I ~ Silent of PLN
Hand to Hand (Armed forces Hand to Hand training facility, P1)
(11-06)
After another day of duty at Hitchcock Studio, Expend-O-BLE heads back to the Armed Forces barracks for a washcycle, then heads over to the Hand to Hand Training Facility. A TrainerBot is waiting for him.
"Good Eveningcycle, Vulture Expend-O-BLE." says the bot.
"Good Eveningcycle. Please deploy Hand to Hand Trainer Level 1."
"Hand to Hand Trainer Level 1 Deployed." As the bot speaks, a clone-shaped dummy wearing a Brown Fur Commie Hat and a SynthHair Commie Moustache pops up out of the ground.
"Okay..." Says Expend, taking out his Brass Knuckle and holding it firm in his right hand before throwing a punch to the CommieDummy's abdomen.
"Abdominal Region Hit. Probable Damage: Moderate Bruising."
The vulture grits his teeth and starts throwing a series of punches with both hands at the CommieDummy's gut repeatedly.
"Abdonimal Region Hit. Probably Damage: Severe Bruising, Minor to Moderate Intestinal Damage."
"Thats more like it!" he says to himself, grinning. Expend-O-BLE then starts on a full out Vulture Squadron Hand to Hand Combat routine on the CommieDummy, including kicks and uppercuts to the CommieDummy all over for several minutes.
"Overall Damage: Extensive Bruising. Bone Breakage. Internal Bleeding probable. Concussion. Skull Fracture. Possible Death Without Medical Attention. Excellent Attack Pattern."
"Thank you." He says, as he catches his breath and puts away the knuckle. "Please initiate ASH Free Style Trainer."
"Engaging Aggressive Surgical Handling Free Style Trainer now." The CommieDummy is retracted back under the floor, and then HoloProjectors turn on, suddenly conjuring a small group of Virtual Commies with brown hats and moustaches.
"It's Commie-DOOM time..." He Unslings his GIGAN-XS Chainsaw and starts it up, gripping it properly before squeezing the throttle. He starts charging into the HoloCommie fray and slashes away. "YAAH! HAAH! DIE!!" The HoloCommies perfectly simulate losing limbs and bleeding all over the Training Facility floor and screaming like only Commie Mutant Traitors can. As one goes down, another replaces him or her.
Expend is so engrosed in his training session that he dosn't even notice the ULTRAVIOLET HIgh-Programmer Jazzer-U Dtriding into the facility.
"Citizen Expend-O-BLE, have you seen---- citizen, why are you talking to yourself? Get back to base and start interacting with some other citizens for a while." Crazy armed forces... they're all nuts. Expend-O-BLE stops the chainsaw and salutes the High Programmer, the HoloCommie program pausing in the meantime. Jazzer then leaves in much the same way he entered, although this time people were looking at him. One of these was Javacak-R-GBR, a registered mutant working for CPU. He watches the frozen simulated carnage with interest.
"Hey, Expend-O," he enqires, "fancy giving me a little basic hand-to-hand training? You never know when it might come in handy..."
"Greetings Citizen. You require Mandatory Self Defense Course? Very well. And this does qualify as interacting with a Citizen so..." He slings the chainsaw in its holding scabbard and takes out his own Brass Knuckles and gripping it in the right hand. "Now, the first hint is to study the enemy's eyes. They can tell you when they're about to strike." Gets into hand to hand stance and approaches Javacake. Tensing back his right hand in preparation to punch, he then throws a straight with the left towards his stomach. "Also watch for fake-outs, Citizen." Javacake dodges and blends into the wall.
"Hmmm... Sneaky. What about using your natural advantages to your own benefit?" He asks, as a set of brass knuckles appear to fly through the air towards Expend-O's nose. Expend-O-BLE's nose bleeds from the hit even as he tries to roll with the punch, but then he grabs for the wrist of the hand holding the knuckle with his left hand and grunts.
"Exellent, but every avantage aso has a way of beeng countered." Holding onto Javacakes wrist, he starts countering with repeated close quarter punches with his own brass-knuckle holding right hand to Javacake's guts. The Mutant doubles up in agony.
"OK! OK! I think I get the picture... Hows about we move onto some dummies and you show me some basic strikes and throws?" He says as he tries to control the internal bleeding whilst limping over to the dummies in the centre of the room. Expend-O wipes the blood off his nose with his left hand and wipes it on his RED pantsleeves. Then gritting he sets his nose in place with a Crunch!
"Okay Citizen, I can teach you the most basic of strikes. Anything more advanced cannot be taught due to Clearance and Armed Forces restrictions." He goes over to the CommieDummies that have now popped up. "This is a jab," he performs a right Jab to a CommieDummy's head, "It is more for speed and initiative than actual damage. Next, we have a Straight." This time he executes a straight punch, " It's much slower than a Jab, but more strength conversely. Try them on a dummy, citizen."
Javacake jabs, then jabs again. Misses with a straight, but then gets the hang of it and starts swinging punches to the dummy. Jab! Jab! Straight! Cross! Jab! Hook! Uppercut! He walks away from the dummy, the turns around and launches a flying kick at it in a moment of sheer adrenaline. Then proceeds to pick himself up off the floor and nurse a sprained ankle. "Ahem... Maybe I won't try that again... Is there anything else you can teach me, Expend-O? I'm eager to learn..."
Expend watches Javacake's combo attack with much eye for detail. "Hmm... you do very well with the basic strikes Citizen. But yes, you should not try that kick until you receive proper training. I believe that the Advanced Courses are restricted to members of the Armed Forces, or civilians who have authorization from either Armed Forces, IntSec, a High Programmer or Friend Computer. Good work, and your technique is perfect for smashing Commie Scum even without a firearm! They might be able to take away your Laser Pistol, but they can't take away your fists!" Javacake bows to Expend-O, then goes off to meditate and paint a fence, over and over again. Expend bows back to Javacake, then heads back to the Barracks for another Washcycle. Some time later, Citizen Silent entered the room, which was attended by Xai-O-SHI-1.
(12-06) (***Isn't paint blue clearance?***)
"Hello. I am interested in your course. Is it okay if I have premission to take it, and learn how to fight the Commie horde?" Asks Silent politely.
"I'm sorry, but we're awaiting computer permission to run the course. However, if / when we do get permission, you're free to come along. Until then I'm afraid giving training may be treasonous. However, feel free to stick around and punch some bags if you want." Replies Xai.
"I would love to stick around, but my service group just called me. If/When Friend Computer gives you premission, you tell me, and I'll come back here, ok?"
(Note, this is all P1 of this)
Vending Machines
(11-06) P4(from 2nd post) P5. "At a B3 despence bot..."
"Greetings citizens, I am here to fix the broken vendor, if someone would kindly explain what it is doing wrong." Says citizen Greed, who walks up to machine and jumps on top, and looks at it fron the top.
Adam was already working on it, and objected. "Uh, er, it's fixed now, citizen. Watch! B3 over here, dispense... vendo... bot... thing... whatever!" he intoned. click He is hit in the head with a can, and falls unconcious. The can is picked up by Zathril, who was walking through the area on his way to CPU.
"Hey! free B3!" He picks up the can and keeps walking, stepping over the unconcious Adam-R. A bot that looks like a cross between a brick and a dinner plate glides into the vicinity of the vendobot. A moment later a holographic bubble fizzles into existence, framing the handsome features of Tech Services Supreme Nut Tightener Costin-V-MOR. (his words not mine)
"Greed? Greed? Where are you citizen? Haven't you finished with this simple task yet? Any semi-competent Technicians to hand?" It is Konii who answers.
"At your service, Costin-U. I'll get right on it." He opens up the vendobot and proceeds with the repair.
Adam stands up groggily. "Ow... um, Costin-U, sir? Did you order the repairs for this bot? It was repeatedly crushed and blown up but then fixed some time ago. If you want to do anything more with it you'll have to take it up with R&D..." Konlii stands up from his repairs with a satisfied look on his face.
"All right, that should do it. Try it now, Adam-R."
Adam walks up to the machine and is addressed by the machine.
"Greetings, citizen Adam-R-LON! Please make a selection." Adam pushes a button gingerly. "Please insert ten credits." Again, Adam follows the instructions. Nothing happens for a while and Adam presses the button a few more times. Eventually he kicks the machine and a can of B3 comes tumbling out. Adam picks up the B3 and opens it, spraying foam all over his face.
"Phew- pah... Bleh... It's still broken."
"Nonsense, it's working perfectly." Said Konrii, "You paid your creds and you got your B3. What more do you want?" Adam glares at Konrii and kicks the machine.
"This thing is never going to be fixed."
"I warn you, citizen, you're bordering on the edge of treason here. The machine works, yet you insist on denying that fact. You even kicked it in an attempt to to make it stop working. I have reported all of this to IntSec. My job here is done, and I bid you good daycycle." Konrii leaves Adam stomping about moodilly and wiping B3 out of his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah..."
Citron walks by, drops ten creds, hits a random button, reaches down to collect his can of B3, still deeply involved in his PDC. Huh? He looks down to find none. Is this thing broken? He waits, and eventually a can drops. He snatches it, walks off to his seat, opens the can, is immediately sprayed by over-shaken soda foam. CMT-V sees him.
"Citron-R!!! Your Hygene standards are extremly poor today!! Normally, I would reassign you, but I am in a good mood. So return to your quarters and put on a clean uniform immediantly!"
Citron-R stands up in a hurry and trashes the empty can. "Yes, Com--- Yes, Sir!" he hustles back to his barracks.
Roberts walks in and looks at the roof. Hmm... That looks faintly B3 machine shaped... Why has a B3 machine been rapidly deployed here without notifying me? Damm damm damm... Im gonna get it in the neck from my supervisor now... He calls a RepairBot to fix the hole in the roof, then walks on as two other clones approach. Eager for 'fresh B3,' the first clone approaches the machine. When nothing comes out after he paid, Jhaiisiin taps the vendor lightly. Nothing happens. He kicks it hard and succedes in attaining a can. He wanders about happily mumbling about helping create a B3 can unsticker button. The second clone, Emurphy, approaches the machine and makes his sellection.
"That selection is ..,,.-.currently unavailiable.,..,-..,.-.*,,.,requesti.,.,,refill."
"No! not the claw!" Screams the clone, running off quickly.
"Get out!" shouts Adam, "Get-out, get-out, get-out! This is a Troubleshooter HQ, not a botspotter meeting! And I told that citizen this thing was broken... it's only meant to respond to Troubleshooters!" He pushes people out of the area.
Vats, Murder and Trickery
(12-06)
Maph-R-USS quietly stalked through the silent food vats in the middle of the night-cycle, looking for something, anything that appeared out of place. Like himself. He could see a glint of light shining off of something in the corner, but he couldn't quite tell what it was...
Xai looked around cautiously, waiting for him to enter the vats. Finally, Maph made an appearance, Xai crouched in the corner waiting for him to get to just the right place... Maph looked around, trying to find the 'messenger'. Of course, there isn't one. Xai made sure no one else was around then ran at him, full pelt, and shoved him into the hotfun vat, almost going over himself.
He drew his chainsaw and cut off the escape ladder, then waved goodbye and left. No witnessess, no evidence, no memory of what would have happened to this clone. The only thing left of him would be on the INFRARED cafeteria plates tommorrow.
Xai cleaned up and headed back to my dorm.
Luckily for him, as Maph fell into the vat, it was due for refilling, and the foot-deep layer of HotFun that had dried to the bottom of the vat was springy enough to cushion his fall. Unfortunately, this left the small problem of how to get out of the vat. Maph, pulled out his PDC, and started typing a message, the neon-glow of the letters only visible to himself.
(13-06)
Xai entered the room with a sigh. From the C-Mail he had recieved it was fairly obvious that Maph was still alive. There is no point trying to finish the job, after all, if I did that now the evidence would pretty much point me in the face. Not only that, but he didn't have the heart. Mabye I wasn't cut out for cold blooded murder after all. In any case, I sure as HEL sector had felt guilty as I lay down to sleep on my bunk. Xai walked to the vat and lay on his stomach at the edge, then lowered his hand to help Lord Matthuis out. Hopefully it wouldn't be to late for an apology and a nice chat over a cold B3
Silent enters a room with a sigh. Judging from the c-mail I got, the contract failed. Matthius, Maph has escaped the claws of death, and Xai will not accept another contract, knowing it would link up with him...Well, if you have to finish someone off, you're best having to do it alone.
He enters in, silently, making sure nobody sees him. Especially Xai and Maph. I have no clams against Xai, but Lord Matthius is the man I hate. And I will do whatever it takes to get him.
He examines the vats, looking to see which one is filled or not. Thats my target. 42A. I'm not in PLC, but the vat seems to be full...It is somewhat far away from the vat Matthius is stranded in, but not that far a distance. I could make a run for it, and grab Maph from Xai's loving arms, push him into the vat, and make a run for it. I'll have to run to escape, and may have to pay for the damages...but it will be worth it. All I'm worried about...is failing!
