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***5 MILLION CREDIT REWARD***
July 1, 4433: Itan N5: Omata Meditation
In a secret lab, Itani scientists come up with the prototype Neural Spike Implant - NSI.
[IA] Deep Blue supercomputer facility is tapped to be the controlling device for this initial round of beta-testing in actual Itani. If successful, the neural spike will assist ALL Itani by providing a galaxywide neural link, bringing Itani society one step closer to the "singularity," the linking of all minds, the abandonment of self, and ascendance. Not just technology, but creative and artistic thought will increase by orders of magnitude with every new generation. Innovation in ALL fields will quickly outstrip the Serco and the Independents.
August 27, 4433: Itan N5: Omata Meditation
A, yet unidentified, member of the Serco Military is reported to have broken into the Itani Research Station. In a failed attempt to steal technical specifications of the NSI, almost all of the Itani scientists have been killed. No sign of the alleged attacker has been found, and authorities believe he/she may have escaped. It is known that two scientists escaped the wrath of the alleged attacker. One scientist is recovering from wounds inflicted by the explosions that rocked throughout the station soon after the attack. The second lead scientist, Dr. Girlfriend, is currently missing. During the raid, several scientists were mentally linked to Deep Blue, their tortured "partial" psyches exist only in a computer core. Their bodies survived, but the abrupt severance from the link has left them with-yet undiagnosed-mental conditions.
Sunday, August 28, 4433 : Sedina B-8 : Warzone
Cleared medically, most members of the Itani Alliance that were subject to the tests in Omata begin to behave erratically. Some have been reported to attack known companions without warnings. Some have been reported trying to commit suicide by roid. Some have just disappeared.
[much more to come, event planned for Sept. 10th & 11th. stay tuned]
In a secret lab, Itani scientists come up with the prototype Neural Spike Implant - NSI.
[IA] Deep Blue supercomputer facility is tapped to be the controlling device for this initial round of beta-testing in actual Itani. If successful, the neural spike will assist ALL Itani by providing a galaxywide neural link, bringing Itani society one step closer to the "singularity," the linking of all minds, the abandonment of self, and ascendance. Not just technology, but creative and artistic thought will increase by orders of magnitude with every new generation. Innovation in ALL fields will quickly outstrip the Serco and the Independents.
August 27, 4433: Itan N5: Omata Meditation
A, yet unidentified, member of the Serco Military is reported to have broken into the Itani Research Station. In a failed attempt to steal technical specifications of the NSI, almost all of the Itani scientists have been killed. No sign of the alleged attacker has been found, and authorities believe he/she may have escaped. It is known that two scientists escaped the wrath of the alleged attacker. One scientist is recovering from wounds inflicted by the explosions that rocked throughout the station soon after the attack. The second lead scientist, Dr. Girlfriend, is currently missing. During the raid, several scientists were mentally linked to Deep Blue, their tortured "partial" psyches exist only in a computer core. Their bodies survived, but the abrupt severance from the link has left them with-yet undiagnosed-mental conditions.
Sunday, August 28, 4433 : Sedina B-8 : Warzone
Cleared medically, most members of the Itani Alliance that were subject to the tests in Omata begin to behave erratically. Some have been reported to attack known companions without warnings. Some have been reported trying to commit suicide by roid. Some have just disappeared.
[much more to come, event planned for Sept. 10th & 11th. stay tuned]
LeberMac thought to himself as he felt the long scar at the base of his neck, "MAN Am I glad to have that damn Neural Spike outta my head. I must have rammed myself into 20 roids under its control."
He addressed the small grouping of Itani and UIT gathered at the station bar, "And you all saw what it did to Smittens... The Neural Spike device MUST be found. It is imperative. I just hope to EO that it hasn't fallen into the wrong hands..."
He couldn't tell the gathering crowd the whole story yet, but the time would come soon enough when the rest of the tale would come out. If the galaxy knew how precarious the situation was, there would surely be panic...
