, "I'm not going to let you do this. I am going to help him, he needs a friend. He needs me."
"You can't stop me," the girl challenged as she waited, watching Shalee's face as her eyes rolled back seconds before she collapsed to the floor. "Told you so."
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Entry 135: A Night In Houla
Two Days Ago:
Dim, artificial lighting of the hangar silhouetted her lithe form as she stretched her arms out parallel to the floor. She wore her pod suit, a thin, nearly translucent covering that molded her body as a second skin.
Jonathan, her chief pod tech, gave the go-ahead for flight after running the obligatory pre-flight medical scans.
Several other pod techies started the process of wiring her up for the on coming night shift. As she synced into the endless flow of militia and intel channels, she checked to see what was reported and who was ready to roll out.
Eran, her usual FC since Predator Elite had abandoned militia to fight in the lawless lands of null sec hadn't made it to Houla yet.
Oh well, she'd make due until Eran's arrival.
As the pod was sealed, she felt her consciousness expanding, awareness amplifying as she floated in the shimmering fluid that entombed her body within the capsule.
A sense of anticipation coursed through her, an eagerness to fly. With Huola hot already, she knew it was going to be a long night of fighting.
Randomly she was invited to a fleet by a stranger, an Amarr militia pilot who was in local and already engaging the enemy.
She decided to give the unknown FC a chance and joined the fleet.
She initiated militia comms and Almity joined her.
"You get that fleet invite?" Shalee asked.
"...yeah. You joined?" Alm asked suspiciously.
"Yeah, why not. I'm ready to head out." She replied as she shipped into a hurricane.
They both frowned when they realized their FC wouldn't even be on comms with them.
"Oh. Well this is going to be interesting."
"And foolish. But what the hell."
As they were preparing to undock, Eran Mintor popped up in local.
"Oh thank God," they both replied in unison over comms.
Eran commandeered the fleet and within minutes they were out on the field.
The remainder of the night was spent fighting long range against the enemy fleet as they assaulted a POS in Houla.
Though they were unable to take down the enemy caps that were on field, they did manage to disrupt the operation and kill a few support ships in the process.
Later, after she'd docked up for the night and dismissed her crew, she stood beneath the showers longer than usual.
Her thoughts raced as she let the hot water spray across her back. Her reverie was broken by a too familiar voice.
"You need to be careful."
She turned suddenly and yanked the towel hanging across the back of the shower stall, wrapping it around her quickly as she said, "What are you doing in here? This is a private area. And I'm naked." Her face flashed with annoyance.
Kathetel smirked, "Calm down." He turned his back to her, giving her privacy. "I came here to warn you about your little friendship with Tiger. It's catching the attention of too many people."
"So what? I'm not allowed to speak to whomever I want now? Is that what you're going to tell me?" she asked as she made her way to the lockers, yanking hers open to grab a clean uniform.
He followed in pursuit. "How are you still so naive? Why are you so gullible?"
"Fuck off. I'm not in the mood." She slammed the locker closed and waited for him to turn his back to her before she started to dress. "Anyhow, we are just friends. I think he is interesting. He has interesting stories. He amuses me. That's it."
"He is a cold blooded killer. He has fought against the Empire for years, plotted against it. He was one of Revan's top associates, but you know that already. So how many people have to warn you before you decide to listen to reason? He is a dangerous man, Shalee."
"I know. But what is the harm of talking on comms with him?" she asked as he turned to face her.
"I wouldn't be here if it were just that. But you're accepting gifts from him. Very expensive gifts. Men don't buy Navy Geddons and Abaddons for girls they want to be 'just friends' with." He curled his fingers, making air quotes. "Plus the flowers? He wants something from you and he's seducing you to get it buy buying you things. He's even told you himself he is dangerous."
"Are you monitoring my mail?" She asked as she trailed her fingers through her damp raven hair.
"Of course."
She sighed her frustration. "Is it not enough that I devote my entire career to the Empire? Am I allowed no privacy in my personal time?"
"Your personal time still belongs to the Empire. Leave him alone Shalee, I'm warning you. I have a really bad feeling that he could be your downfall."
She lifted her chin, her blue eyes blazing, "Don't threaten me, Kathetel. I know my duties."
"Then act like it. Think of others for once. Think about the harm he could bring not only to yourself but the entire Knighthood, hell, even the entire militia if he had the inkling to do so. Don't get involved with him."
"I'm not!" She stomped her foot impatiently.
"Good." He smirked to her as he turned to leave. "Oh and Shalee? Enough with the Minmatar ships already, it's rather vulgar."
Dim, artificial lighting of the hangar silhouetted her lithe form as she stretched her arms out parallel to the floor. She wore her pod suit, a thin, nearly translucent covering that molded her body as a second skin.