Xai pulls Matthius out of the vat...now is my chance...
Matthius grabbed Xais arm and he began to pull him up, "Look, I'm sorry. seems money can corrupt a guy after all. Pull yourself up, that's it..." But Xai didn't have time to finish his sentence, as out of the darkness ran Silent. He pushed Xai aside and pulled Maph up himself, then began dragging him away. In the meantime, Xai had hit his head on the grate floor and was a little stunned.
Silent run towads Matthius(Maph), pushing him down. He drags him to Vat 42A and try to throws him off, hoping that when he falls, he falls and dies for good. The only words that are coming through Silents brain is:
Please Don't Let Xai Kill Me Before The Deed Is Done...
Struggling against the grip of Silent, Maph-R-USS fought for his very life. Suddenly Silent pushed him to the ground, and just as a triumphant look gleamed in his eyes, Maph's spine folded backwards on itself, sending Silent plummeting over the edge of the vat he was trying to push him into.
Xai pulled myself to his feet, just in time to see Matthius' spine snap, sending Silent flipping into the vat. What a strange turn of events. Well, I have made my apologies and done my best to help, now would seem a good time to leave. Xai didn't dare try and help Silent, as he was sure he could hear approaching footsteps, and, after jumping down and peering down the hallway, sure enough, there was Dystopian Rhetoric, and Internal Security agent, on his rounds. Xai slipped out.
Maph stood upright, still folded over backwards, when he suddenly straightened out with a resounding CRACK.
"Boy, that's going to ache in the morningcycle."
Maph looked over to see Silent floundering in the sticky Cold Fun in the vat. Not high enough to cause him to drown, but enough to keep him bogged down until the vat technicians fished him out in the morning.
"Look Silent, I'm sure we can work something out. Tell you what, if you stop coming after me, I won't turn on the vat mixing blade. Deal?" Maph didn't need to wait for a reply. He knew he had sent a message to all the would-be killers. Play with the big clones, and you will get hurt. As this thought left him, he smiled, closed the lid on the foodvat, and left the room to return to the bunks, to await the next death-threat on the Grey Subnet.
Silent wonders, while trying to stay alive, how can he kill Maph. He regrets now that he was assigned the task...of murder. And yet, the consquences for failing are worse than the punishments for succeding...
"My next clone will get you, you Commie!" screamed Silent. But he knew he couldn't be heard. Maph was back at his bunks, enjoying his latest exploit.
The scream was muffled, but still fairly distinct. It sounded very much like Silent.
But... his next clone? So he expected to be killed?
DystopianRhetoric climbed the scaffolding and considered the vat control panel. It would be a simple, albiet pointless task to kill Silent there and then. But this was much too interesting. Instead he heaved the lid off of the vat, it was Silent in there all right. He allowed himself a mocking smile before heading over to the nearby storage cupboard to retrieve a spare ladder, which he lowered into the vat, though not before recording the sight of Silent wallowing in Fun on his PDC.
This done, he departed.
'Fat Tony' walked through the food vats on his late-night rounds, making sure that everything was working properly. Low as his clearance might be, PLC was his domain, after a fashion. He adjusted his gas mask to screen out the vat fumes. All around him, the vats sloshed and thrummed as the rotors kept the fluids in constant, healthy motion. Suddenly, over the roar of the vats, something caught his attention. Not a sound, but... a silence. Somewhere, a vat was not functioning properly. He could sense it. Tony walked, then waddled, then broke into a run. Finally, he burst into Food Vat Chamber 66C. Darkness. Silence. Clean air. Slimy trails and footprints on the floor. What could have happened here? What sabotage was at hand? He fumbled for his PDC.
"Friend Computer! Dis is cizzen Anthony-R-NYJ-2! Food Vat Chamber 66C is dead. I repeat, da vats is dead!"
Girdag watched Matthius walk off, and wandered after him. Tracking him back to his base was easy. Getting in wasn't a walk in the Park-sector, but it wasn't long before he was inside, and right behind Matthius. He checked the wall, then tapped Matthius on the shoulder, before ducking.
"Whoa! it! No need to start swinging! Just came to give you a little present. A Pow-Dat cable. Its on the floor there!" Watching Matthius look suspicious, he confirmed his offer. "Look, I saw you make that hit, and I was impressed. I want you to have this cable to stop there being any bad feelings between us." Girdag stepped back away from the cable. Cautiously, Maph placed his hand into one of the spare boots he was carrying, and then picked up the cable on the floor, keeping his eye on Girdag the whole time. He didn't want to get electrocuted any time soon.
"Thanks. Where do we go from here?"
Girdag figured the electrocution plan hadn't worked, so it was time for Plan B. He pulled the plug out of the socket, and span it forwards in a descending arc. Matthius, bent down picking up the cable, never stood a chance. It impacted on the back of his head - instant blackout. Girdag triggered the PDC signal that should get Silent here, tying Matt up with the cable while he waited for him.
Girdag looked soo smug as Maph slowly regained consiousness. He even had his back to him, the fool. He turned around, still thinking him to be out. Then he heard a noise. As Girdag turned around, he felt a crack on the side of his head, as Maph cracked him with the very weapon he'd used against him. The last thing he saw before he slipped into unconsiousness was the sight of an extremely elongated and thin clone, tying him up... When he awoke, Girdag saw no-one remaining, just an open door.
Tony turned to the control banks. He tried the power switch, and unsurprisingly, it didn't work. But a few minutes of poking around showed where some key wires had been severed. Splicing the wires did the trick; the control system started up, with rows of RED lights turning on.
It had been years since Tony'd had to work in the food vats, but he hadn't forgotten how the systems worked. He turned on the forced-growth lamps, dumped in the class 3 and 7b nutrients, and turned up the broth scrubbers to 130%. Then he waited.
Sweat gathered on his jowls. Was it enough? Then, slowly, some of the red lights turned to amber, and then to green. At least some of the algae could be salvaged. There would be Hot Fun tomorrow; anything else would be a crime. Note this section is all of page 1 of PLN Food Vats thread.
Grey subnet ~ Open bounty on Maph
A few hours ago, Lord Matthius has attempted to kill me, by throwing him into a food vat. He has been an annoying person who was marked to die, and yet surivied two assisanation attempts. This calls for drastic actions. I am opening an bounty on Lord Matthius.
NAME: Lord Matthius
REASON: For being an annoying person, and insulting many people, including my superior
STAUS: DEAD! Not alive, dead.
CREDIT AMOUNT: 50 (negotiable)
HOW: I would like for him to have a slow, hot death. A slow roast via hottorch or a dip in a smelting vat would be preferable, as I want him to suffer. SUFFER.
Bounty goes to the first person that carries this deed out, and do so SUCCESFULLY!
Wet
(13-06) P22, 23 RED Quarters.
In the RED quarters, clones are going to sleep. M-R-III and Konlii-R have just returned from working, and are about to preparing food. Adam-R sings the Tella theme song, rather loudly (Teela O'Malley, she's Teela O'Malley, she's tough and loyal! Teela, Teela! Teela O'Malley) Zathril greets Konrii.
"Hi there Konlii!"
"Hey, Zath! This microwave's my pride and joy. Cost me a pretty credit, I'll tell you. But it's worth it. There's a perfect spot down at the clone bank where it'll just fit. Well, it'll fit as soon as I pull off these superfluous lead panels. No more Lukewarm Fun for me!" says Konrii gleefully. Adam realises nobody is really paying attention anymore, and leaves with a shrug to HPD&MC. Zathril, turning back to speak to Adan-R, is a little embaressed to have ignored him and not even noticed him leaving.
"Oh, he's gone." he said. He wasn't that embarressed. It just meant he would have to return borrowed beolongings later. No-one has much to say. M-R-III speaks up to break the silence.
"So, another fine day-cycle, hey, citizens?" It turns out that he didn't really need to speak. Distractions were coming, and they were even of the non-violent variety. Maph-R wanders in.
"Hey, has anyone got a spare towel? I'm covered in dried HotFun at the moment..."
"Another clone smelling like food vat?" Muses Zathril, "what is going on today?" No sooner did he speak then Dourden walked in with a vakant look on his face.
"Where'd you go you damn commie?!" he shouts, then dives to the floor shouting "Die, scum! Die, bloody CMT!"
Tombking coughs. "Lord_Dourden.... Put some clothes on and stop playing that you got a laserpistol in your hands... And... whats that smell? Smells like someone has taken a swin in a foodvat or something..." He pauses and crawls to his sleeping place, "Not you too?"
Dourden doesn't answer, but walls over to his bunk to get dressed, muttering at Maph-R. The vacant look is still on his face. Maph-R is tapping his foot impatiently while he waits for a towel when Aratos rushes in.
"Say, did Lord-Dourden wander in here? he's, erm, "forgotten" his pills again, y'see. I'm supposed to be sending him off to collect them." As Aratos speaks, Dourden throws Maph a towel.
"Now that you're clean Lord Matthius-R," sayed Bee-R-CAN, "will you be joining me for surgery? We have a nice juicy specimen today. I think. I guess we can always pick one up on the way."
"Now that you're clean Maph-R, will you be joining me for surgery?" Asks Bee-R-CAN, "We have a nice juicy specimen today. I think. I guess we can always pick one up on the way."
"Ok, ok..." Maph-R takes a clean uniform from the drawer and folds and throws the old one into the recycling chute.
Dourden falls asleep after a long day at Intsec. Jpcoope-R rushes in. "Oh-my-friend-computer! I have totally completely SCORED today! I've just completed my Tella O collection! She is SO HO... HOMBLE...and trustworthy..." He takes a handfull of hormine surpressants. "She is a shining example to all of us here in Alpha Complex!" He proceedes to eat hot fun from a Tella mug while wearing a Tella shirt and gazing at a Tella mirror. As Girdag compares this to his identical Tella collection Silent walks in, dripping wet...It seemed that he was dumped into a vat...
"Hello...does anyone have a towel?"
Zath-R-ILL coughs. "Another one? You're the third person today to come in like this!" He passes Silent his towel.
"So Silent," said Tombking, "Gonna tell us what happend?"
(14-06)
Adam-R renters, collapsing on his bunk with a groan of relief. Bark! He takes out a bottle of Wakey-Wakey and pops a pill, shivering. He then sticks his head under the bunk and lots of shuffleing and barking can be heard.
Cooper looks at Girdags 'identical' collection. "Well... I am obviously THE BIGGEST Tella fan (at the RED clearance level) in ALL of PLC Sector. For Instance, you name a line from any Tella Movie and I can name it. ANY LINE. I AM the leader of the Tell O'malley FanCitizen Appreciation Society here in PLN after all. If you're interested in joining we get a certain alotment of credits every month for our club. Its the only aurthorized Teela O Malley Appreciation Society in PLN Sector, you know."
Silent looks at Tombking. "Yes, ok," he bagan, "I...um...spilled some Hot Fun on me. Yeah. It got spilled...ALL over me? Do anyone have a towel? It's getting sticky!" He runs up to Cooper "Did anyone say...credits? Yes, I want to join your Apperciation Society here in PLN! I don't care who you are appericating, just wire the credits to me every month!"
*BARK* Adam yells and withdraws himself from under the bunk and sits up against the wall, cradling a hand covered in blood and missing a fingertip. He stares at his finger, aghast. "Aaaah... aaahh...." Looking wildly about at the assembled clones, and finding no forthcoming assistance, staggers upright and dashes out of the room holding his wrist in pain, and leaving a trail of blood on the floor*
"Well here's the deal," says Cooper, "there's a rule about starting EAP Clubs here in Alpha Complex. Its in the books at CPU and HPD&MC I've worked in both places so there's a chance we can have one here in PLN Sector. Now we all know things are a little different here in PLN sector so I think we're gonna have to run it by the Highest HPD&MC officer we can find to make sure we can get reimbursed for our Hot Fun B3 parties when we get together to watch Tella O, who I am completely inspired by, by the way. We may not be able to get credits as this is a first try at EAP Clubs. IF YOU'RE GOING TO JOIN JUST TO GET FREE CREDITS...DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME! ONLY TELLA SUPER-FANS ARE ALLOWED! GOT IT? So If you or any troubleshooter is still interested PM me and I will outline the plan..." Silent looks rather disappointed.
Evilcommie strolls in and walks towards a wall terminal.
"Good daycylce Friend Computer, can you please direct me to my new quaters, I'm kinda lost." He listens carefully to instuctions, "Thanks alot FC!" he shouts, then stolls away whistling the loyalty song in the direction FC indicated.
Messages
14-06 Very Confused ~ Electronic diary of the ULTRAVIOLET Saul-U-RES
My auction just closed, and with a winning bid of 150,000 credits! More than I could ever imagine. (Imagine it selling for, that is; not owning. Heh. Being an ULTRAVIOLET sure has its perks.) But I have no idea how someone on a RED’s salary can afford that. He’s got to have some backing from someone else, and I’m really curious as to who.
