@Gear: Do what you will.
Noel eyed the pistol, but then looked back at her own. With a small smile she put one of them away and started checking the firing mechanism.
As Charlotte was about to speak back, due to Tophat's intrusion into her mind, a few more memories leaked back.
[hr]
When the memories were over, Charlotte violently threw up blood. On the surface, nothing seemed wrong with her.
Noel eyed the pistol, but then looked back at her own. With a small smile she put one of them away and started checking the firing mechanism.
As Charlotte was about to speak back, due to Tophat's intrusion into her mind, a few more memories leaked back.
A lone passenger UNC craft descended into the atmosphere of New Earth, the bottom and wings of the craft glowing hot red from reentry. Inside the rather cozy interior sat four people, 2 men and 2 woman, roughly 24 years old. The men's hair cut to military specifications, and the women having their hair in a bun, they sat quietly, wearing grey/black/blue uniforms with pride.
On the right shoulder was stitched-in symbol, two swords crossing each other with their hilts pointing in opposite directions. The symbol for Vanguards.
"So Eric" finally spoke one of the women. "Where are going for our first trip on shore leave?"
One of men turned to the woman. "Well Charlotte, we are landing in the Reformed United Nations of America at the Santiago airport. There are tons of stuff to do there."
"Can you believe it guys?" the other man spoke. "17 years ago... We were taken by the government and became Super Soldiers known as Vanguards."
"17 years, 3 months, 1 day, 4 hours, and 1 second for me to be precise." the other woman spoke.
"Lorella, you're speaking like an automatron again. And Otis... Yeah, its been a long time, huh?" Charlotte replied.
The four Vanguards exited their ship as numerous men and woman from the airport, security or otherwise stare at them with wonder, awe and most of all: fear.
"What are they doing here?"
"Did something happen on New Earth?"
"Oh god, why would they bring the deterrents here?"
Despite the comments, the four kept a neutral face; training that they have had since their first inception into the program.
"[sub]Just like the other's said, they treat us differently, we aren't people...[/sub]" Eric whispered to the others as they nodded.
The four continued down the spaceport until they reached another security checkpoint as 2 guards appeared on their sides.
"And what would 4 Vanguards be doing here?"
"Shore leave." Lorella replied to them, in a slight monotone voice. The guards were caught offguard by her response.
"... Very well then. Proceed." The two stepped away as the Vanguards headed towards the exit of the spaceport. Otis nudged Charlotte, raising an eyebrow at the guards.
"[sub]The hell they think we are doing? Vanguards always get some shore leave here and there.[/sub]"
"[sub]Yeah, but its uncommon. I don't like their attitude either, but that's how it is. We might as well accept it.[/sub]"
"[sub]Accepting is one thing, agreeing is another Charlotte. Especially with a power like yours.[/sub]" Charlotte became silent at the comment about her powers. It was dangerous to talk about it. Since the end of the Crusader War, powers like her own started cropping up. Whether it was intentional or not, not even the Vanguard Scientists knew. They stepped outside as the sun was partially blocked by large plastisteel and metal builds off in the distance. Cobblestone structures sat inbetween buildings as hovercrafts floated around, the hussle and bussle of the city crept into the ears of the soldiers. They all smiled.
[hr]
Back home, they only saw their own kind. Pure-military. But here... Humanity as normal, or as close to normal as possible.
Once a man or woman became 18 and entered college, they were treated with a program similar to the 21st Century ROTC program, injected with growth hormones and had gene therapy to modify some traits more suited for combat. In the end, nobody was really a civilian. Money wouldn't let you out; you were conscripted. For your own survival.
[hr]
"Man the city is HUGE!" Eric smiled, looking around like alittle child. It was only fifteen minutes since the four hailed a taxi and entered the city of Trinity.
"Calm down Eric. You might get yourself tired on the first day." Otis chuckled.
"Statistically that is impossible." Lorella interjected.
"It's a matter of speech." Charlotte giggled.
The four walked over to a nearby hotdog stand as the venture looked at the four, slightly shocked, but then smiled. "So... Four Vanguards! What will ya have?"