He addressed the small grouping of Itani and UIT gathered at the station bar, "And you all saw what it did to Smittens... The Neural Spike device MUST be found. It is imperative. I just hope to EO that it hasn't fallen into the wrong hands..."
He couldn't tell the gathering crowd the whole story yet, but the time would come soon enough when the rest of the tale would come out. If the galaxy knew how precarious the situation was, there would surely be panic...
Yar.
Monday, September 5, 4433 : Divinia M14: Coranis Watch: [IA] Headquarters
LeberMac, still smarting from the loss of his Cent in the 3-Prong WAR in Sedina B-8 two nights ago, was in a foul mood as he hunched over the holographic interface of Deep Blue. The Deep Blue "Universal Automatic Computer" acted as the unifying link between all of the Itani Alliance, and he was almost done repairing the damage done to it by the raid. He scowled as he repaired yet another connection; those Serco had butchered whole rows of hypercube data storage in their search for the Neural Spike.
The Omata logs recovered by "Deep Blue" outline a very complex, neural networking method to create sustainable mental networks of incredible size and power in little to no time whatsoever. 100,000 Itani scientist minds thinking as one without the lag of the brain's chemical processes would have given the Itani the ability to do the theoritecal scientific work of generations in mere minutes, and assured our nations's supremacy in this galaxy until the end of time.
Sadly, someone had gotten word of it inside the Serco Dominion, and they had typically decided to destroy or steal the technology of their betters. The use of this device by the Serco High Command would be catastrophic, assuming they could get it to function and integrate it into their implants. They *MUST* not be allowed to find it.
It is feared by the Itani high council that this information, in the hands of the Hive, could be detrimental to civilizations in the vicinity of the Hive's strongholds. It would give the Hive not only new technology, but the creativity to develop new items on its own at rates of technological advancement that dwarf the current leviathian. It is also feared that given time, the Hive could easily come to the point of "uncontrollable," and wipe out all of humanity in the known universe. The hive *MUST* not be allowed to find it.
There. Done.
LeberMac rubbed his eyes and shut down the interface. He was tired; time to retire for the night. He mentally cued the comm signal to his trusted assistant, Smittens. Until recently, Smittens had been commander of the Itani Alliance, but the doctors say that the Neural Spike incident had reduced his mental capacity somewhat, making him erratic and unfit for command.
LeberMac spoke into the comm, "Smittens, I'll be retiring for the night. Your turn on Deep Blue. Try looking in Edras first for the Neural Spike, then work your way down through grayspace sector by sector. Wake me up if you find anything."
"Sure thing, boss" was Smittens reply.
LeberMac allowed himself a small grin at the recent turn of events regarding [IA]'s command structure, and logged off for the night.
LeberMac, still smarting from the loss of his Cent in the 3-Prong WAR in Sedina B-8 two nights ago, was in a foul mood as he hunched over the holographic interface of Deep Blue. The Deep Blue "Universal Automatic Computer" acted as the unifying link between all of the Itani Alliance, and he was almost done repairing the damage done to it by the raid. He scowled as he repaired yet another connection; those Serco had butchered whole rows of hypercube data storage in their search for the Neural Spike.
The Omata logs recovered by "Deep Blue" outline a very complex, neural networking method to create sustainable mental networks of incredible size and power in little to no time whatsoever. 100,000 Itani scientist minds thinking as one without the lag of the brain's chemical processes would have given the Itani the ability to do the theoritecal scientific work of generations in mere minutes, and assured our nations's supremacy in this galaxy until the end of time.
Sadly, someone had gotten word of it inside the Serco Dominion, and they had typically decided to destroy or steal the technology of their betters. The use of this device by the Serco High Command would be catastrophic, assuming they could get it to function and integrate it into their implants. They *MUST* not be allowed to find it.