Ah, well. I’ve sent Silent the c-Mail to arrange for his payment, and when we meet, we’ll talk. Now it’s time for another indoctrination treatment; Farg’ll be here any minute to take me - why there he is now. He’s always so punctual for these. And we’ve got high hopes that this’ll be the last one!
***
(15-06)
The folowing were posted on the grey subnet.
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Message from an annonymous sourse.
Post subject: Message
o4g aeeb SD8S(dfg 34tgn SKass
QAE VFJA FGA SFG SI2 XVC]}G rsg AEH BUAW2 asDLG S873 SAOR AH4 OFN GEH 824 XBF/QNBN.&
ASGOIU 3247843u4a ^2n Ga as8 rgh 555h asdfgn 5 6joa sask ad;flh97274 n
asduif as97a a 4ekr thgbaudfb]-AFA g3n
ASDG 0AS A4R
====
SLEK askb asg703w4)S wS sGS>
asldif .,nmxz8846 y g3 ga
aslf g35trbhna ascxvu [/i]as gh n[/i] as dfghn h asa0 fKSJN /
_________________________________
Message from an annonymouse sourse.
No post subject.
There seem to be a lot of codes floating around all of a sudden. Darned inconciderate if you ask me.
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Message from tshooter319.
No post subject.
You can say that again. Can someone crack this thing so I know if I'm getting a chainsaw in the back, or my name added to the list of Citizens of Interest, or my Hot Fun poisoned any time soon?
_________________________________
Message from an annonymouse sourse.
No post subject.
Well, if you can work out what it's encoded in I could work it out in a few hours. Otherwise probably days. Trick is, letter frequency works in the following order;
etaonisrhldcupfmwybgvkqxjz.
It's theoretically possible to work out anything from that. Looks like it's been encoded in BASE64 then viegenere to me though. You really need a definate for speed work.
_________________________________
Message from an annonymouse sourse.
Post subject; Message
2q8 ASDgun Sdwaegwe gb SBv Sg
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Message from Silent
Post subject: These messages...
I am very worried about these three coded messages. Don't know what they are talking about, but please, anyone, decode them!
In fact, I'll pay for them to be decoded! 15 credits to anyone that decodes this message! A contest! Yeah, it's low, but please.
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Message from tshooter319.
No post subject.
There's a third?!
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Message from Silent
No post subject.
Uh...yes. Two messages in the first post, and the third message right before my first post.
Really, tshooter319, I'm just as...cautious...as you are. Better to know what is going on than not knowing. You know what I mean.
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14-06 Success ~ Electronic diary of the ULTRAVIOLET Saul-U-RES
That treatment was a doozy, but even Farg seemed very pleased with the results, in a way which he doesn’t usually express. He thinks I need one or two more and I’ll be all set.
I’m surprised Silent hasn’t tried to contact me about his winnings. You’d think a lowly RED would be excited about dinner with an ULTRAVIOLET! And does he think I have unlimited dinners available to share with REDs? If he doesn’t get back to me before the time arrives for the dinner I’ve arranged, he’s gonna be in big trouble!
***
(15-06)
Citron slips into the corridor with the broken despence-bot, clip-board in hand.
"Citizens! Gather closely, for I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of you! Our friends at Production, Logistics, and Commissary have, in their wisdom, opted to allow a highly-valuable consumer survey that may have a chance of influencing what items are available at your local PLC Outfitting Centre. And the most fun part? It's only one question. What items would you like to see at your local PLC Outfitting Centre? Step right up and tell me what you'd like to see!"
"I would like to see more weaponry." Replies Adam. "Currently you only cater to the working INFRARED; how is a loyal Troubleshooter meant to serve The Computer without some FIREPOWER? But apart from that, I'd like to see YOU at the Outfitting Centre, and not here with your annoying surveys. Look! Look around! Does a destroyed Troubleshooter HQ with a Frankenstein vending machine look like the kind of place you're going to get coherent answers, if any at all, to your question?!" He pushes Citron out. Silent walks in.
"Hello, Adam-R? Remember me? I was here to fix your vendobot, and I could have fixed it if it wasn't for some Tech Services person...Anyway, as a member of HPD&MC, and given the contract to fix B3 vendobots, I arrive to fix your frankenisten vendobot. Now, tell me the problem with your vendobot, and I'll fix it. And don't forget to pay."
Citron, still at the edge of the area coughs. "I happen to be doing work for PLC, fellow Citizen, so my annoying survey will just have to take place. And since you have provided me with coherent answers, this does indeed look like the kind of place where I would get them. So please quit moving people away from a vendobot before we assume you're attempting to steal it." He turns away and starts calling out again. "Citizens! Gather closely....!"
"Of course, Citron. Gather around everyone, so that you can be interveiwed. Plus, you get to see me, a trained HPD&MC mechanic, fix this B3 machine! Adam-R has said it is broken, but with the help of me, Silent, it will be fixed! Let us start working!" He looks at Adam. "But don't forget Adam-R, this service costs money." he turns back to Citron again. "Ah...and for the PLC mall...I would like credits. Yes. Free Credits inside of PLC. Everyone love credits, so if you place a box saying "Free Credits Inside", I'm sure everyone would be happy."
Adam breaks down in tears and storms out as Pax of the Armed forces shows up. "Armed Forces here... please move along... there's nothing to see here... have a happy, fun and exciting day... it's mandatory..." Hearing this, Citron quickly files a report about Adam-R being repeatedly unhappy about a B3 machine. He dashes back over to Silent.
"Silent, drop the repairs, Saulres-U is looking for you." He says, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him off to the RED barracks.
23-06 Furious ~ Electronic diary of the ULTRAVIOLET Saul-U-RES
How dare he?
Dinner was great, as usual. Except my guest didn’t arrive. No, not only didn’t he arrive, he didn’t even respond to any one of my three cMails. THREE!!! And nothing. Who does this RED vatslime Silent think he is, anyway?
With a promise of several thousand times his weekly salary, and now this, he’s clearly up to something. I will find out what, and he will not like it. Guaranteed.
The INFRARED Markets
(15-06)
I was pretty nervous but I knew what had to be done... I'd let my greed get the best of me and I came down here to the INFRARED market to get a loan for that dad-blamed Tella-O mug... "It's just one credit" I told myself "How bad can it be?" They told me about something called "interest" it didn't sound so bad at the time, but after calulating on my PDC I realized that I'll always owe them money... no matter if i pay it back today, tomorrow or or next yearcycle... I've gotta plead for mercy maybe they'll just take back the money they lent me...or maybe not. Either way I'd rather lose a clone or two instead of facing my masters... if THEY found out I did this I might as well get my template wiped.
Cooper opens a door in an abandoned subsector, a husky shillouette sits at a makeshift desk backlit by a makeshift lighting setup a generator humming quitely in the background.
"Umm... excuse me Citizen," he clears his throat and begins sweating profusely, "About this 'loan' you gave me... it appears that I won't be able to afford the interest... would you be willing to talk about another 'payment plan'?"
"So. You are tellin' me dat you cannot pay. Dat is very unfortunate. We had a deal, you an' me. You promised me dat you could pay on schedule. You gotta understand, I do not like welchers. I do not like dem one bit. And when I do not like something, well, sometimes dat makes me angry." Fat Tony cracks his knuckles. The noise is sudden and loud in the enclosed space, like a burst of gunfire. "So. What sort of "payment plan" did youse have in mind?"
From one of the dark corners Tombking enters. "Gosh... there really are a lot of dark corners around here... Is'ent that right Cooper?" He puts his hand on cooper's shoulder, "A lot of dark corners..." Cooper's knees buckle somewhat under the nerve pinch being supplied courtesy of tombking.
"Well...ehhh...sirs...I...uh... was..." he stammers, eyes wildly scanning room for any possible escape routes, "I thought maybe... just this once... I could... umm... just pay you the money i owe you... 1 credit... if you like, you can have the teela mug as interest...it's... ehhh... uh.. total colectors item... you can sell it on Cbay maybe... I... ehhh... don't really need it THAT bad... does... " he starts wheezing a bit, "Like it said I.. uh... am... REALLY sorry about this whole misunderstanding... I'd totally owe you..." He is visibly shaking, and brings the mug out of hiding, "h-h-h-h-hhere you go s-s-s-s-sir.." His shaking hands drop the mug. Its drops as if in slow motion, then shatters into millions of tiny shards."Noo..."
Fat Tony glares furiously at Cooper, "This is what you offer me? A broken piece of merchandise? What am I gonna do wit' dis? No, now you have insulted me. An' I do not like bein' insulted. Tombking, please teach dis clone a lesson. Try not to break anythin' too important, as we would like him to remain alive so as to suffer properly. But first, be so kind as to take away his PDC. We would not be wantin' to break it accidentally durin' the teachin' process, OK?" Cooper tries to make a break for it, but stumbles and falls face first into a combination of old vatslime and dust. Tombking smiles.
"Okey I just take that one from you then... " He takes a grip on jpcooper43 shoulder...This time abit harder.At the same moment takes Coopers PDC. "Ohh... Does it hurt? I'm SO sorry.... I could fix that for you... This will not take long... The pain is soon gone. Gone as...." Tombking raises Coopers PDC for a hard blow and swings it at him towards his head. But misses. "ARGH! Keep you head still! I gonna!!!" He presses a few buttons on the Coopers PDC and Puts it inside the helpless clones shirt. It starts to beep. "Ohh gosh... I think someone just pressed the Self-destruct mechanism! Who could it be?! see your next clone later citizen!" He moves to secure place in area.
"AAGGHHHHHHHH! AAAAAGGGHHHH! GET IT OFF ME! GET IT OFF MEEEEEEE!" Cooper lamely grabs at shirt and spins around in panicked circles, instead of calmly unzipping his overalls and running naked for cover.
"Oh, for Computer's sake. Do I got to do everything myself?" Fat Tony grabs Cooper and holds him still. He reaches into the panicked clone's shirt, takes out the PDC, and switches off the self-destruct mechanism. "Now, time to roll up my sleeves and get ta work. Don't worry, kid, this won't hurt a bit. No, I lie, it will hurt a lot." Fat Tony picks up a lead pipe and hits Cooper. And again. And again. Anyone outside the office can hear loud, meaty thwacks and crunching noises... then silence. "Well, dat's dat. Tombking! Get back in here. Got something for ya to dispose of." Tombking returns looking a little afraid.
"Ahem.... Sorry sir... Got a little carryed away... I saw a vid yesturday.. and ehm... You know....They have a bad inpact on me.. " He grabs Cooper and brings his dead body out for public display in the area, speaking loudly. "And anone that sells anything here and dont pay us 10% of there profit they make here... Ends up like this one...! Understood?"
"Err, excuse me, but have you seen Adam-R anywhere? He's disappeared from the RED quarters and... " Javacake cuts off as he spots Tombking holding up Cooper's body, "...that's Cooper, isn't it? Cooper, my fellow CPU worker and registered mutant. Cooper my friend. Is this your doing again, Tombking?" Javacake takes out his recently acquired broom, "Right. Time for another lesson in good manners." He walks purposefully towards Tomking, holding the broom threateningly.
After a while, Fat Tony emerges from his office. His RED jumpsuit is spattered with spots of a darker RED, and he wipes a dot of blood from his jowl in a reddish smear. He looks at the shocked patrons of the INFRARED Market and smiles.
"Hey dere! Do not worry, dis is just some bad business here. You do good business, you play by da rules, no one gets hurt. You play by our rules, we keep you safe here in da INFRARED Market. We do right by our customers, guaranteed! So anyway, I gots a deal for youse guys. Cancer-Lite cigarettes, only 5cr per pack! It is a real steal! Does anyone want to buy some of these top quality cigarettes? Cizzen Javacake-R! I see you know cizzen Coope-R. It seems dat he attempted to welch on a debt. As everyone knows, dis is a crime against da value of da credits given to us by da Computer, and thus is treason. Surely you are not supporting dat kind of thing, eh?" Fat Tony hefts a lead pipe casually over his shoulder as he speaks. In places, the metal seems to have a slight reddish sheen. Javacake pauses in his advance towards Tombking.
"I'm not interfering in your affairs, Fatty-R, or whatever your name is, I'm just making an objection to the punishment Tombking has apparently decided to dish out. A very personal objection. A beating I can tolerate, but a public display of a clone's battered body is unacceptable." He continues on towards Tombking, the blunt end of the broom held in an agressive manner.
"Tombking? Why do you not escort cizzen Javacake into my office. There we can talk about this like civilized clones."
"Gosh Javacakey... just follow me in here..." Tomgking points at the office, "I dont need to tell you how to do so... Do I?" He looks at Javacake manacingly "Are you coming?" Javacake returns Tomb a dangerous look.