"Two chili-cheese dogs and two normal hotdogs."
"Hey, I want a chili-cheese dog as well."
"Fine, make that 3 chili-cheese dogs then."
"Alrightly then, just wait a few minutes and you'll get your order up." Eric nodded at the man as the four of them turned away and looked around. A mini-bank on one corner, several restaurants down another and a large mall just within walking distance.
"Man, this is good spot to get Eric. Good idea coming here." Otis laughed.
"Affirmative."
"Yeah, that's guys." Eric scratched his head. "[sub]If it wasn't for all the constant glares here and there, we would be having a better time too.[/sub]" The others nodded in agreement.
The second they appeared, the people gave them subtle glares here and there, wondering the groups intent. Were they hated? Perhaps, but most importantly they were feared.
"We shouldn't be feared. Just because of our powers..."
"Yeah, well it doesn't help when you remember that scientists call us 'freaks of nature' because we can manipulate the rules of the universe to our benefit." Otis shot back.
"The increased hostility here would be no different elsewhere. Perhaps this plan wasn't the best of ideas." Lorella agreed.
Charlotte elbowed at the both of them. "Hey you two... What? So what?"
"'So what?' What?" Eric looked puzzled.
"So what if we are different. So what if we have these powers, so what if they don't believe that we can't have fun. That's their belief, not ours. We are just as human as they are, if not more. We just need to give the people time. We are Vanguards. Even if it means rejection from the world, we'll continue to confront it! Even if it means the use of force, we'll live as a deterrence for the world. That's why we must continue to exist. For the future... Vanguards prevail." Charlotte placed her hand in the middle of the group. Lorella, followed by Otis and Eric then placed their hands in the middle.
"Vanguards prevail."
"Vanguards prevail."
"Vanguards prevail."
"And prevail, we shall." Charlotte concluded smiling.
"Oi! Vanguards! Your hotdogs are ready!"
"Awesome!" Eric said, turning back to the vendor, paying the money and gave the hotdogs to their respected people.
"Thanks Char. You really do live up to the Code of the Vanguards." Otis smiled.
"Oi! Vanguards! Your hotdogs are ready!" the man said as the four Vanguards were looking at their hands. No hotdogs.
Lorella walked up to the man. "Thank you good sir... What exactly were we doing just now?"
The man looked puzzled. "Just standing there looking rather blankly at each other." Lorella nodded and took the hotdogs and passed them to the rest.
Otis sholved Charlotte's shoulder alittle. "You really need to learn how to control that Char."
"Hey, I'm getting better right? Better than before..."
"You still need practice." Eric shrugged and munched on his hotdog.
"Practice cannot be greatly achieved with powers of hers. They really can't be contained. Just held back slightly."
On the right shoulder was stitched-in symbol, two swords crossing each other with their hilts pointing in opposite directions. The symbol for Vanguards.
"So Eric" finally spoke one of the women. "Where are going for our first trip on shore leave?"
One of men turned to the woman. "Well Charlotte, we are landing in the Reformed United Nations of America at the Santiago airport. There are tons of stuff to do there."
"Can you believe it guys?" the other man spoke. "17 years ago... We were taken by the government and became Super Soldiers known as Vanguards."
"17 years, 3 months, 1 day, 4 hours, and 1 second for me to be precise." the other woman spoke.
"Lorella, you're speaking like an automatron again. And Otis... Yeah, its been a long time, huh?" Charlotte replied.
Attention passengers, we have just crossing into the Mesosphere...
[hr]The four Vanguards exited their ship as numerous men and woman from the airport, security or otherwise stare at them with wonder, awe and most of all: fear.
"What are they doing here?"
"Did something happen on New Earth?"
"Oh god, why would they bring the deterrents here?"
Despite the comments, the four kept a neutral face; training that they have had since their first inception into the program.
"[sub]Just like the other's said, they treat us differently, we aren't people...[/sub]" Eric whispered to the others as they nodded.
The four continued down the spaceport until they reached another security checkpoint as 2 guards appeared on their sides.
"And what would 4 Vanguards be doing here?"