It is feared by the Itani high council that this information, in the hands of the Hive, could be detrimental to civilizations in the vicinity of the Hive's strongholds. It would give the Hive not only new technology, but the creativity to develop new items on its own at rates of technological advancement that dwarf the current leviathian. It is also feared that given time, the Hive could easily come to the point of "uncontrollable," and wipe out all of humanity in the known universe. The hive *MUST* not be allowed to find it.
There. Done.
LeberMac rubbed his eyes and shut down the interface. He was tired; time to retire for the night. He mentally cued the comm signal to his trusted assistant, Smittens. Until recently, Smittens had been commander of the Itani Alliance, but the doctors say that the Neural Spike incident had reduced his mental capacity somewhat, making him erratic and unfit for command.
LeberMac spoke into the comm, "Smittens, I'll be retiring for the night. Your turn on Deep Blue. Try looking in Edras first for the Neural Spike, then work your way down through grayspace sector by sector. Wake me up if you find anything."
"Sure thing, boss" was Smittens reply.
LeberMac allowed himself a small grin at the recent turn of events regarding [IA]'s command structure, and logged off for the night.
Wednesday: September 7, 4433 : Divinia M14: Coranis Watch:
All remaining neural spikes are removed from all test subjects. The authorities, in conjunction with LeberMac, Supreme Council of the Itani Alliance, and his "Deep Blue" supercomputer, have spent the last few days trying to piece back together the logs of the computers destroyed in the explosions. LeberMac, under the influence of cases of his synthetic tequila, seems to be recovering.
The one surviving scientist from Omata Meditation has not survived his wounds. In an autopsy performed earlier today, doctors found that his neural implant was missing. With the amount of damage sustained to the scientist, it is thought that it was dislodged in one of the explosions.
All remaining neural spikes are removed from all test subjects. The authorities, in conjunction with LeberMac, Supreme Council of the Itani Alliance, and his "Deep Blue" supercomputer, have spent the last few days trying to piece back together the logs of the computers destroyed in the explosions. LeberMac, under the influence of cases of his synthetic tequila, seems to be recovering.
The one surviving scientist from Omata Meditation has not survived his wounds. In an autopsy performed earlier today, doctors found that his neural implant was missing. With the amount of damage sustained to the scientist, it is thought that it was dislodged in one of the explosions.
[bump]
more information, including rules, will be posted in the news section in all stations, tomorrow (Friday). look for it in-game.
more information, including rules, will be posted in the news section in all stations, tomorrow (Friday). look for it in-game.
hey who do I email to get a news post?
I,ll give 5 mil. credits tomorrow if you type /explode.
/explode.
Now gimme my 5 MIL! I TYPED it right there, See?
Now gimme my 5 MIL! I TYPED it right there, See?
Nah, read it again, he just said he'd give it, he didn't say to you :D
The Neural Spike will be spawned soon. Prepare for the hunt!
The Battle and The Hunt:
Thursday morning: Coranis Watch:
kernel.panic enters the deep blue supercomputer's chamber only to find LeberMac asleep at the keyboard. 7 empty bottles of Syntequilla are his only company. At some point it seems deep blue crashed and Lebermac spent the whole night trying to boot her back up. kernel.panic hits the start button with "command-s" keys held. At the prompt types "fsck -fy" and lets deep blue check it's internal systems. "everything appears to be ok" is deep blue's response. After the quick boot sequence, deep blue automatically displays a dossier on Matriarch. kernel.panic gently shakes LeberMac to awaken him. "Your work is done here Leber, get some sleep at home".
Later that evening kernel.panic heads to Sedina B8 where Matriarch is supposedly tearing up pilots. KP aquires Matriarch on his radar and fires the turbos on his Tri-Guass Mk 2 IDF Valkarie. Apparently Matriarch was expecting a fight with kernel.panic, and not surprised by the attack, quickly dispatches the pilot he's engaged with and turns his weapons on him. After what seems like only seconds, Matriarch's Neutron Blasters have kernel.panic's Valkarie in ruins. The gravimetric engines overheat, the armor plating peeling off from the Neutron Blaster damage. kernel.panic's only hope of survival is to eject.