Jonathan, her chief pod tech, gave the go-ahead for flight after running the obligatory pre-flight medical scans.
Several other pod techies started the process of wiring her up for the on coming night shift. As she synced into the endless flow of militia and intel channels, she checked to see what was reported and who was ready to roll out.
Eran, her usual FC since Predator Elite had abandoned militia to fight in the lawless lands of null sec hadn't made it to Houla yet.
Oh well, she'd make due until Eran's arrival.
As the pod was sealed, she felt her consciousness expanding, awareness amplifying as she floated in the shimmering fluid that entombed her body within the capsule.
A sense of anticipation coursed through her, an eagerness to fly. With Huola hot already, she knew it was going to be a long night of fighting.
Randomly she was invited to a fleet by a stranger, an Amarr militia pilot who was in local and already engaging the enemy.
She decided to give the unknown FC a chance and joined the fleet.
She initiated militia comms and Almity joined her.
"You get that fleet invite?" Shalee asked.
"...yeah. You joined?" Alm asked suspiciously.
"Yeah, why not. I'm ready to head out." She replied as she shipped into a hurricane.
They both frowned when they realized their FC wouldn't even be on comms with them.
"Oh. Well this is going to be interesting."
"And foolish. But what the hell."
As they were preparing to undock, Eran Mintor popped up in local.
"Oh thank God," they both replied in unison over comms.
Eran commandeered the fleet and within minutes they were out on the field.
The remainder of the night was spent fighting long range against the enemy fleet as they assaulted a POS in Houla.
Though they were unable to take down the enemy caps that were on field, they did manage to disrupt the operation and kill a few support ships in the process.
Later, after she'd docked up for the night and dismissed her crew, she stood beneath the showers longer than usual.
Her thoughts raced as she let the hot water spray across her back. Her reverie was broken by a too familiar voice.
"You need to be careful."
She turned suddenly and yanked the towel hanging across the back of the shower stall, wrapping it around her quickly as she said, "What are you doing in here? This is a private area. And I'm naked." Her face flashed with annoyance.
Kathetel smirked, "Calm down." He turned his back to her, giving her privacy. "I came here to warn you about your little friendship with Tiger. It's catching the attention of too many people."
"So what? I'm not allowed to speak to whomever I want now? Is that what you're going to tell me?" she asked as she made her way to the lockers, yanking hers open to grab a clean uniform.
He followed in pursuit. "How are you still so naive? Why are you so gullible?"
"Fuck off. I'm not in the mood." She slammed the locker closed and waited for him to turn his back to her before she started to dress. "Anyhow, we are just friends. I think he is interesting. He has interesting stories. He amuses me. That's it."
"He is a cold blooded killer. He has fought against the Empire for years, plotted against it. He was one of Revan's top associates, but you know that already. So how many people have to warn you before you decide to listen to reason? He is a dangerous man, Shalee."
"I know. But what is the harm of talking on comms with him?" she asked as he turned to face her.
"I wouldn't be here if it were just that. But you're accepting gifts from him. Very expensive gifts. Men don't buy Navy Geddons and Abaddons for girls they want to be 'just friends' with." He curled his fingers, making air quotes. "Plus the flowers? He wants something from you and he's seducing you to get it buy buying you things. He's even told you himself he is dangerous."
"Are you monitoring my mail?" She asked as she trailed her fingers through her damp raven hair.
"Of course."
She sighed her frustration. "Is it not enough that I devote my entire career to the Empire? Am I allowed no privacy in my personal time?"
"Your personal time still belongs to the Empire. Leave him alone Shalee, I'm warning you. I have a really bad feeling that he could be your downfall."
She lifted her chin, her blue eyes blazing, "Don't threaten me, Kathetel. I know my duties."
"Then act like it. Think of others for once. Think about the harm he could bring not only to yourself but the entire Knighthood, hell, even the entire militia if he had the inkling to do so. Don't get involved with him."
"I'm not!" She stomped her foot impatiently.
"Good." He smirked to her as he turned to leave. "Oh and Shalee? Enough with the Minmatar ships already, it's rather vulgar."
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Entry 134: Amarrian Doubts
Kourmonen Star System
Ishukone Station
The camera drone beeped and a tiny series of lights flickered as it began to record. It hovered near the raven haired girl as she sat on a walkway in her personal hangar. Her legs dangled off the side, arms propped up on the lower railing.
She glanced down at the floor below, watching the thousands of crew members as they finished up their shift, readying themselves to vacate the place until further notice.
The atmoshpere was somber, a heaviness hung overhead, a smothering blanket of collective emotion. She darted her tongue out and licked her lips, almost tasting the weariness on the air.