"Shore leave." Lorella replied to them, in a slight monotone voice. The guards were caught offguard by her response.
"... Very well then. Proceed." The two stepped away as the Vanguards headed towards the exit of the spaceport. Otis nudged Charlotte, raising an eyebrow at the guards.
"[sub]The hell they think we are doing? Vanguards always get some shore leave here and there.[/sub]"
"[sub]Yeah, but its uncommon. I don't like their attitude either, but that's how it is. We might as well accept it.[/sub]"
"[sub]Accepting is one thing, agreeing is another Charlotte. Especially with a power like yours.[/sub]" Charlotte became silent at the comment about her powers. It was dangerous to talk about it. Since the end of the Crusader War, powers like her own started cropping up. Whether it was intentional or not, not even the Vanguard Scientists knew. They stepped outside as the sun was partially blocked by large plastisteel and metal builds off in the distance. Cobblestone structures sat inbetween buildings as hovercrafts floated around, the hussle and bussle of the city crept into the ears of the soldiers. They all smiled.
[hr]
Back home, they only saw their own kind. Pure-military. But here... Humanity as normal, or as close to normal as possible.
Once a man or woman became 18 and entered college, they were treated with a program similar to the 21st Century ROTC program, injected with growth hormones and had gene therapy to modify some traits more suited for combat. In the end, nobody was really a civilian. Money wouldn't let you out; you were conscripted. For your own survival.
[hr]
"Man the city is HUGE!" Eric smiled, looking around like alittle child. It was only fifteen minutes since the four hailed a taxi and entered the city of Trinity.
"Calm down Eric. You might get yourself tired on the first day." Otis chuckled.
"Statistically that is impossible." Lorella interjected.
"It's a matter of speech." Charlotte giggled.
The four walked over to a nearby hotdog stand as the venture looked at the four, slightly shocked, but then smiled. "So... Four Vanguards! What will ya have?"
"Two chili-cheese dogs and two normal hotdogs."
"Hey, I want a chili-cheese dog as well."
"Fine, make that 3 chili-cheese dogs then."
"Alrightly then, just wait a few minutes and you'll get your order up." Eric nodded at the man as the four of them turned away and looked around. A mini-bank on one corner, several restaurants down another and a large mall just within walking distance.
"Man, this is good spot to get Eric. Good idea coming here." Otis laughed.
"Affirmative."
"Yeah, that's guys." Eric scratched his head. "[sub]If it wasn't for all the constant glares here and there, we would be having a better time too.[/sub]" The others nodded in agreement.
The second they appeared, the people gave them subtle glares here and there, wondering the groups intent. Were they hated? Perhaps, but most importantly they were feared.
"We shouldn't be feared. Just because of our powers..."
"Yeah, well it doesn't help when you remember that scientists call us 'freaks of nature' because we can manipulate the rules of the universe to our benefit." Otis shot back.
"The increased hostility here would be no different elsewhere. Perhaps this plan wasn't the best of ideas." Lorella agreed.
Charlotte elbowed at the both of them. "Hey you two... What? So what?"
"'So what?' What?" Eric looked puzzled.
"So what if we are different. So what if we have these powers, so what if they don't believe that we can't have fun. That's their belief, not ours. We are just as human as they are, if not more. We just need to give the people time. We are Vanguards. Even if it means rejection from the world, we'll continue to confront it! Even if it means the use of force, we'll live as a deterrence for the world. That's why we must continue to exist. For the future... Vanguards prevail." Charlotte placed her hand in the middle of the group. Lorella, followed by Otis and Eric then placed their hands in the middle.
"Vanguards prevail."
"Vanguards prevail."
"Vanguards prevail."
"And prevail, we shall." Charlotte concluded smiling.
"Oi! Vanguards! Your hotdogs are ready!"
"Awesome!" Eric said, turning back to the vendor, paying the money and gave the hotdogs to their respected people.
"Thanks Char. You really do live up to the Code of the Vanguards." Otis smiled.
"Oi! Vanguards! Your hotdogs are ready!" the man said as the four Vanguards were looking at their hands. No hotdogs.