"Lay a hand on me and you'll regret it, lackey," he says, and turns to Tony. "'m sure, Tony-R, if you have anything to say to me, you can say it in front of all these nice, loyal, INFRARED witne... I mean citizens. Of course, if you just want to turn over poor jp's body to me so that I can look after him, that would be fine as well." He hefts the broom.
Tony laughs. "Oh yes, I am sure that these good cizzens here will be witnesses. They will surely come forward to talk about what dey saw when dey were at an illegal INFRARED Market. No problem!
Now, I have to wonder what you want dis body for. You see, either you want it for some kind of personal use - which is disgustin' - or you want to turn it over to IntSec - which is unacceptable. Or you just want to take his stuff, which I do respect, not dat I will allow it. Now, it is unfortunate dat cizzen Cooper met his end falling a couple dozen times onto a blunt object. But dere is no reason to make a fuss, we will just see dat he is recycled peacefully, just as he would have wanted."
Javacake turns back to Tombking and leans on broom nonchalantly. "So, friend, I'm interested, what do you think about all this? Are you going to do what's morally right, or are you not allowed an opinion by Tubby over here?"
"If it was up to me? Ohh... I would have made you eat your own PDC mutie... And then...hmm..... Ohh its so hard to pick... Lets see... made you eat your dead friend here? Gosh... That would have been something to see...!" He breaks off as Tony interupts.
"Now, Tombking-R, just because cizzen Javacake is bein' rude is no reason to descend to his level. I am sure dat he was just leavin'. Unless, of course, he was innerested in buyin' some of our fine merchandise. Like dis fine Tella-O tee shirt, only a few bloodstains, otherwise in excellent condition!"
"No, no, Tony, if Tombking wants to be rude, he has every right to be. I just might have to be rude back..." He hefts the broom again. "Time to clean up!!" Javacake changes colour to blend in with the background. The broom suddenly moves rapidly towards Tombking's head, via Fat Tony's stomach. As it connects, Cooper's body is wrenched out of Tombking's hands and appears to start floating away, accompanied by the offending broom.
Kwil suddenly realizes that the moment a floating body goes out of the INFRARED Market safe zone, IntSec is bound to be all over the place. "Never mind, folks, I think I just remembered where I put that ORANGE laser barrel.. you can thank Javacake for that." He makes himself scarce.
Fat Tony doubles over, gasping for breath, as the broom sinks into his belly fat. But years of hauling crates in PLC have toughened this clone up. As Javacake hefts jcooper43's body and starts running away, Fat Tony straightens up and lumbers after him.
"I cannot believe... I just got suckered... by a damn... CPUer. Ugh... Javacake... you are one... stupid mutie. You may... be invisible... but I can still... see your jumpsuit." Despite being hampered by having been hit in the gut, Fat Tony easily catches up to Javacake, who's totally encumbered by hauling the dead weight of a dead body. Tony swings his lead pipe just above the neck of the seemingly-empty jumpsuit. There's a loud crack. Javacake turns visible again as he and Cooper's body both sprawl onto the ground. "You stupid jerk. You just had to make me do it, didn't ya? You shoulda just walked away. Tombking, strip these two and dump 'em in the vats. I dunno if Javacake's still alive, an' I don't care. Get 'em out of my sight. Damn stupid cizzens to mess with us. Dey gotta give us respect."
Tombking gasps for air a few seconds. ohh my head.... I need a helmet... He calms down after a few seconds. damn it...eerr...This sure is fun... He hits Javacake some more with his broom and then strips them. Take that!.... Where was it I should take them? Ohh right... He grabs the clones and starts carry them to the vats in the area and dumps them. Girdag waits for Tombking to go, then appears out of nowhere by the vats. He ties his Pow-Dat cable around Javacake, before pulling him out and giving him CPR. When Javacake regains conciousness, Girdag concentrates and dissappears again, dropping only a bill for 10 credits
"So... who would like to buy high-quality merchandise? We got algae chips! B3! Cigarettes! Keychains! You want it, we got it. Bargain prices! Step right up, tell us what you are looking to buy!" continues Tony in the market. Silent walks in shuddering.
Silent turns around and around, becoming more and more paranoid than usual. I know he's out to get me. I know it. His revenge is finally unleashing...his craziness finally is shown. And I am going to be his target of his rightful fury.
"Tombking, we talked via c-mail, and I know. It will cost me, and it is lucky I got some credits to pay for the 'protection'. I hope that you will help me. We have a good relationship, no? Me, being your Law-Y-ERR, defending you against that lying Midnight? Hm...how about 100 credits? That seems a reasonable offer. 100 credits for my surivial."
"100 credits? For saveing you from a ULTRAVIOLET? Where did the money that you bid go? Or was that just a lie?" He gesture towards tonys office. "Lets talk in here shall we?... Tony will of course follow us both in..."
"A lie? No. I would never lie, Tombking...I just wanted to save my money, just all, being a miser. I mean, I thought that after I give you the 100 credits and you save my life, I would use the rest of my money to enjoy myself. Being a miser is a good thing, no?" The rumors of murders, assisanations...dead bodies and such. They say that if you enter into Fat Tony's office, you enter into the termination booth. The INFRARED Market is useful, but to those that disobey the leaders, it is also a graveyard...and I fear I just disobeyed the leaders. "I do suppose that 100 credits is a bit too low a price for my petty surivial from erasure, so I guess I have to offer more up. 150,000 credits, then? But, for me to give you the money, you have to save my skin. I do not want to lose my mohney to some scammers. Not that you are scammers, you are legit businessmen. Still...I am a paranoid person, and I have been stung many times. Just a precaution. I know you'll save me." Tony looks out of the office to see Zathril wandering about searching for something.
"Hello? Anyone there? Tombking?"
"Tombking-R, it seems that we have a customer. Why do you not talk to our 'client' while I handle the customer?" Fat Tony heads out of the office as Adam-R-LON turns up, rubbing his head.
"Ow, my head... I hate being decanted" he looks around. Hmm. Silent has got to be around here somewhere. *sigh* Great. He has to guilt-trip me into defending him from these Free Enters when I'm completely unarmed. This'll be a barrelbot of laughs. He continues to search for Silent, who is waving from Tony's office.
"Hey! Adam! Knew you could make it! Tombking, this is Adam-R. You know him. I just hired him to protect me. You know, from them, the guys who are out to get me. He's a Troubleshooter, so he can find trouble and shoot it. You know, just as a precaution. I hired him, with my own credits, so you can see that I am rich. So, will you accept my deal of 150,000 credits?" Adam spots Silent and walks over to him.
"There you are. Oh, er, hi, Tombking, ol' buddy ol' pal. Yeah. I'm just here as a sorta, insurance. Y'know what I mean, right?" Oh Computer, what am I doing here?
"Hahahaha!" Tombking almost falls down from laughter. "Silent... You know that I only take credits. And credits is what I want.. But as long as you stay here... Your safe.. Still if you have does 150,000 credits in cash rigth here?...Hahaha!" Adam looks at Silent, then at Tombking, and back at Silent.
Outside the office, Tony is talking to Zathril. "Ah, friend Zathril-R! Have you come to purchase some of our fine items? We are always glad to deal with you. I am sure we can arrange a special price for you"
"Hey Tony! Unfortunatly I don't have time to look through your stock at the moment, doing something for a ULTRAVIOLET and i figure if anyone knows what's going on it would be you, so do you know where Silent is?"
"I am sorry dat I cannot help you, Zathril. You know I would be glad to help you out if I could. But since I have you here, would you be innerested in some fresh, tasty cigarettes? Or perhaps some gum, or sweet Bouncy Bubble Beverage? Dat pen of yours looks mighty nice, I would gladly cut a deal if you were innerested in trading it. Of course, I can see you are busy, so if you are not innerested in trading, I will not keep you from your work."
"Oh well Tony, I guess I- Hey, Tombking's here? He might know!" He hurries over to where he hears Tombking laughing. He opens the door.
Tombking continues, "So do you say you...." What now?! He turns around as the door starts to open.
Fat Tony yanks the door shut before it opens far enough for Zathril to see what's inside. Tombking then locks it from the inside. "Gosh... Whats the problem with citizens today? Adam-R, does Silent pay you to hang around here?"
"Hey! Dat is my private office! What do you think you are doing, poking into my office? Dat is disrespectful!"
"It is? Sorry Tony I was just going to talk to Tombking, since he was in there I assumed it was his."
"Even so, dat would also be disrespectful, unless he had given you permission. But hey, you are my buddy, right? I cannot stay mad at you. Anyway, if I were to find out where Silent was, I am sure dat you would be da first cizzen I would tell. Go on. I will talk to Tombking for ya. Dat way, you do not have to waste time here and can keep looking for dat Silent character. I will call you if something comes up, OK?"
"Sure thanks Tony, I'll be back to look around your stock once this whole thing with finding silent is cleared up, I wonder where he's gotten to." He makes to leave.
Pax strolls to the office, naked. "Gooddaycycle citizens, how are you all? Feeling happy?" He chuckles and hands Tony a pagaged broom. "Here's that thing, Tony" he looks at Zathril, who stopped rather suddenly. "This bloke being a nuisance?" Pax leans with his back against the doorpost and lights up a 'Cancer-Lite cigarette'. Putting the packet back between the band of his 'Low-slung LeatherLyke holster'.
Zathril coughs. "What the? Put some clothes on, Pax, i'm sure tony here has some excellent quality ones for sale somewhere." He leaves.
Internal Security agent Dystopian Rhetoric, having just completed his work on that last case, thought he'd go down to the INFRARED market and treat himself to some of that hooch that makes you go blind for 10 minutes. However, his drinking plans were forstalled slightly when he saw a whole bunch of clones involved in some interesting conversation. He decided hanging around on the periphery would be a nice idea, just in case anything interesting happened.
Pax eyeballs a passing clone. "What are YOU looking at? Never seens a Armed Forces soldier before?" He chuckles again ans shakes his head. "Time for my patrol it seems. Let's see if we can find some commie traitors." He walks away, but stops to hang around infront of tony's office for a while.
(16-06)
"So, let's get on wit' dis, shall we? We all got business to take care of, and dis is gettin' in da way." The door is unlocked and everyone enters the office. Tony leans over to Silent and whispers for a moment. After listening to Silents reply he motions to Tombking, who turns to Adam.
"I suppose you have something to tell me.. After all... You did enter in to the office.."
"Me? Oh, as I said, just, um, insurance, y'know. Just in case. Any harm. Comes to Silent. Not! Implying anything, of course. Y'know. Not from you, I don't think you could hurt a fly, aha, he's just my good friend Silent, ol' buddy ol' pal, just like you, eh, Tombking, we're all buddies here aren't we, ahehe, aheh..."
"Well.. Yes.. We are all buddys.. But you are not gonna hang araound in here as his insurance right? Why not follow me out? We could look at some stuff of intresest.. Ohh. By the way.. Have you heard about that scrubby has found out that some 'brown' thingy is running around in the RED quoters.. I think scrubby is out to find that brown...barking....'thing'.. And we dont want scrubby to do that right?"
"Scrubby? Brown barking thing? Stuff of interest?" Adam looks sincerely confused.
Tombking sighs. "You are a slow citizen right?" They don't leave.
Fat Tony nots curtly at Silent's reply. "Okay, den. You've bought yourself a little negotiatin' room. I will now call in some more of my people. If you have convinced me dat you can pay your way by da time dey get here, den you have got some protection. If not, well, den out you go. So start talkin'. Tell me what you can offer us dat makes up for da risk of a pissed-off ULTRAVIOLET after our asses. You don't got much time; I am sure dat Saulres has got people after you by now, and dis has got to get taken care of before dey show up." Fat Tony takes out his PDC and starts typing away with his sausage-like fingers, all the while keeping an eye and an ear on Silent.
"Correct, 'Fat Tony'. For one thing, I got the admiration and glory of me, Silent, for saving my clone family. More importantly, I would be in your debt. I am an intellegent person, knowing lots of stuff, probarly stuff above my security clearance. I gotten a friendly rapport with most people. I would be your loyal clone, and I would do whatever you say. I follow and I obey orders effectively. In other words, you save my life, and I'll work for you, for free."
In the market, V passes all the stalls without looking and heads straight for the office.
"Gents, I'm here to discuss a deal with Fat Tony. Is he available?" he calls out. Fat Tony glances up irritably as he hears the muffled voice from the other side of the door.
"Tombking, please find out who dat is outside my office, OK?"
Pax looks up towards Tony's door as he hears V speaking to some of Tony's people. He had been hanging around to check on the Markets way of business. "Hey, you!" He walks towards the clone and shows him his Armed Forces ensignias, "Tony is busy, you need anything?"
Tombking opens the door and walks out. Closeing it fast behind him.
"Why do you clones hang around outside here?" he turns to V, "What?"