Over twelve thousand crew member losses in a forty eight hour period. Two abaddons, two hurricanes, and one harbinger down in a flame of glory.
"Glory for who?" she scoffed, muttering under her breath.
There was no glory in dying. Sometimes it was too easy to fight against the odds, never considering the countless crew members lives she was risking when she recklessly engaged.
"But I almost made it the second time," she thought. "Almost. Goddamned Zenton Karvash. "
The fleet was suffering heavy losses in the battle on the Houla gate in Kourmonen. Orders were given to disengage and get the fuck off the field if at all possible. Of course she was tackled, it was one of their favorite tactics. Her only hope was to approach the gate and jump through as soon as her aggression wore off.
Every second seemed like an eternity stretched out in front of her. Her body tensed as she waited, nervously counting down the seconds, hoping that she'd make it through.
Red rolled across the display as her shields were penetrated. Armor was breached, chunks of tungsten peeled away, littering the sky around her. Sirens blazed and all she could do was wait, pray, and hope to jump.
Powerless to do anything else, she continued her approach, drifting with no cap, no systems online. Everything was dark save for the HUD lighting up as the structure was ripped into. The abaddon shook with every assault. 90%. A second later, 50%.
Suddenly everything lit up with a swirl of watery blue as the battle ship jumped.
She exhaled a breath of relief.
"So lucky! You almost-" Adde said over comms, "Wait, Zenton is there."
The grid finally loaded and she saw him, not even 12 klicks from her, Zenton Karvash.
Don't do this, I can't fight back. Don't.
It was an impossible situation. She couldn't jump back through, she'd never make it to the gate in time, and even if she did certain death waited on the other side.
Hoping to be spared was pointless. He finished her off in the matter of seconds.
Six thousand dead littered the sky as she warped away.
The fighting raged on, and within hours she lost two more ships.
She hadn't suffered that kind of losses in months.
Later, Bahamut, CEO of the Minmatar Militia corporation, IFW, contracted her a hurricane with a message that there'd be more if she would defect.
Strangely she was charmed by the gesture.
She couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to -what if-. What if she defected? What if she suddenly left Amarr and fought for the other side. How would it feel to join IFW?
She'd flown with them before, a couple of times in joint fleets under Predator's command against pirates. And once or twice she'd joined them on her own to fly in null sec to hunt without anyone ever knowing.
They were an easy bunch and she liked them. Well, all except Zenton. He could die in a fiery explosion for all she cared.
She tried to imagine the look on Laerise's face as she flashed with the TLF star on her overview.
Giggling, she let the fantasy play out. She'd want to kill her in a thrasher, somehow it seemed fitting.
Reality nagged at the edges of her thoughts, forcing her to stop thinking about it. It was no use, she simply couldn't fight against the rest of the Amarr Militia. She tried to imagine killing those she flew with frequently; Eran, Saint, Aldrith, Koltus, Nortel, Vadeim, Avalanche, Almity, Ryven, and Maz3r. It was just impossible.
The camera drone chirped, rousing her out of her reverie. She looked to the floor and noticed the place was empty save for a couple of tech's who were on their way out.
"Open secure file." she commanded as she stood up. The camera drone followed her as she started to walk the catwalk, gazing down at her small fleet of vessels on standby. "Record."
"Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like if Eran would have tried to convince me to turn to the Minmatar side when I first met him. He never really tried, it was always me pushing him to come to Amarr."
"Finally he did, and now our militia is all the better for it. I can't even imagine what things would be like without him here. He leads armies, sometimes for the 'glory' of Amarr. And sometimes simply because I ask, because I have this restless need to be out on the field."
"I was so strong in my conviction back then, so sure that I was doing the right thing, fighting for the right side. And it's strange to think that back then, I was hardly worth more than a drone out on the field. I had no skills, no experience, no one really knew me, and yet I had this passion, this unwavering loyalty for Amarr. My conviction alone forced Eran to turn and others to defect."
As she paced, the drone panned out, recording the entire hangar in a panorama view. "And now? Over a year later and I am a viable part of any fleet. I have the experience, the skills, and an insatiable lust for battle. I have gained trust from fellow militia pilots. I can rally a fleet and soon will lead them."
"And yet...the stronger I grow, the more I doubt," she admitted as her blue gaze slanted upwards, lingering on the Amarrian banner that hung from the ceiling.
"Save file. End recording."
Ishukone Station
The camera drone beeped and a tiny series of lights flickered as it began to record. It hovered near the raven haired girl as she sat on a walkway in her personal hangar. Her legs dangled off the side, arms propped up on the lower railing.