Lorella walked up to the man. "Thank you good sir... What exactly were we doing just now?"
The man looked puzzled. "Just standing there looking rather blankly at each other." Lorella nodded and took the hotdogs and passed them to the rest.
Otis sholved Charlotte's shoulder alittle. "You really need to learn how to control that Char."
"Hey, I'm getting better right? Better than before..."
"You still need practice." Eric shrugged and munched on his hotdog.
"Practice cannot be greatly achieved with powers of hers. They really can't be contained. Just held back slightly."
[hr]
In deep space, a massive ring structure orbited a large moon, only held its gravitational pull. Suddenly, lights started to flicker around the structure as a strange liquid-like membrane manifested from the center of the ring. After the membrane had covered an area roughly half of the radius, a Vanguard vessel manifested out of it, as if it was being pulled out of thick molasses. Successfully freed from the liquid, it sped away towards a nearby structure.
"Alright, we have exited the Void. You guys remember our orders right?" the pilot said. A young man, 24 years old, set the ship on autopilot. He was encased in a light grey black power armor with Xiphos and shield nearby.
"Only alittle while ago did we receive a small transmission from the UNC Deep Space Explorer/Research Ship Pandemonium. This is our first mission guys!" another man said. Also encased in power armor, he had a rapier attached to his hip.
"Mission success rate is near 100% with no causalities." a woman said. Just like the others, she too was encased in power armor, but had a two-handed zweihander.
"Lorella, its just a recon mission." the last person said. Another woman, who's armor was slowly encasing her, opened her eyes just before her helmet popped over her head. On her hips were a curved long sword and a pistol.
"This is the UNC Chiron hailing the Pandemonium. Please come in Pandemonium." the pilot radioed. No response.
"Eric, isn't it abit weird that the ships internal and external lights are off?" the other man asked.
"Otis, I haven't a clue. Maybe its their sleeping time."
"Protocol indicates that they should have a skeleton crew up. Something isn't right Eric." Lorella said, growing visibly irate.
"United Nations Confederacy Research and Colonization Ship Pandemonium please response. This is the United Nations Confederacy Vanguard Ship Chiron."
A strange cracking noise eeked back as suddenly the Chiron powered down. The lights suddenly turned off and all power was lost.
"Da hell? What happened? Eric start up the ship again."
"On it." With a tinkering of the buttons, the ship powered back on as the Vanguards saw their ship about the crash into the Pandemonium
"FUCK! BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
[hr]
By the time Charlotte woke up, she was partially covered by the broken metal plating of the ship. Easily getting up, she checked to see if everybody else was up. Eric was already up and scanning the interior of the Pandemonium, while Otis was helping Lorella up. While in the back of her head, a silent white noise was playing. No harmonary, just playing.
"Everybody alright?" Charlotte asked.
"We're all good Char."
"What just happened Eric?"
"An EMP field around the Pandemonium. Curious. Never heard of such a thing."
"That's not possible. An EMP cannot be controlled by a field. Something else must have happened."
Eric shrugged, grabbing his equipment. "Does it matter at this point? We are stuck here until we can radio back home."
"And the radio station on the Pandemonium is..?"
"The bridge."
"Why can't we just repair the radio?" The four of them looked at each other.
"We could but... Isn't going to the bridge simplier?"
"Not really no."
Charlotte raised her hand slightly. "Well... I think we should just go to the bridge. Maybe figure out what's going on with that EMP field."
"And also... Maybe just see exactly... What this place is." Otis and Lorella sighed. "Never simple is it?" Charlotte nodded at Eric as the four of them grabbed their weapons and opened the hatch of their ship into the Pandemonium.
Soft lights radiated from inside of the Pandemonium, coming from lamp posts. A pavement road stretched on for miles as builds of all kinds stood where the group was. However, the architecture of the building was bizarre, if they were modified in some way. A few globular heads were posted on the top of the builds.
"We crashed right into the Pandemonium and no sirens? What the hell is going on here?" After a moment, the sounds of sirens was heard as a few automated machines came around. The four exited the ship, putting their helmets on and sealed.