Dystopian Rhetoric Intsec verbal report recording; I'd recieved orders from Saulres to find Silent. Well... I hadn't directly, but I decided to use a little initiative. Acting on a hunch, and given that Zathril had been turned away from there while looking for Silent yesterday, I proceeded to the INFRARED market. I doubted he was actually there, but it was always a possibility and the Free Enters might be able to give me the same leads as Zathril had gotten. The market was filled with the usual hustle and bustle, I decided it might be best not to wear my badge, some of those INFRARED heavies looked of violent temperament. I tried to remember where I'd seen the activity yesterday, yes, it was that little office... off to one side. It didn't take long to find. There was some RED clone guarding the door, he already seemed to be talking to someone. That same one that the other citizens had reported the other day. It was just what I needed... I decided to approach as well.
Girdag Fireskull Armed Forces verbal report recording;I figured the old methods worked best. And besides, if I found Silent, that was a real credit bonus for me. I wandered up to the back of the office, out of view of Tombking. Then, concentrating carefully, I honed my powers and vanished. I reappeared inside Tony's office, right behind the fat clone himself. A couple of cracks with the heavy end of the Pow-Dat cable brought him down, and a good bit of kicking made sure he wasn't getting up again. I turned to Silent. 'You. Come with me. NOW!' I said. Hefting the cable to make clear my point, I grabbed his shoulder and walked towards the door.
Silent tries to pull away, and winces.
"No, no, please, don't. Don't let saulres get me...I did nothing wrong...I was set up, oh please! Adam-R, bodyguard! Tombking! Stop Fireskull!"
Adam blinked, suddenly seeing Girdag.
"Um. Hey, uh, Girdag, citizen? Could you, like, let go of Silent? I'd appreciate it, y'know... couldja do that for me?"
Fireskull flips his PDC to 'Transmit' mode, sending to saulres.
"Sir! I have found Silent, sir, and am trying to bring him to you! He is resisting!"
Tombking turns to the door. What the? He turns back and looks at Pax and V.
"You are Armedforce right? Stand guard or something...Wait here...!" He opens the door again and enters seeing Girdag. Suddenly Tombking rushes towards Girdag with speed greater then it should be. Aiming with his head like some sort of headbutt. Tombkings current strength looks like he could throw around autocars. Silent, despite the pridicatment decides that he must have some sort of an unregistered mutant power. Silent grabs his broom and tries to knock Fireskull's PDC out.
"No, no, Fireskull. I don't want to be erased! Adam-R, use your B3! Use your B3!" He tried to get out of the way of Tombkings rush, hoping it is enough to stop Fireskull, but suddenly, Fireskull vanishes, leaving Silent directly in Tombkings path.
Dystopian Rhetoric Intsec verbal report recording; I barged in as soon as I heard Girdag shout out into his PDC. "You idiot Girdag," I muttered quietly enough for the PDC not to pick up my voice," this is an INFRARED market, whether it results it catching Silent or not, letting them know you know about this place is not good for your career prospects. We both have the same goals, but for the love of the Computer, please try to be more subtle about it." Tony was temporarily prone outside where Pax was standing. Suddenly Girdag vanished, and there were an array of angry looking clones standing around me. I decided that discretion would probably be the better part of valour here and scattered various small objects around with my mind, hoping to cause a distraction as I ran back out of the door.
Girdag Fireskull Armed Forces verbal report recording; This sort of work was more suited to Internal Security. Since we are trained to fight, not to infiltrate, I could only hope that Saul-U-RES would be able to track the PDC transmission. I must say I was surprised when Dystopian ran for it... Anyway, Tombking rushes forward hitting Silent with his shoulder. He kept running and hit his head on the wall. It was a big crack and Tomb rying to pull his head out... he got his head stuck in the wall.
Silent was a total wreck, thrown about by a mutant headbut. Still, best not to mention it to IntSec. They'll capture me and erase me. Saul-U-res plotted this all out, planned this revenge to occur. I never thought it would happen. This never was a nightmare I had...but now, now, I'm scared.
"Thanks...Tombking. That...mutant...got away...but you can get him soon...but thanks....anyway...does this mean I'm protected? And how do I get unstuck?"
"Gmmt..mmmm mmmoummm....Immmsmmtummmmmckmmm.." Tombking answers unitelligably.
Girdag Fireskull Armed Forces verbal report recording; Looking in from the roof, I spotted my chance. Tombking was stuck, Silent injured. Jumping down into the room, I grabbed Silent in an armlock, before marching out the door with him in front of me. Now, I hoped, Dystopian would be able to distract Tombking when he escaped
After hearing all the commotion inside, Pax turns towards the door, only to hear Tombking say "Stand guard or something...". Internally he started to boil with anger. How did this PLC pencil pusher dare give him orders. He peeks inside the office only to see the chaos that is happening there. Smiling he gets out a Cancer-Lite cigarette and lights it. Damn, he enjoyed those things. He shakes his head slowly and pulls out his PDC, broadcasting on the Armed Forces High Security band.
"This is Pax here at the INFRARED market. We have a situation. I repeat. We have a situation. A riot is in progress. I need backup. Suggest Max Riot gear. This may get out of hand." He puts the PDC away and slowly pulls out his broom. Smeg this. He thinks and prompty breaks the brooms head off, forming a long and pointy stick. Smiling he enters the room and show everyone his Armed Forces Insignia. "Right. Everyone on the ground. This is a Armed Forces Raid. Please lie down with your belly on the ground and with your hand on your head. Resistance will be treason. Back up is underway. If you co-operate peacefully no harm will become to you. Dystopian Rhetoric sir, please step towards me. You ofcourse are free to go and I would be honoured if you could assist me."
Girdag Fireskull Armed Forces verbal report recording; The door was open, so there was my chance. Shoving Silent ahead of me, I run through the door, yelling to Pax as I did so... "Urgent business! saulres' orders! Make sure Tombking does not leave!" I started to move towards the RED barracks, calling into my PDC.
"Saul-U-res, Sir! I have Silent, and am moving to the RED barracks now!"
"Damn that clone," muttered Dystopian "I'll watch your back!"
Dystopian Rhetoric Intsec verbal report recording; As I slipped on my brass knuckles I called out to Girdag that I'de watch his back as I squared up to face the other clones. The odds, I must say, were not good. But if Saulres wanted Silent... I didn't have much choice in the matter. I moved to tackle Adam, my leap fell just short however, and I only caught him by the shin with one hand and hoped it would be enough to upset his balance. It worked, he crumpled, dejected to the floor. I don't know how much of this was from me hitting him and how much was because he had so badly failed to protect Silent. I gave Adam a pat on the back and tried to get to my feet, however it looked like I'd twisted my ankle trying to tackle Adam and I stumbled and fell next to him. A subsequent attempt brought me to my feet, and I made the best attempt I could to limp away.
Some sticky pheromes comes from silent...invisible but it surronds an area...a very small area...but GirdagFireskull, being next from silent smells it...and feels trusting.
"Fireskull, I am an innocent man. I was here to do an important, TOP SECERT, mission for saulres. saulres pretended to hunt for me so that the Commies doesn't know that I'm going after them. I can't tell you more, but please, rescind that order and let me stay here. To finish my mission. saulres would be real mad if his top secert agent get captured."
Girdag's reaction to Silents pheromones is too stong too be helpfull. Girdag grabs silent in a bearhug, covering him in kisses. He happily turns off his PDC, and, still hugging and kissing Silent, dances back to the RED barracks with him.
"Come on Silent! Lets go back to the barracks for fun fun fun and algae chips!"
"You know...I would love to go to the RED barracks, but... Fireskull, I have to finish my mission. saulres would be mad if I didn't finish my mission. And, you know, I don't want saulres mad. Don't worry. As soon as my mission is complete, I will send you a message and I'll go to the barracks for fun fun fun and algae chips!"
Girdag hesitates. "No! I can't let you out of my sight! I love you too much!" He continues dancing towards the barracks.
Loyalty Cabaret
As the All-Former-Traitor chorus starts into 'Go Go Go Joseph-R', an IntSec GREEN goon squad enters, places Silent gently in a reclining chair, says a few 'hut hut hut hut hut' lines and quickly leaves. Biggles-V-DEA arrives just as they exit.
"Excuse me, waitress? Could you get a B3 for my friend in the chair? Yes, a straw would be very helpful, thank you!"
Denny-R-KUO enters. "Hello? Is this where I'm supposed to be? I see it is. Yes! Hi Silent! Why are you all tied up? Hi Biggles. What's up?"
"Hi Denny. Well, er...I was stuck in some area, and Biggles-V came in to..."un-stuck" me and bring me in. For some interrogation. Nothing big. Why are you here, Denny? The game is all over. All over. Nothing I can do but wait for my sentence for losing." He drinks the B3 through the straw. When your life is about to pass away...well, the simple pleasures of life become much more pleasurable.
A BLUE goon comes in, doesn't see Biggles, turns to leave. Sees Silent. Does a double-take. Stops and thinks. Scratches his head. Thinks some more. Finally, takes some initiative. Picks up Silent, throws him over his shoulder, leaves.
"Bye Silent!" Says Biggles, "Hope you enjoyed the show! Denny-R! Sorry, I didn't hear you come in. Are you comfortable? Here, have a B3. No, really. You can have it for free. Yes, free. Now, we need to discuss a matter about your PDC ...." Biggles-V leans in and whispers into Denny-R's ear as the All-Former-Traitors hit the chorus and keep on singing.
Denny drinks, "Thanks for the B3! Now what?" he asks, as Biggles continues to whisper. "Sorry for the confusion, Mr. Internal Security sir! It won't happen again! No! It won't, and I promise!"
"Biggles-V stops whispering and leans back. He smiles slightly and watches the singers do their thing up on stage.
"Good for you, Denny-R. This correction won't last for long, at least not if you stop ... you know. Stop doing that thing what got you in trouble in the first place. Now off you go! Get along." Sheesh. REDs these days are rather dim.
New Begginings... New mutations, new clones... etcetera... Someone think of a name fo this please?
(16-06 Technical Services ~ Forced Growth Clone Tanks, page 1)
Midnight-R-PLN-2 floats within one of the many clone tanks. Everything is ready for the MemoMax braintape to be read into the new brain and for him to be decanted.
Technition Konlii-R flips through his paperwork to find out who's up for decanting. Let's see...
Coop-R, found floating in a vat of Cold Fun.
Eww.
Midnight-R, died in R&D Lab 23.5.
Hey, that's the unprintable experiment that finished me off! So they killed you too, eh?
He moves Midnight-R's file to the top of the pile and begins the decanting process just as Burg walks in.
"Hey, Konlii-R, any word on Adam-R's decanting? I wanna hit that clone up for the credits he owes me the second he steps out of the tank!"
"Then you'll have to terminate him again. Haha... Seriously though, you just missed him. Try the RED barracks."
"Aw, HEK. Thanks." He leaves again, and Konlii turns back to the dacanting. Suddenly a screen lights up.
Clone death report! Adam-R-LON-1 in PLN Sector near Transbot Station #221. Announces an artificial voice and tandum with the scrolling letters appearing on the screen. Another monitor flashes up, next to another tank in which a sleeping clone body floats.
Name: Adam-R-LON-2!
Status: Ready for decanting!
> Troubleshooter detected! Running Clone Priority subroutine.
> Decanting...
Machinery clanks as liquid swirls and lights flash, whirligigs whirl and announcements are announced.
> ERROR!
Name: Adam-R-LON-1
Status: Decanting...
> Running EasyQuik MemoMax subroutine...
> ERROR
The tank screen slides up and Adam-R blinks and rubs his head.
"Ow. My head... why does decanting always give me these vatting headaches?" He mutters as he attempts to brush some of the gooey stuff off his body. He eventually realises the futility of the action and walks out of the tank area. "Hey, citizen Konlii! Nice to see you. I'm not up-to-date on the latest Tech mandates and stuff... you haven't got anything for me to do before I leave, do you? I'm a bit busy right now, deadlines, y'know." He shivers. Cold in here...
(17-06)
"Any mutations in your new clone you'd like to register? All of your organs working? Fill out these forms and we'll have you back on your Troubleshooting way in no time. Now just step into the chemical shower and we'll get that goo right off. A word of advice though, keep your eyes closed. It burns."
"Mutations?" Adam-R hits his head a few times experimentally, does some jumping jacks and concentrates really hard about something heavy falling on Konlii. "Doesn't look like it. Now let me take a look at these forms," he moves over and electicity crackles between his fingers. "OW! Um, I, um, I'm sure that was just static. Ahehe. Aheh. Yeah... Uh-huh. Hm. Fill out... the forms... yeah... um..." (The pats his breast pocket... oh. Um, just pats his breast then) "You don't have a pen on you, do you...? I'll have that shower in the meantime." He steps into the shower cubicle nervously and shuts his eyes tight.