"He is too strong an apponent to take on by myself, I will need help with this battle. [VPR] and [SKV] have some of the best pilots that traverse the universe when it comes to combat. But do I risk their lives because of our mistakes".
"And what of the NSI? Where could it be, grey space is too large for the [IA] to search alone. I hope 5 million credits are enough to get help for us to find it."
kernel.panic heads to his home station to check the news and see if there are any developments...
Thursday morning: Coranis Watch:
kernel.panic enters the deep blue supercomputer's chamber only to find LeberMac asleep at the keyboard. 7 empty bottles of Syntequilla are his only company. At some point it seems deep blue crashed and Lebermac spent the whole night trying to boot her back up. kernel.panic hits the start button with "command-s" keys held. At the prompt types "fsck -fy" and lets deep blue check it's internal systems. "everything appears to be ok" is deep blue's response. After the quick boot sequence, deep blue automatically displays a dossier on Matriarch. kernel.panic gently shakes LeberMac to awaken him. "Your work is done here Leber, get some sleep at home".
Later that evening kernel.panic heads to Sedina B8 where Matriarch is supposedly tearing up pilots. KP aquires Matriarch on his radar and fires the turbos on his Tri-Guass Mk 2 IDF Valkarie. Apparently Matriarch was expecting a fight with kernel.panic, and not surprised by the attack, quickly dispatches the pilot he's engaged with and turns his weapons on him. After what seems like only seconds, Matriarch's Neutron Blasters have kernel.panic's Valkarie in ruins. The gravimetric engines overheat, the armor plating peeling off from the Neutron Blaster damage. kernel.panic's only hope of survival is to eject.
"He is too strong an apponent to take on by myself, I will need help with this battle. [VPR] and [SKV] have some of the best pilots that traverse the universe when it comes to combat. But do I risk their lives because of our mistakes".
"And what of the NSI? Where could it be, grey space is too large for the [IA] to search alone. I hope 5 million credits are enough to get help for us to find it."
kernel.panic heads to his home station to check the news and see if there are any developments...
LeberMac looked with shock at the universal commnet readout.
"Who?Me? has found the Neural Spike." So Soon? Unbelieveable.
He slumped down into the chair. The search was over, but the battle had just begun. With this device, the Serco could now unleash a weapons research program unparalled in the history of the universe.
With this loss for the Itani, things indeed looked grim.
Plus, the residual mind-controlling effects of the Neural Spike were strong. Even though the implant had been removed from his skull, LeberMac still felt drawn to its presence. If the current owners of the spike KNEW of its power to control a few previously implanted itani minds, disaster would ensue.
"Who?Me? has found the Neural Spike." So Soon? Unbelieveable.
He slumped down into the chair. The search was over, but the battle had just begun. With this device, the Serco could now unleash a weapons research program unparalled in the history of the universe.
With this loss for the Itani, things indeed looked grim.
Plus, the residual mind-controlling effects of the Neural Spike were strong. Even though the implant had been removed from his skull, LeberMac still felt drawn to its presence. If the current owners of the spike KNEW of its power to control a few previously implanted itani minds, disaster would ensue.
It was a dark and stormy night.
Hell, out here in space it is ALWAYS dark and stormy, so who gives a flying Serco? however, the Mother of all Storms is coming soon, and, for once, good ol' Jex is holding the Big Red Button.
I feel I should explain. It was dark, as I said, and in the void outside an ion storm raged. I was sitting in my office doing almost nothing since during a storm all but life-support is turned off to avoid attracting the attention of the Hive, who for some reasons likes these damn space anomalies.