She glanced down at the floor below, watching the thousands of crew members as they finished up their shift, readying themselves to vacate the place until further notice.
The atmoshpere was somber, a heaviness hung overhead, a smothering blanket of collective emotion. She darted her tongue out and licked her lips, almost tasting the weariness on the air.
Over twelve thousand crew member losses in a forty eight hour period. Two abaddons, two hurricanes, and one harbinger down in a flame of glory.
"Glory for who?" she scoffed, muttering under her breath.
There was no glory in dying. Sometimes it was too easy to fight against the odds, never considering the countless crew members lives she was risking when she recklessly engaged.
"But I almost made it the second time," she thought. "Almost. Goddamned Zenton Karvash. "
The fleet was suffering heavy losses in the battle on the Houla gate in Kourmonen. Orders were given to disengage and get the fuck off the field if at all possible. Of course she was tackled, it was one of their favorite tactics. Her only hope was to approach the gate and jump through as soon as her aggression wore off.
Every second seemed like an eternity stretched out in front of her. Her body tensed as she waited, nervously counting down the seconds, hoping that she'd make it through.
Red rolled across the display as her shields were penetrated. Armor was breached, chunks of tungsten peeled away, littering the sky around her. Sirens blazed and all she could do was wait, pray, and hope to jump.
Powerless to do anything else, she continued her approach, drifting with no cap, no systems online. Everything was dark save for the HUD lighting up as the structure was ripped into. The abaddon shook with every assault. 90%. A second later, 50%.
Suddenly everything lit up with a swirl of watery blue as the battle ship jumped.
She exhaled a breath of relief.
"So lucky! You almost-" Adde said over comms, "Wait, Zenton is there."
The grid finally loaded and she saw him, not even 12 klicks from her, Zenton Karvash.
Don't do this, I can't fight back. Don't.
It was an impossible situation. She couldn't jump back through, she'd never make it to the gate in time, and even if she did certain death waited on the other side.
Hoping to be spared was pointless. He finished her off in the matter of seconds.
Six thousand dead littered the sky as she warped away.
The fighting raged on, and within hours she lost two more ships.
She hadn't suffered that kind of losses in months.
Later, Bahamut, CEO of the Minmatar Militia corporation, IFW, contracted her a hurricane with a message that there'd be more if she would defect.
Strangely she was charmed by the gesture.
She couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to -what if-. What if she defected? What if she suddenly left Amarr and fought for the other side. How would it feel to join IFW?
She'd flown with them before, a couple of times in joint fleets under Predator's command against pirates. And once or twice she'd joined them on her own to fly in null sec to hunt without anyone ever knowing.
They were an easy bunch and she liked them. Well, all except Zenton. He could die in a fiery explosion for all she cared.
She tried to imagine the look on Laerise's face as she flashed with the TLF star on her overview.
Giggling, she let the fantasy play out. She'd want to kill her in a thrasher, somehow it seemed fitting.
Reality nagged at the edges of her thoughts, forcing her to stop thinking about it. It was no use, she simply couldn't fight against the rest of the Amarr Militia. She tried to imagine killing those she flew with frequently; Eran, Saint, Aldrith, Koltus, Nortel, Vadeim, Avalanche, Almity, Ryven, and Maz3r. It was just impossible.
The camera drone chirped, rousing her out of her reverie. She looked to the floor and noticed the place was empty save for a couple of tech's who were on their way out.
"Open secure file." she commanded as she stood up. The camera drone followed her as she started to walk the catwalk, gazing down at her small fleet of vessels on standby. "Record."
"Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like if Eran would have tried to convince me to turn to the Minmatar side when I first met him. He never really tried, it was always me pushing him to come to Amarr."
"Finally he did, and now our militia is all the better for it. I can't even imagine what things would be like without him here. He leads armies, sometimes for the 'glory' of Amarr. And sometimes simply because I ask, because I have this restless need to be out on the field."
"I was so strong in my conviction back then, so sure that I was doing the right thing, fighting for the right side. And it's strange to think that back then, I was hardly worth more than a drone out on the field. I had no skills, no experience, no one really knew me, and yet I had this passion, this unwavering loyalty for Amarr. My conviction alone forced Eran to turn and others to defect."
As she paced, the drone panned out, recording the entire hangar in a panorama view. "And now? Over a year later and I am a viable part of any fleet. I have the experience, the skills, and an insatiable lust for battle. I have gained trust from fellow militia pilots. I can rally a fleet and soon will lead them."
"And yet...the stronger I grow, the more I doubt," she admitted as her blue gaze slanted upwards, lingering on the Amarrian banner that hung from the ceiling.
"Save file. End recording."
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
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