"Here, just put your tongue on this scanner and be done with it. It's the end of my shift here and I have some teching to do elsewhere." Konlii calls and he opens an eye.
"B-but the shower..." Adam objects as he waves his gooey arms pathetically, "I don't want to turn up at the barracks like this, I'd be a laughing commie stock! Oh fine, alright." He steps out, bends and sticks out his tongue on the scanner, Midnight leaving the tank vertually unnoticed.
"Ewe! That stuff stinks. Ugh! I think I got some in my mouth." He wipes tongue on his small towel, "Can I get something to wash this out with? Oh I need to do a tongue scan? No problem..." he follows Adams example in pressing his tongue to the scanner, leaving a noticable slime mark. "Let's see. Ten fingers. Check! Ten Toes. Check! No mutations here! I guess it's off to the showers then." He walks into a shower stall... "Arrrgh! My eyes!"
"Nothing to stop you from taking a shower, Adam-R. Go ahead. But stop waving your arms about like that! You're making a mess! Oh and be careful in there, Midnight-R. It burns..."
Adam stares as Midnight stumbles out of of the shower, his eyes swolen shut.
"Er...well, uh, I'll be off... then..." He leaves, naked and slimey.
The Monitor blinks and beeps again
Clone death report! Tombking-R-SWE-4 in PLN Sector inside Medical Services Facility 211-19/RED
The lights that turn on are far away, almost at the end of all the clonetanks.
Name: Tombking-R-SWE-5
Status: Ready for decanting.
> PLC worker detected! Please hold...
> Decanting...
Bleep! Konlii hits a few keys.
Name: Tombking-R-SWE-5
Status: Decanting...
Running SlowMo MemoMax subroutine...
Tombking comes out, blinks a few times and looks around.
"Not again...! This is like.... Fifth time!"
Something crashes to the floor. "Oh, terribly sorry about that. I hope it wasn't anything important. Uh... Could I trouble you to help me gather my stuff? I'll be out of your way as soon as..." Midnight bumps into something else, "oh excuse me. I didn't see you there."
(18-06)
After a long moment his eye swelling begins to go down. Oh yes that's much better. Things are still a little blurry though. There's my things too. Just let me gather these up and get dressed... He gets dressed and puts his things in various pockets of his RED jumpsuit. He then turns around and sees the mess he made.
"Oh no! Someclone broke the tongue scanner! And it's got a bit of slime on it. It must have been a mutant... It might still be here!"
Let's see. I could stay and try to find this 'mutant' or... I could run like HEL sector out of here...
Midnight-R runs like HEL sector out of there.
Allandros-Vs office
(16-06 Allandros's office p1)
It is large opulent office, with bookcases full of Armed Forces training manuals, R&D journals (old habits die hard), and plaques commemorating Allandaros-V's service in NAM sector.
Allandaros is now back in his office, sitting at his desk and reading a report. Pax walks upto the office door and stands still before knocking, talking softly to himself. Right... eehm... here we go... He knocks once, waiting for an answer. As he waits he makes sure his holsters are slung in the correct fashion and he discards the 'Cancer-Lite' cigarette he is smoking.
"What is it, soldier?"
Pax clears his throat and stands to attention, "Good daycycle sir, I am Pax-R, just transferred to under your command by Friend Computer. I would like to introduce myself to you before I start work properly. I have my files with me if you are interested in my carreer so far. Presents a bunch of neatly stapled papers and puts them on the desk infront of Allandaros. As you can see I did two tours in NAM sector and I served on the Vulture Squad in MDE sector but I got transferred here because of the... you know... accident in MDE sector... Our commander seemed to be a commie mutant traitor. And we blew him up." He clears his throat again. "I am happy to be under your command, sir, can I please request the position of being your right hand in this platoon, sir? I feel Friend Computer has given me this transfer to further hone my skills and be more of a service to the complex. But if you decide otherwise I will be happy to prove my worth by working in the lower ranks for Friend Computer. I will be happy either way." He salutes briefly
"Two tours in NAM? Interesting. I'll have my eye on you, Pax-R. Do well, and you might get to be corporal in a very short time. Go to Practice Room AA-23(b) and drill there. The other Armed Forces grunts will be joining you shortly." Says Allandros-V, and Pax stands to attention.
"Sir, yes, sir!"
He salutes and turns around in a solid 180 turn. He then marches out of the office, being carefull to close the door behind him in a happy and orderly fashion.
***
Mike-V-LEM walks into the room. "Yo Al, how's the situation with the bot coming? Anyway, I still have work to do, even if there's a psychotic homicidal bot in my office, so I would like to share yours until the situation in mine is dealt with. You could disagree, but you know what happens when an important VIOLET isn't able to keep working. Now, can I use your phone quick? I need to yell at some lack."
"Sure thing, Mike. Once you're done yelling, I'll give you the situation update as I know it." He slides shiny executive-style phone over to Mike who picks up phone and punches in a number. There is no answer and he tries another.
"Priority Delta call, punch me through... still no answer?" Mike hangs up & dials the IntSec main office. "Hello, IntSec? Could you send a squad over to Hitchcock Studio? I called about the progress on the newest Teela season and there's no answer. Send your finest squad; Teela might be in trouble."
On his way to Practice Room AA23(b), Brevet Sergeant Expend-O-BLE stops by the Office. Halts, salutes, stands attention.
"On my way to Practice Room AA23(b) General, Sir, I remembered a proposal that Corporal Xai and I have hit upon to improve Armed Forces productivity and fundings. We asked Friend Computer as Armed Forces did not have a Supervisor in place at the time, and now that the Combot situation is under control I would like to make my suggestion before resuming Drill, Sir.
"What we propose is that Armed Forces and its personnel offer Self Defense Hand to Hand Training Courses to the civilian population of PLN Sector and possibly Alpha Complex. There will be a Basic Course that any RED citizen could take for an affordably Credit fee, and an Advanced Course that requires written authorization from Armed Forces, Intsec, a High Programmer or Friend Computer... with a registration fee more proper for such advanced techqniques, Sir. In addition to increasing Armed Forces revenue for training and funding, it would also provide the average Citizenry without access to firearms a way of taking on the Commie Mutant Menace until reinforcements arrive. And as another bonus, Armed Forces and IntSec can monitor these classes to see which civilian holds enough promise for a transfer. I believe it would make Armed Forces even more wonderful, Sir!" He waits until dismissed, then heads on out towards Practice Room AA23(b) when ordered to do so. As he leaves, Saul-U-RES arrives with the BLUE squad and Silent.
"Allandaros! Got a volunteer for your latest Omega Chair upgrades!"
"Isn't that IntSec's department?" Asks Mike, motioning to one of the BLUEs escorting Silent, "can you kick this traitor in the groin for me?"
The goon kicks Silent in the groin
"Heh. Pretty funny," says Saulres, "Mike-V? IntSec has some methods, yes. But I think for this, the Omega Chair is called for. Biggles can have him when Allandaros is done. I'll just PDC him... Hmmm..." He stops to think, then points to a goon. "You! Give me your PDC." The goon complies and Saulres gets out his own PDC. He types things in his, then in the goon's and son on back and forth, several times, muttering. Then he laughs. Takyn. Gotta be Takyn. And of course he did that. It was for my own good. I'll have to talk to him. He gives PDC back to goon and whispers to him. "Right. I'm going now. Gotta get back before -- gotta get back." He speaks up, "You five, keep an eye on Silent. You five, come with me." He exits with a smaller entourage.
"Mike, the Omega Chair transcends service groups," states Allandros, "It is simply...the Omega Chair. Silent, why don't you step right this way? Two of you BLUES, come with me. I'm going to need someone to clean up the blood spills, and this is sensitive equipment. The rest of you, keep watch outside, hmm?" Allandaros opens up a small, hidden door in the rear of his office and begins descending the steps there. The BLUES, and the unfortunate Silent, follow.
"You know, I've never seen the Omega Chair in action. Mind if I stop by?" They leave, and after a time Athatar knocks on the door to the office, then waits. The automatic door response chimes in.
"Allandaros-V-ELF is currently busy utilizing the Omega Chair. If you are VIOLET clearance or above, you're most welcome to enter. Otherwise...send a PDC message and he'll get back to you. Sometime."
The Interregation of Silent Ù The OMEGA Chair Ù
(17-06)
The pathway down from Allandaros's office yields a small room dominated by a large chair in the center of the room. The chair is connected to a control bank taking up one of the room's walls. The chair is horrendous. Electric prongs, spikes, and...things...you really don't want to think about festoon the horror in the center of the room.
The chair's back is emblazoned with a VIOLET Ù. In this room stood the forbidding masked figure of Allandros-V, the Armed forces general of PLN sector. He speaks to one of the BLUE clones that act as his body guards.
"All right, gentlemen, why don't you set this scum right in that chair?" He indicates the chair and the BLUEs shove Silent down into it. "Any Questions before we begin?"
"No, all good. Ask away. I ruined myself, and I'm sorry. But there is nothing I can do to redeem myself. Ask away, and let me answer..." Silent trails off. He looks down cast and repentant, as well as somewhat scared.
"Very well," replied Allandros-V "We'll begin." He walks over to the contol bank and starts flicking some switches. The room darkens - except for the three bright spotlights directed right at Silent's face. Furthermore, a ring of panels descends from the ceiling to surround Silent's head, almost like an MRI, but transparent, so that the observers can see Silent's face. "Firstly," he says "the credits... Why bid an amount you didn't have?" Silent answers without hesitation.
"I was planning to be in debt to saulres this entire time. After my dinner, I would explain to saulres I couldn't pay for the dinner, no matter what. saulres, after being disappointed, would make me his personal servant to pay for it. Hopefully, I would rise in saulres' graces, by working for saulres directly."
"Do you know what happens to people who don't address High Programmers properly? Do you know what happens to people who lie to me?" Allandros-V pauses for effect, then starts shouting "They get more time in the Omega Chair!" He punches a button on the control panel causing two needles jab into Silent, whose body convulses. He looks like he's about to scream, but can't vocalize it. A small trickle of blood runs from his mouth; apparently he's bit himself. As always, Allandaros's mask remains impassive. "That lie would have worked for up to...say, three thousand credits. You bid a substantial bit more than that. You bid a price high enough to completely correct a clone template several times over. Your total value is much, much less than that. Your total value, when you were RED, was something like 500 credits. Right now, of course, your credit value is negative - traitor.... Lets try this again... Why bid so high?"
This will kill me, Thinks Silent, The Omega Chair is attacking me, causing me much agony. I can see why Allanadros uses this for interrogations. I've got to have one for my own personal use...just as soon as I get out of it...I wonder if Mr. ULTRAVIOLET sat in this very chair...
"Err... Mister VIOLET..." Silent groans, "If you have noticed in the c-bay logs, other has bided. Not as high as me, but still high for a RED to have. For example, the bid before my final bid, was 50,000 credits by Ath. My first bid, as you may have noticed, was 20 credits. Very low number, and should have stayed low. However, an obession was grown. An obbession to win the betting and get that dinner, with my friend, Mr. ULTRAVIOLET. I really like Mr. ULTRAVIOLET. I really do. Even after he questioned me, he was a good friend of mine, I would never hurt him. He was a good ULTRAVIOLET, being a loyal and kind citizen. I wish I could be like him. And therefore, I wish to be at that dinner, meeting up with a good citizen.
"I bidded high, not knowing what I has done. I wanted to go to that dinner, and I was dumb to forget that I have no money, no way to fund for that dinner. I was flattered by the ULTRAVIOLET, and I wanted to be near him. I wanted to do so...at any cost.
"And now, I upseted my favorite ULTRAVIOLET, a person I love, second to Friend Computer. When he kicked me, I felt sad, sad that I made him mad, and harmed him. This, harming a ULTRAVIOLET, was itself a punishment. I loved Mr. ULTRAVIOLET. And I didn't mean to hurt him...I really didn't." Silent sobs rather pathetically.
(18-06)
While Silent talks, another VIOLET citizen enters. It is the HPD&MC Executive Coordination Officer Mike-V-LEM. He stands beside Allandros-V.
"So, how far through the investigation are you?" He asks as Allandros-V turns towards him.
"Just getting started... Hold on a moment, let me get through this..." Allandros turns back to Silent. "The other bids are irrelevant. Your bumbling lies are irrelevant. Your attempts to talk your way out are foolish, Silent. We don't want your lies. We want information. Information. And by hook or by crook, we'll get it... You talk of love. Love is irrelevant." He keys in some comands and then continues, "I'll ask you again. Why bid so high? Who were you working for?" This time, the pain comes in a series of electric shocks across the forearms. The stench of burning flesh fills the room, and one of the BLUEs wrinkles his nose. This time, Silent is able to vocalize his scream.
Hearing Silents scream from three corridors away, the HPD&MC Coordinated Executive officer, a sadistic registered mutant called CMT-V comes to investigate the sounds. Seeing the chair in action he becomes rather exited. "Oooh... youre using... The Chair?! Can I watch?"