Joyce came in with a little minutes to spare; among other vices (like honesty and loyalty), Joyce is also cursed with timeliness. I looked at her with my "and you business is...?" look, since she was the one who called the meeting.
"I have the Spike"- she said, and for a minute there my brain refused to change gears and I sat there about to ask her why should I care that she had a personal hygiene problem. Then my brain finally shifted from neutral and I was up from my chair as if someone had stung me from behind.
"Really?! The Neural Spike?! Where is it?! How did you get it?!"
"I got who? me? to part with it for, uh... fifteen megs! and it is now safely stored over at the Vault!"
"Excellent, child, do you know what this means?! We have IA and the Itani by the $@#*!, and the Serco and the Senate under our thumb! Everyone'll want it, even Corvus! Everything's going our way from now, Hell yeah!"
As I rambled on about the good times to be had, you could see happiness in Joyce's eyes, like a puppy who's being scratched behind the ears. Pitifully easy to manipulate her, I tell you.
"You did good, kid, real good! now go back to your berth and take some rest, you've earned it!" I dismissed her with a wave of my hand and moved over to my desk to place some calls; Storm and Hive outside be damned, this was too important and time was of the essence!
When I sat down and looked up she was still there.
"Yes, Joyce, anything else?"- I saw her flinch at the impatient tone in my voice, but she didn't budge. I swear, sometimes I believe the broad's actually learning something.
"Um, well, I've been meaning to ask you about the increased amount of combat assignments you've been giving me..."- she began, in that meek voice of hers whenever she thinks she's offended you. Lovely.
"Why? What's the matter, you can handle them, can't you?"
"Well, some of them, yhes, but others..."
"*sigh* Look, kid, we both know you're not all that hot in a cockpit, so I tought I'd give you some easy jobs so you can sharpen your skills, you know? But since it seems to upset you so much, and since you got the spike, weeell, I could ease up your load on that account, I guess"- Aaaah, don't you just love me when I'm gracious with an unknowing sap?
Her face lit up like the stock exchange. -"Thanks tons, Jex!"- That smile, that godawful smile; thankfully, it dropped quickly and she became serious again. -"Um, I'd also like to point out that I had to pay who? me? out of my personal account, and so I'm missing now a large amount of cash..."- Oh man, here it came; the nerve of this kid! I stared at her with a stern face as she kept talking -"and, um, I was wondering, if, you... could..."- she's a sucker for that one.
"I'll tell you what, kid"- I cut her off before she could find some courage, no way I'm reimbursing her that amount! -"I'll send the fattest trade contracts I get your way, for an entire month. You'll make that cash back -and more- in no time flat! Whaddaya say?"- I gave her my best "I don't take NO for an answer" stare.
"Um, okay, I suppose..."
"Great, it's settled then! Now go to your berth, get some sleep, go see your buddies instation, and when you're ready come see me and I'll have some nice, juicy trade contracts for you, okay?"- She nodded silently, disappointment in her face, and walked out the office. She hesitated for a moment before closing the door, but then just gave me a weak smile and shut it.
Good riddance; she's sometimes more trouble than she's worth. So what, though? If push comes to shove I'll just send her back to her father, to marriage or teaching or whatever fate awaits a failure of the Sanders family. I put her out of my mind; I had people to call, deals to strike.
Hell, out here in space it is ALWAYS dark and stormy, so who gives a flying Serco? however, the Mother of all Storms is coming soon, and, for once, good ol' Jex is holding the Big Red Button.
I feel I should explain. It was dark, as I said, and in the void outside an ion storm raged. I was sitting in my office doing almost nothing since during a storm all but life-support is turned off to avoid attracting the attention of the Hive, who for some reasons likes these damn space anomalies.
Joyce came in with a little minutes to spare; among other vices (like honesty and loyalty), Joyce is also cursed with timeliness. I looked at her with my "and you business is...?" look, since she was the one who called the meeting.