"Ah good, hopefully some..." Otis was about to finish his sentence until he saw the automated machines. Unlike their usual silver shine, these were in varying states of decay; electrical cords hanging out, head sets missing, and even a few of them cannibalized together into some strange box figure as the machines scurried towards the ship, most of them breaking down before even coming close.
"This... This isn't right. Lorella, where are we?" Otis asked.
"Hn. The Downtown District for entertainment."
"Let's find some shelter first Vanguards." Eric motioned to one of the building. The four hurried over to the door as Charlotte shifty punched the door open.
"Let's go guys." Charlotte said, pistol at the ready.
"Hopefully that power of ours will determine what the hell is going on here once we find people." Eric said.
"Anybody find the lights yet?" Otis complained.
"Got'em!" Charlotte said, as she turned the lights on. Looking around, she wish she didn't.
All around the room were bodies, slowly decaying in the presence of flies and maggots. Blood everywhere. If it wasn't for the air filters in their helmets, the smell would have been numbing. It was a sexual dominance club. Sex pleasure machines like breast pumps, electrocution rods and dildo machines were in varying states of decay as well, several of the toys broken and still carrying the bodily ooze that came from men and woman's genitalia.
"Jesus..." Eric said, gritting his teeth.
Charlotte looked around, turning over bodies. "Some of this blood isn't even fresh by any standard. Like this club has been doing this for some time."
Lorella and Otis walked over to the broken "***** restraint" machine. They looked at each other with concern then saw a woman's body still attached to one of the machines, but her stomach and legs were hacked opened. They shook their heads, trying to keep from gagging alittle.
"This ain't right." Otis said, looking are more of the sex machines. "I mean look, have you seen these bodies?"
"[sub]Looks like they were all piled in here.[/sub]" Lorella replied, her voice wavering slightly. "Lorella, is there something-" Just before Otis could finished his sentence, a PDA announcement was played.
"Some of these bodies have mutated slightly. Look." Eric called over the rest of the group. As they approached they saw what Eric was talking about. The body was that of a baby, but it had strange spiked tentacles and 6 fingers. And it was still attached to the umbilical cord to the dead mother. On her mouth was a pleasure restraint.
"... We should fine somewhere else to go. This place... Ain't right." Eric said.
"You don't say?" sarcastically remarked Otis, who turned back to Lorella. "I guess that 'safe word' idea has gone down the drain eh?"
"How inappropriate." A light rumble shook the building.
"... What the hell was that???"
"Alright, we have exited the Void. You guys remember our orders right?" the pilot said. A young man, 24 years old, set the ship on autopilot. He was encased in a light grey black power armor with Xiphos and shield nearby.
"Only alittle while ago did we receive a small transmission from the UNC Deep Space Explorer/Research Ship Pandemonium. This is our first mission guys!" another man said. Also encased in power armor, he had a rapier attached to his hip.
"Mission success rate is near 100% with no causalities." a woman said. Just like the others, she too was encased in power armor, but had a two-handed zweihander.
"Lorella, its just a recon mission." the last person said. Another woman, who's armor was slowly encasing her, opened her eyes just before her helmet popped over her head. On her hips were a curved long sword and a pistol.
"This is the UNC Chiron hailing the Pandemonium. Please come in Pandemonium." the pilot radioed. No response.
"Eric, isn't it abit weird that the ships internal and external lights are off?" the other man asked.
"Otis, I haven't a clue. Maybe its their sleeping time."
"Protocol indicates that they should have a skeleton crew up. Something isn't right Eric." Lorella said, growing visibly irate.
"United Nations Confederacy Research and Colonization Ship Pandemonium please response. This is the United Nations Confederacy Vanguard Ship Chiron."
A strange cracking noise eeked back as suddenly the Chiron powered down. The lights suddenly turned off and all power was lost.
"Da hell? What happened? Eric start up the ship again."
"On it." With a tinkering of the buttons, the ship powered back on as the Vanguards saw their ship about the crash into the Pandemonium
"FUCK! BRACE FOR IMPACT!"