"Yes, yes... if you're quiet," says Allandros, exasperated, "I've got an interrogation to do, and these interruptions aren't helping."
Silent's screams have ended. "Mr VIOLET..." he breaks in, breating heavily, "um, the VIOLET who is currently interogating me..." He breaks off, then sighs, "I was working for Free Enterprise. I bid so high because they told me to bid. If I didn't obey their orders, well, something bad would happen to me. It was somewhat of a loyalty test... only it was a treason test... to see if I was loyal to their secert society. While I pass their 'test', I wasted Mr. ULTRAVIOLET's time and deserved to be punished."
Allandros looks at Silent for a moment before replying. "ou may be interested to know that at this point, your nervous system is currently fortified. Your nerves will hardly be taking any damage at this point. The purpose of this is, of course, to leave them largely intact so that you can feel...every...excruciating...moment of pain from the Omega Chair." He looks at the controls, then speaks quietly, "You know what I hate, Silent? I hate it when you lie to me." He flicks a switch. This time...nothing seems to happen. One of the BLUEs looks puzzled. "Well then," he says, "I've got places to be. Don't worry, Silent...I'll be back to finish this." He ushers the BLUEs and visiting Violets out of the room. As everyone leaves, and the door shuts...a single drop of water falls on Silent's forehead. Then, after what seems like an eternity...another. And another...
How to escape from this chair? Wonders Silent, Surely telling the truth didn't work, neither did lying. Can't kill myself. Can't break free. Can't hire anyone, no credits. Can't reach my PDC...wait I don't even have one! This is all so devesating. Gah!
... This makes me WANT to go back to the food vats...scary.
(20-06)
"Aah, Silent. What a distinct lack of pleasure to see your ugly face again." Says Allandros-V, entering his office, followed by two BLUEs. He looks at the pudle of water that had acumulated around Silent and the Omega Chair. "Hmm, it seems that the water treatment's been going effectively. But why don't we dry you up?" He flicks a few switches. To Silent's relief, the water seems to have stopped. However, something else is happening. Heating elements on the Chair begin to glow, first a dull cherry-red, then shading upwards to ORANGE. The water pooled on the ground begins to melt away, and Silent begins to look more than a little uncomfortable. "So, Silent... Why don't we discuss all these codes you were babbling about. What codes?" he asks as the Heating elements continue to heat up.
* * *
23-06 Freedom ~ Electronic diary of Saul-U-RES
I can’t believe it went so smoothly. I thought it would be a lot harder to sneak out than it was, but Farg didn’t show up to escort me to that indoctrination, Takyn was on vacation, and Jazzer was busy preparing for Funball. The codes on the door were a snap for me to break, knowing the other ULTRAVIOLETs as well as I now do, and I was out of the towers and into the complex.
Getting a phalanx of security guards was easy; BLUEs know to kowtow to a ULTRAVIOLET (unlike some REDs, but I’ll get to that). Sure, my clothes have built-in armor, but you can never be too careful, the way the clones of PLN Sector behave. Yeah, even though I was carrying the things which protected me from secret society influence (especially the Psi Dampener, which kept those stinking Psion freaks away from me), it didn’t hurt to have some extra muscle.
Anyway, no one was helpful in finding Silent in the barracks. Leave it to Biggles to find him wherever he was hiding; that’s a good man there. I’ll have to check out his group’s entertainment at some point. Anyway, when I finally got Silent, he came up with some lame lies about what he was up to. He even claimed he spent the money he owed me! Yeah, right! Like any RED could amass almost 150K, even one in Free Enterprise. Such bull annoyed me so much I busted him down to INFRARED. Swiped his ME card so any future funds he receives will go to him paying what he owes me. Finally, sent him to Allandaros (another good man; I like the VIOLETs) for some Omega Chair activity. He’ll find out the truth behind Silent’s lies.
But the key thing I learned was that something was up with my PDC. I wish Silent had kept his; it would’ve been nice to see what he got from me. But I was able to simulate with - oh, what’s his name? Some BLUE’s. Anyway, turns out that incoming cMails to me were all being bounced with some spam protection, and all my outgoing ones were being encrypted (all except the subject). Didn’t take me long to realize it was Takyn behind it. And it made perfect sense, too; I sure didn’t need any REDs bugging me while I was going through indoctrination.
Once I realized this, of course, I had to go to Takyn and have a good laugh about it. Found him in the funball arena. Didn’t disturb him, really. I mean, at first he was a bit upset about me invading his space, but after I threw a couple more Phase IV enhancement ideas at him - which he liked - he was all too willing to chat. I impressed him with my ability to beat his codes to leave the towers and my discovery of what he had done, so he was willing to undo it.
Well, not all of it; he took out the encryption, but I kinda like the spam blocking. So he showed me the backdoor entry code which would bypass it; the other ULTRAVIOLETs had already been using it so that’s why I didn’t notice there was anything wrong right away. I immediately distributed it to the VIOLETs so they can get in touch with me; now that I’ve proven myself, I can interact freely with whoever in the sector I want, and after all, why would I want to associate with anyone under GREEN? And since we’ve only got REDs, ORANGEs, and VIOLETs (and one INFRARED. Hee hee!), well, the Service Group heads can act as nice buffers between the lower levels and me.
So no more indoctrinations! I’m all done. Farg’ll be happy, whenever he shows up again. Wonder where he went?
Ah well, that’s a concern for another day. For now, I’m just going to enjoy my freedom.
***
"Codes, codes...well...ouch, sorry, Mr. VIOLET...but, you know, I'm a heat-senstive INFRARED and I don't like being burnt...hm...er...I lied about the codes. Yes. No codes. You know I lied many times. Well, I lied again. There was no codes. I was trying futiley to fool Mr. ULTRAVIOLET and you, hoping to get out. But, I'm a loser...OUCH...traitor, and I deserve this punishment, for not only disappointing a ULTRAVIOLET, but for lying. Oh, how I hate lying! And, oh, Mr. VIOLET, have mercy on me!" Silent could feel parts of his flesh being burnt away. Still, the nerves are steel... which means that he could still feel the pain.
"You hate lying?" Mused Allandros, "Hmmm, interesting... So why do you lie so much? You've lied to your superiors, you lied to the High Programmer, and you've been lying to me just now." He looked closly at Silent, "Why you lie so much, Silent. I'm honestly curious now."
"I don't know!" Babbeled Silent, "I've been lying for quite some time, I couldn't remember when I started. When I try to ask myself why I lie, I don't know the answer...sometimes I even lie to myself, so I don't trust myself. I really do hate lying, but I do it all the time. Sometimes it was for minor acts, insubordation, and other times, it was for treasonous events, and now, it's for this. Oh, I hate lying. I got to find a way to stop lying, to start telling the truth for once."
"What?!" Allandros sounds angry, and codes in another sequence. "That's it, Silent. That was the most incoherent statement I've heard this yearcycle. You're going to pay for that one." Needles jab into Silent's arms again. A green fluid is injected, and the needles withdraw. Meanwhile, a projection begins to appear on the far wall. It's Silent's internal organs, his brain and lungs, his arteries and veins...A bright green fluid can be seen passing through the blood system. "Do you see that green liquid, Silent? That's some nanotech I developed while at R&D. When that reaches your brain, you will be experiencing some of the most hideous pain imaginable. That is, of course, unless you tell me who was behind all this. If you tell me - I might not key in the commands to activate the nanoprobes... So. Who were you working for? Who was going to bankroll you? Why didn't they back you up?" The fluid continues to course through Silent's body.
(21-06)
CMT-V, who seems to have a rather suspiciously mutatious sence for when the chair is being used, pokes his head into the room. "Allandaros, could you please turn on the vent fan... the smell of burning INFRARED is all over this sector and its making me dry heave in my helmet. Thanks," He looks at Silents organs on the wall, "OooooooOOooOO.. the nanoprobes!! That reminds me, I need to pick up some earplugs from the PLC. Wish I could stay longer."
As CMT leaves, Silent tries to answer Allandros, but seems to be having some dificulty. "Err..." He says, and closes his eyes for a moment, thinking. Gah. No more lies to get me out of this mess. Allandaros must have been very experinced in this field, so he knows whatever I'm saying. He proberly already known everything...but he still want to use his Omega Chair, for some sadistic reason. I don't know what a nanoprobe is, but if it is like that heat from the chair, I'm going to hate it...and not only do I have to lie through my teeth, but that buring flesh is not helping me concerate. That Omega Chair must have beenCome on, Silent, you can do it. You can come up with a solution. You can lie through your teeth again, you can do it...avoid those 'nanoprobes', whatever they are...remember, you been doing it your entire life...
"er, I dont know?"
Oh, no... I know thats a wrong answer... I'm sure going to have nightmares about the Omega Chair. Okay, lesson learned. Don't EVER bid higher than you have in a C-bay auction, even if the person says you can bid more than you have...otherwise you'll land back into this Omega Chair and have to suffer the same thing I'm in. He opens his eyes. Please, somebody say the 'nanoprobes' aren't a new R&D devicie that can blow me up! I can't afford another clone!
Allandros pauses. "Wait... What do you mean, you don't know? Do you not know who was bankrolling you? Or is it that you don't know why they failed to back you up?"
CMT appears at the door again. "Hey Allandaros! I've got a scrubot on standby in the hallway here incase this one explodes too." Silent groans, but nobody seems to notice, "Oh! And remember to wear the approiate coveralls this time! Those ORANGE level Grunts got really confused last time." He leaves as Mike-V enters.
"He could just be an idiot, Allandaros. Sir Saulres did tell people to bid more than they had. Besides, who would pay a RED like him 150,000 credits? You could buy your own sector for that money... This is entertaining, but Silent is still a member of my Service Group, and I'd rather not waste his clones. Trained help is so hard to find these days. Finish confirming Silent isn't part of some vast conspiracy, release him in working condition, and suggest that Sir Saulres simply give the dinner to the next-highest bidder," He checks c-bay on his PDC, "Which would be citizen Athatar at 50,000 credits..." Mike makes a mental note Discuss fiscal responsibility with lackeys. "Actually," he continues, " make that the 3rd-highest bidder. That would be you, Allandaros, at 4640 credits. You do have that many credits, right?
"Mike, lets not discus this in front of him..." Allandros takes out his PDC and starts typing, "Just check your cMail, Okay?" He turns to Silent and wais for him to talk.
"What Mr. Mike-V-LEM sir says. I am a dupe, a stupid person, who made a stupid mistake, and will never make a stupid mistake ever again. Please forgive me, Mr. VIOLET!"
"Forgive you? Silent, I don't think you properly appreciate my position here. I'm not concerned with whether you repent or not. That's for the High Programmers and the Computer to decide. I have a very simple job, and that is to find out exactly what you know. Once I am satisfied in this regard, then...why, you are free to go. But until that time...you're going to answer my questions. I don't care about the fact that you're a dupe. The question is - who duped you? Who was behind this? I must know... The sooner you tell me everything, the sooner you get to leave. Who was behind this? Who was supporting you? Who? WHO?!?" His slams his hand down against the nearest flat surface. Silent gasps. He looks... terrified.
"Free Enterprise!" The words come quickly, fearfully, desperatly "I belonged to that secert society, and they told me to do it....they duped me." He sighs and gets a hold of himself. "They are behind this. I have no other information."
"Do you remember what I told you earlier, Silent? I hate it when clones lie to me. I hate it." He keys in yet another sequence. The souls of Silents feet recieve a sharp electric shock, and he souts in pain. The green fluid on the viewer seems to be creeping closer to Silent's brain - it's already passed the heart, and is now heading upwards... Allandros continues, showing no sign of sympathy. "Who was your contact? Where did you meet him? How did you first become involved in Free Enterprise? Why would Free Enterprise wish to anger Saul-U-RES?"
(22-06)
The pain... Those nanoprobes are getting closer... Silent screams in terror "Make it stop! Make it stop! Please! please... My contact! They used codenames so I don't know! I think... I think his name is 'Bob' or 'Tom'. I believe I meet them usually in the INFRARED Market, where they would tell me from a dark corner... arrgh... and I would be.. unable to see... their faces." Silent takes a breath, "They recruited me because they know I would do a job without asking any questions; Do it or die."
"I do not know why Free Enterprise wants to anger Saul-U-RES. They tell me that I should do it, so...I do it. Your best bet is to interrogate my superiors. They may have far more intel that I ever can speak."
"Very good Silent. Why, there may be hope for you yet. Now then, you mentioned something about your PDC going missing. Tell me what happened."
"Sorry Mr. VIOLET if my speaking is a little soft and interrupted, the pain from the Omega Chair still hurts...ow...." Oh, the pain. Make it stop, make it stop! "My PDC is my most favorite thing. However, I handed it over to a Free Enterpriser. The same one who also told me to bid high and annoy Mr. ULTRAVIOLET. I did it, because, as I said before, I'm a dupe. I think I deleted Mr. ULTRAVIOLET's messages from the PDC before giving it to the Free Enterpriser, but I´m not sure. Your best bet is to capture my superior and get him to talk. Preferably in the Omega Chair."