"I have the Spike"- she said, and for a minute there my brain refused to change gears and I sat there about to ask her why should I care that she had a personal hygiene problem. Then my brain finally shifted from neutral and I was up from my chair as if someone had stung me from behind.
"Really?! The Neural Spike?! Where is it?! How did you get it?!"
"I got who? me? to part with it for, uh... fifteen megs! and it is now safely stored over at the Vault!"
"Excellent, child, do you know what this means?! We have IA and the Itani by the $@#*!, and the Serco and the Senate under our thumb! Everyone'll want it, even Corvus! Everything's going our way from now, Hell yeah!"
As I rambled on about the good times to be had, you could see happiness in Joyce's eyes, like a puppy who's being scratched behind the ears. Pitifully easy to manipulate her, I tell you.
"You did good, kid, real good! now go back to your berth and take some rest, you've earned it!" I dismissed her with a wave of my hand and moved over to my desk to place some calls; Storm and Hive outside be damned, this was too important and time was of the essence!
When I sat down and looked up she was still there.
"Yes, Joyce, anything else?"- I saw her flinch at the impatient tone in my voice, but she didn't budge. I swear, sometimes I believe the broad's actually learning something.
"Um, well, I've been meaning to ask you about the increased amount of combat assignments you've been giving me..."- she began, in that meek voice of hers whenever she thinks she's offended you. Lovely.
"Why? What's the matter, you can handle them, can't you?"
"Well, some of them, yhes, but others..."
"*sigh* Look, kid, we both know you're not all that hot in a cockpit, so I tought I'd give you some easy jobs so you can sharpen your skills, you know? But since it seems to upset you so much, and since you got the spike, weeell, I could ease up your load on that account, I guess"- Aaaah, don't you just love me when I'm gracious with an unknowing sap?
Her face lit up like the stock exchange. -"Thanks tons, Jex!"- That smile, that godawful smile; thankfully, it dropped quickly and she became serious again. -"Um, I'd also like to point out that I had to pay who? me? out of my personal account, and so I'm missing now a large amount of cash..."- Oh man, here it came; the nerve of this kid! I stared at her with a stern face as she kept talking -"and, um, I was wondering, if, you... could..."- she's a sucker for that one.
"I'll tell you what, kid"- I cut her off before she could find some courage, no way I'm reimbursing her that amount! -"I'll send the fattest trade contracts I get your way, for an entire month. You'll make that cash back -and more- in no time flat! Whaddaya say?"- I gave her my best "I don't take NO for an answer" stare.
"Um, okay, I suppose..."
"Great, it's settled then! Now go to your berth, get some sleep, go see your buddies instation, and when you're ready come see me and I'll have some nice, juicy trade contracts for you, okay?"- She nodded silently, disappointment in her face, and walked out the office. She hesitated for a moment before closing the door, but then just gave me a weak smile and shut it.
Good riddance; she's sometimes more trouble than she's worth. So what, though? If push comes to shove I'll just send her back to her father, to marriage or teaching or whatever fate awaits a failure of the Sanders family. I put her out of my mind; I had people to call, deals to strike.
yarrr!
the serco under the thumb! Itani crumbling in fear!
the serco under the thumb! Itani crumbling in fear!
...and the CDC prepared to Strike back if need be!
and /me kicks jex in the nuts.
The CDC will not sit idly by as the serco try to destroy the niverse. This goes for any itani or UIT trying to aquire the damn thing. It's too much trouble and will be destroyed once obtained.
The CDC will not sit idly by as the serco try to destroy the niverse. This goes for any itani or UIT trying to aquire the damn thing. It's too much trouble and will be destroyed once obtained.
amen to that
I was sitting in my office, struggling to come up with a plan to make good on my offer to the Akanese (the Serco are cute little puppies compared to them, believe you me) when a muffled "thump" outside my door caught my attention. I began to get up slowly, my left hand going to the drawer where I keep my gun, as gurgling and trashing sounds came from the corridor, as if someone were choking on the floor or something.