[hr]
By the time Charlotte woke up, she was partially covered by the broken metal plating of the ship. Easily getting up, she checked to see if everybody else was up. Eric was already up and scanning the interior of the Pandemonium, while Otis was helping Lorella up. While in the back of her head, a silent white noise was playing. No harmonary, just playing.
"Everybody alright?" Charlotte asked.
"We're all good Char."
"What just happened Eric?"
"An EMP field around the Pandemonium. Curious. Never heard of such a thing."
"That's not possible. An EMP cannot be controlled by a field. Something else must have happened."
Eric shrugged, grabbing his equipment. "Does it matter at this point? We are stuck here until we can radio back home."
"And the radio station on the Pandemonium is..?"
"The bridge."
"Why can't we just repair the radio?" The four of them looked at each other.
"We could but... Isn't going to the bridge simplier?"
"Not really no."
Charlotte raised her hand slightly. "Well... I think we should just go to the bridge. Maybe figure out what's going on with that EMP field."
"And also... Maybe just see exactly... What this place is." Otis and Lorella sighed. "Never simple is it?" Charlotte nodded at Eric as the four of them grabbed their weapons and opened the hatch of their ship into the Pandemonium.
Soft lights radiated from inside of the Pandemonium, coming from lamp posts. A pavement road stretched on for miles as builds of all kinds stood where the group was. However, the architecture of the building was bizarre, if they were modified in some way. A few globular heads were posted on the top of the builds.
"We crashed right into the Pandemonium and no sirens? What the hell is going on here?" After a moment, the sounds of sirens was heard as a few automated machines came around. The four exited the ship, putting their helmets on and sealed.
"Ah good, hopefully some..." Otis was about to finish his sentence until he saw the automated machines. Unlike their usual silver shine, these were in varying states of decay; electrical cords hanging out, head sets missing, and even a few of them cannibalized together into some strange box figure as the machines scurried towards the ship, most of them breaking down before even coming close.
"This... This isn't right. Lorella, where are we?" Otis asked.
"Hn. The Downtown District for entertainment."
"Let's find some shelter first Vanguards." Eric motioned to one of the building. The four hurried over to the door as Charlotte shifty punched the door open.
"Let's go guys." Charlotte said, pistol at the ready.
"Hopefully that power of ours will determine what the hell is going on here once we find people." Eric said.
"Anybody find the lights yet?" Otis complained.
"Got'em!" Charlotte said, as she turned the lights on. Looking around, she wish she didn't.
All around the room were bodies, slowly decaying in the presence of flies and maggots. Blood everywhere. If it wasn't for the air filters in their helmets, the smell would have been numbing. It was a sexual dominance club. Sex pleasure machines like breast pumps, electrocution rods and dildo machines were in varying states of decay as well, several of the toys broken and still carrying the bodily ooze that came from men and woman's genitalia.
"Jesus..." Eric said, gritting his teeth.
Charlotte looked around, turning over bodies. "Some of this blood isn't even fresh by any standard. Like this club has been doing this for some time."
Lorella and Otis walked over to the broken "***** restraint" machine. They looked at each other with concern then saw a woman's body still attached to one of the machines, but her stomach and legs were hacked opened. They shook their heads, trying to keep from gagging alittle.
"This ain't right." Otis said, looking are more of the sex machines. "I mean look, have you seen these bodies?"
"[sub]Looks like they were all piled in here.[/sub]" Lorella replied, her voice wavering slightly. "Lorella, is there something-" Just before Otis could finished his sentence, a PDA announcement was played.
Code:
[center]This is your Acting Captain speaking. Marshall law is still in effect. Please do respect the military Automatrons to better your living on the Pandemonium.[/center]"... We should fine somewhere else to go. This place... Ain't right." Eric said.
"You don't say?" sarcastically remarked Otis, who turned back to Lorella. "I guess that 'safe word' idea has gone down the drain eh?"
"How inappropriate." A light rumble shook the building.
"... What the hell was that???"
When the memories were over, Charlotte violently threw up blood. On the surface, nothing seemed wrong with her.
By picking up where we left off. Like so.