Then the door burst in, and Joyce was there, bleeding by the forehead and with a haywire gun in her hand.
I froze, since there was no way I could get my gun before she fired on me. Where did that little b@#! got her hands on that? One direct hit from a haywire gun causes the repair nanites in the body to go into overdrive, attempting to rebuild, repair and replicate organs and limbs that have no need of such thing. As such, the victim dies of either massive shock or major systemic failure as new body parts try to compete/work with with the already existing ones. It's the only sure-fire way to drop a Serco warrior hell-bent on your untimely demise; needless to say, only some top-notch military units have access to them, though I have tried to acquire them on the side...
"You... you... bastard!"- she almost screamed. I tell you, this girl has serious anger management issues, not even when really mad do you hear any real swearing come out of her lips. Behind her, I could one of my guards agonizing on the floor, something like an arm growing out of his chest.
"You used me! You've been using me all along, and I like an idiot believed every word you said! I cherished the ground you walked on!"
"Now, now, Joyce, calm down, let's talk this over like rational adults..."
"Shut up! You're not a rational adult! You're a heartless piece of scum who would murder his own mother for a couple of credits! You make me sick!"
"Hey now, there's no need for such language-"
"There's not?! You have them put me to sleep and then test the spike on me, and when I don't die from it you set me loose upon the galaxy?! HOW COULD YOU?!"
"It was business, that's all! Nothing personal! I needed to test the thing, and since you were already here..."
"I see, how cynical of you! Tell me, how many others like me there have been before?"
"Uh... you, um... don't need to know. Not important, really, it doesn't bear on this matter, and I can't really remember the exact number, over all these years..."
"You are a monster, Jex. If killing you would take back all the hurt you have done over the centuries, you'd already be dead."
"You... you're not going to kill me?!"
"You're not worth the effort. I just came to hear your pathetic excuses, and to tell you that our agreement is over."
"Oh, well then. Your choice. Sorry to see you go and all that. Heh heh. Good bye."
"I'm also taking the Spike."
"WHAT?! Hey, listen here..."- she pointed the gun straight at my chest so I shut up. Damn her hide.
"The spike, please. I know you have it in this office."
Movement behind her: Dominguez. I quickly flicked my eyes back to her. If she had noticed... she seemed not to, so now I just had to stall her for a bit.
"Joyce, dear, darling..."
"I AM NOT YOUR DARLING!"
"Geez, pipe down, ease up! Listen: why take the spike? it's of no use to you!"
"I will not leave it here so you can use it to spread misery on the Territories just for-"
Dominguez moved in, the stun baton's blast catching Joyce in the back. There was a look of surprise and fear in her eyes for a moment; then everything about her shut down and she slumped to the floor like a rag doll. I myself slumped back into my chair.
Dominguez stood over her and picked up the haywire gun, that cruel smile on his lips. My chief enforcer and guard, and one bloody sadistic bastard as well.
"Where the #@%&! were you?! She almost killed me!"
"I'm here now, Boss"- the bastard said; never have heard an apology come ou of his lips. He flicked his tongue over his lips, eyeing Joyce over -"Shall I kill her now Boss?"
I considered it for a moment, but then I had a better idea -"Not yet. She stills owes me credits, after all, and I want them. Take her to the lab and have them put the spike on her again. We'll put her to trade for us these last few days before the sale goes through."
"You're the boss"- he replied, disappointment in his voice. He picked her up, though, and said nothing smarmy as I gave him the case containing the spike. But as he was leaving, I had another flash of inspiration.
"Wait, Dominguez. Tell the techs I want her conscious the whole time, so that she can see and hear and remember as we make her dance to our tune; I'm sure she'll appreciate that. Also, have them wipe out from her mind all knowledge of this station and the use of comms, just in case."
"And once the spike is sold, what will you do with her?"
"Then she goes back to her father, of course."
Then the door burst in, and Joyce was there, bleeding by the forehead and with a haywire gun in her hand.
I froze, since there was no way I could get my gun before she fired on me. Where did that little b@#! got her hands on that? One direct hit from a haywire gun causes the repair nanites in the body to go into overdrive, attempting to rebuild, repair and replicate organs and limbs that have no need of such thing. As such, the victim dies of either massive shock or major systemic failure as new body parts try to compete/work with with the already existing ones. It's the only sure-fire way to drop a Serco warrior hell-bent on your untimely demise; needless to say, only some top-notch military units have access to them, though I have tried to acquire them on the side...
"You... you... bastard!"- she almost screamed. I tell you, this girl has serious anger management issues, not even when really mad do you hear any real swearing come out of her lips. Behind her, I could one of my guards agonizing on the floor, something like an arm growing out of his chest.
"You used me! You've been using me all along, and I like an idiot believed every word you said! I cherished the ground you walked on!"
"Now, now, Joyce, calm down, let's talk this over like rational adults..."
"Shut up! You're not a rational adult! You're a heartless piece of scum who would murder his own mother for a couple of credits! You make me sick!"
"Hey now, there's no need for such language-"
"There's not?! You have them put me to sleep and then test the spike on me, and when I don't die from it you set me loose upon the galaxy?! HOW COULD YOU?!"
"It was business, that's all! Nothing personal! I needed to test the thing, and since you were already here..."
"I see, how cynical of you! Tell me, how many others like me there have been before?"
"Uh... you, um... don't need to know. Not important, really, it doesn't bear on this matter, and I can't really remember the exact number, over all these years..."
"You are a monster, Jex. If killing you would take back all the hurt you have done over the centuries, you'd already be dead."
"You... you're not going to kill me?!"
"You're not worth the effort. I just came to hear your pathetic excuses, and to tell you that our agreement is over."
"Oh, well then. Your choice. Sorry to see you go and all that. Heh heh. Good bye."
"I'm also taking the Spike."
"WHAT?! Hey, listen here..."- she pointed the gun straight at my chest so I shut up. Damn her hide.
"The spike, please. I know you have it in this office."
Movement behind her: Dominguez. I quickly flicked my eyes back to her. If she had noticed... she seemed not to, so now I just had to stall her for a bit.
"Joyce, dear, darling..."
"I AM NOT YOUR DARLING!"
"Geez, pipe down, ease up! Listen: why take the spike? it's of no use to you!"
"I will not leave it here so you can use it to spread misery on the Territories just for-"
Dominguez moved in, the stun baton's blast catching Joyce in the back. There was a look of surprise and fear in her eyes for a moment; then everything about her shut down and she slumped to the floor like a rag doll. I myself slumped back into my chair.
Dominguez stood over her and picked up the haywire gun, that cruel smile on his lips. My chief enforcer and guard, and one bloody sadistic bastard as well.
"Where the #@%&! were you?! She almost killed me!"
"I'm here now, Boss"- the bastard said; never have heard an apology come ou of his lips. He flicked his tongue over his lips, eyeing Joyce over -"Shall I kill her now Boss?"
I considered it for a moment, but then I had a better idea -"Not yet. She stills owes me credits, after all, and I want them. Take her to the lab and have them put the spike on her again. We'll put her to trade for us these last few days before the sale goes through."
"You're the boss"- he replied, disappointment in his voice. He picked her up, though, and said nothing smarmy as I gave him the case containing the spike. But as he was leaving, I had another flash of inspiration.
"Wait, Dominguez. Tell the techs I want her conscious the whole time, so that she can see and hear and remember as we make her dance to our tune; I'm sure she'll appreciate that. Also, have them wipe out from her mind all knowledge of this station and the use of comms, just in case."
"And once the spike is sold, what will you do with her?"
"Then she goes back to her father, of course."