"Why did you delete the massages?"
(23-06)
"I think I have deleted the messages. I am not sure however. The pain and the misery has made me forgotten some details, and I can't be too sure of anything...ow..." He breaks off again. Allandros dosnt seem to mind. Pushing isn't nessisary at this point of the interrogation. "I think, if I deleted the messages, then it must have been that FE person again who told me to. I just obey what he told me, never questioning."
"Very Interesting." He keys in a sequence and the panels on the chair withdraw, the manacles snap open. The projection on the screen fades away. "Thank you for your cooperation in this investigation, citizen. Your superiors will be informed of your statements. Any incriminating remarks which you may have made will most certainly be used against you... Right, Silent. You're free to go. Get out of here. And don't let this happen again. If you think this delta chair," he points at the chair "was bad, consider what would happen in the real Omega Chair."
(24-06)
After a while Mike-V speaks. "That sent shivers up even my spine, Allandaros."
CMT-V appeared at the door, "Just curious, Is there an Alpha Chair?" It makes one wonder if he'd been standing outside the whole time... Listening...
***
***INCOMING TRANSMISSION***
….,., .,…. **….,, ,.,..just ridiculous!! Here I am, caught Outdoors with….* ,.,. .,.* *..,., .,… ,.,.,* *…, *.,.,. and*..,., .,… ,.,.,* …..sure gored me but good. If only I hadn’t …,…, with th..,.. *,.. ,.,.,…stupid PDC is running out of power an.,.,.,.he reception here is practically nil! Can’t even reach Jazzer on the emergency frequen….,.,. ,.,.,.* ,.,.,. **,.,… ..,…etting worse. The micro-beacon doesn’t seem …,,. ..,,,. ..,.,.working and I’m not even sure if I’m still transmitting anymore. I’ve managed to …*..*, ,***,,,. ..*.. …, …,a tourniquet for..,,,.. .,.*,., ..,,,,…ould be okay for the short term. But it’s hard to walk and my usual running pace is definitely out of the ques…***..,. ..,.. *..,,,.. *..,…,, ,., .,., * ,,.,.ill take me weeks to get back to the complex at this rate!
Well, I did tell Takyn I was staying out here longer to find a bit of a challenge. Looks like I found one.
..,.,*.,.**,.,. *…-..*.. *.*…-**.*.-.* *.* **. **.>> *>>>>CARRIER LOST
A New Life
(24-06)
Silent enters the Irfrared closet just as The Computer makes an anouncement. "Citizens, The Computer has provided this clean and comfy space so that you may rest inbetween punishment shifts. You may also use the restroom down the hall on Twodays, Threedays and Sixdays."
So, this is where I live from now on. The Computer is most mericful and bountiful. Hopefully, I'll learn a lesson from this, and will reform from my lying status. He sits down. A voice from far of can be heard. "Sucker!" Its shouts.
A clone, GirdagFireskull, from sector GBR, walks in with a bull horn. Finally some fun, I think ill enjoy this. He puts the horn to his lips and shouts.
"WAKE UP!"
Its very loud, but doesn't seem to have much of an effect. Infact nobody even seems to really notice.
Dweccl, another INFRARED clone in the closet is twitching rather badly. "Isn't this fun! Friend Computer says so! It's so much fun getting chased by a giant bed bug down to PLC, back to the RED dorm then just outside the funbal stadium, only to have the bed bug suck you dry to within an inch of your life! Wowee! What incredible fun that was! I wish with all my might I could do it again!" he twitches "So, how was your daycycle, citizen Silent? Been read any good - and assuredly justly deserved and undoubtedly fun - riot acts lately?" He laughs, then twitches, then crams himself into the corner of the closet.
"Nothing much, Dwccl... I've been at the Omega... I mean, Delta Chair for some time now. Today is my first day as INFRARED. Don't worry, I've been INFRARED before, so not much here is new." Silent finally takes notice of GirdagFireskull. "Look, before I wake up, I need to go to sleep. As soon as I will sleep, I will wake up, okay, trusted citizen?"
No sooner has he said this, however, than two higher clearance clones walk in. The first, V declares he is here to see Silent, at which the second clone says "Well, I'm here to find a mop," he pauses, "Oh, hey, is that the Communications Junction Box for HEL Subsector? Excellent! I've been looking for this! Excuse me a moment." The clone opens the junction box with a spare spanner.
Silent addressed V. "Hey, V. What's up? Long time no see, hey! We've been friends, no...good friends. Surely friendships like this are very unbreakable, expect for our lovable friend, The Compute, right, who is all our Friend, right, V? Yeah, V! What do you want to talk about?"
"Hmmm..." mutters the second clone, pressing a button lables "test" and leans towards the microphone grille. "Technician Burg-R-KNG-1 on assignment 7232, comm check, junction box... *reads side of box* ....P, L, N, slash, H, E, L, dash 33351, please acknowledge?" He presses the button again and waits a few minutes before trying again, "Acknowledge test protocol zeta-zeta-niner, confirm?" He pushes the button a few times. "Frak it. No wonder the entire subsector's having problems with comm lines. Hmmmm, I wonder if those vatheads in Power even wired this thing into the local grid!" He turns around and looks at Silent. "Citizen Silent! Rejoice in this opportunity to service your fellow citizens and Alpha Complex and to make amends for your prior actions yadda yadda yadda. I need you to lick this part of the junction box for me, okay?" He points to an exposed metal terminal, then backs casually out of arms reach of Silent. At this point another clone, Citron-JRX, enters, muttering that at least he won't have to deal with the stressful life of RED citizenship for a while. Nobody pays him any attention.
"Burg-R, sure, I'll lick that exposed portion...but you know, I going to have to talk to V for a little bit...on second thought, maybe I should lick that exposed portion first. But you know, licking exposed portions here is...not good. What if this room get destroyed? We should lick this exposed portion somewhere else...yeah, somewhere else. Somewhere far away."
"Stop lolligagging, clone!" growls Burg-R, "I'm busy, and I gotta get this junction box fixed... Your fears are baseless. A class three commo tie-in like this doesn't have enough power flowing through it to cause it to explode." At least when Troubleshooters aren't involved "Now, your head on the other hand, well, tell ya what. I need to know if this thing is energized. You're holding up important Complex business because half the subsector is without communications. Just stick your tongue out and touch it to that part right there that says "Aux Electron Flow Out". If something bad happens to you, like you catch on fire or spontaneously vaporize, I guarantee that Tech Services will pay for your new clone." Not a guarantee. Offer void where prohibited. Prohibited in all sectors with the letters “A”, “Z” and those letters in between in the standard Computer-approved alphabet. Offer is not valid to all citizens of INFRARED to GREEN clearance. The Computer is Your Friend. Thought for the day: Loyal citizens only have two arms, two eyes, two legs, and one head. "Whatta offer to redeem yourself in the eyes of Friend Computer!" Burg-R lowers his voice. "Also, I heard you spent some time in... the Chair." He shudders. "So, hey, this should be like a walk in the plaza for you, huh?"
(25-06)
"Ah, the chair... It was good, but---"
Suddenly V's hand thrusts out, grabbing Silent by the neck and lifting him off the ground. Silent starts to gasp and V speaks. "Friendship, Silent? It was loyalty... Stupidity I can forgive, but disloyalty? You will die a traitor's death. Any last words?"
The Int-Sec clone, Lu, roams into the closet.
"Hey, hey. Do you have any evidence of this clone's treason? It's treasonous to terminate traitors without evidence."
Suddenly Dweccl blurts, "You know what I like about being INFRARED best? Huh? Do ya?" He waits anxiously for an eager "No, what? Really - I'm just itching to know". After an awkward silence, realizes he's not going to get a reply, so he continues, "No giant RED bugs! Just a few dozen ring worms, see?" He dangles a ring worm between a pinched forefinger and thumb and sighs with a look of sincere contentment. Nobody pays attention.
"V...V...just listen to me," Silent, being elevated some way of the ground, barely manages to speak. " I have done wrong things, yes. But I still believe in you. I was not loyal, true, but the core ideas you have inspired in me still remains. You have enlightened me, shown me the truth. And for that, I am greatful. But, now you will kill me. Which is sad. Because I really like you. I really do. I'm so sorry....really am...I didn't mean it. But it's over. The entire society is comprimised. Mere revenge can't do anything now, for the damage has been done... chk-hch... Just kill me. I deserve it.
Citron glares over at the noisy altercation, then with a sudden burst of inspiration, dashes over and dives at V, bottle of cleansing spray in hand. "That's unauthorized destruction of Computer property there, bucko! I won't have that happen in my presence!"
Lu buts in again, "Hey! No murder of fellow clones without evidence of treason! Don't ignore me, INFRAREDs."
Expend-O-BLE arrives at the INFRARED Closet and swings the doors open before drawing out the GIGAN-XS chainsaw and starting it up.
"ALL RIGHT YOU INFRARED VATSLIME!! REST PERIOD IS OVER!! GET OVER TO THE VATS AND START DOING YOUR DUTIES IF YOU BOOTSMOKES WANT TO REDEEM YOURSELVES IN THE EYES OF FRIEND COMPUTER!! MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT!!" He squeezes the trigger and the Chainsaw whines at Full Throttle as he points it at the INFRAREDS to begin herding them.
Lu edes away from the chainsaw. "Err.... I think I'll be going now, Expand-O-Ble. Thank you for coming and getting the INFRARED's to work." Lu moves to leave when suddenly V bakhands Citron without looking, sending him flying across the room to land like a sack of potatoes.
He glares at Silent. Lu sighs as V starts to speak. "Silent, I hope your next clone forgets about all this and joins a nice relaxing society. Else it might become stressful," he squeezes Silent's neck, crushing his windpipe. "And so ends the disgraced life of Silent-1. Hunted by ULTRAVIOLETs, demoted to INFRARED, and terminated for refusing to help a Technician repair a panel. Shameful." HE throws the body to Burg. "His toungue should still be moist." It was at about this time that Zathril entered the room, in the hope that watching others in pain will help him relax after the interrogation. However, everyone was either to busy, or too insane to notice him leaning quietly against the wall.
V finally notices Expend-O-BLE, who is still standing with the chainsaw. Well, I see they've improved the wake-up call a bit.
***( V *whispers to Bee* Work with me here. I don't want to get drastic. EDIT: Retcon complete.)
***(Burg *steps back and using his SureShot PDC attachment, takes picture of citizen V grabbing Silent's throat* Hey hey HEY! Don't be pushing my "assistant" around! *violently shoulders himself between Silent and V* Citizen V, don't you have any work you need to be doin'? *Expend-O opens the door to the closet and starts up his chainsaw.* Thank Friend Computer! Now I can get some work done! Now, Silent, will you please lick that terminal? I really need to see if that thing is energized or not. EDIT: Posted between the point I saw Expendi-O's entrance and the flurry of posting activity. I guess Takyn will sort it out.)
Lu interupts. "V, I'm going to have to ask you to come with me, unless you wish to be executed for treason."
"Citizen V, I saw that, Hand yourself over to Intsec right no or you will be forcibly taken there!" Shouts Zathril, and several of the people in the crowded closet jumped, wondering how long he had been standing there. Citron, ever the opportunist, used the moment of distraction to kick out at V's legs as Expernd-O-BLE starts up his chain-saw again. V managed to easily dodge Citron's kick as the INFRARED drugs are already slowing his reaction time from what it was as a RED. V quickly darts into a small group of IRs that make a path for him, and quickly fill it. The thronging IRs, all of them now in a state of panic, knock Zathril, Lu, and Burg to the ground, and send Expend dangerously tottering with a reved up chainsaw.
Chaos reigns in the tight sleeping closet as 30 IRs shout and shuffle in confusion and panic. Lu scrambles to his feet, but V is nowhere to be seen. He imediatly messages Biggles, alerting him to the unauthorized murder. He shook his head saying "He got away!" Lu was already running in the direction he thought V must have taken. Expend-O-BLE tries desperatly to regain his balance and release the trigger amid the ongoing confusion and Zath-?-lLL struggles to his feet and follows after Lu and (presumably) V, since from what Lu is saying Intsec want him. Expend finally gets his ballance and barks out at the IRs, chainsaw ready to rev should any decide to rush him. "ALL RIGHT INFRAREDS!! TO THE FOOD VATS NOW!!" Rush me if you want IRs, I'll delimbinize them as a disiplinary action!
Ignoring the INFRARED's, who were slowly coming under Expends control, Burg-R grabs Silent's lifeless body, shrugs, and presses the still moist toungue against the exposed metal stud, watching Silent closely to seeif any sparks fly or muscles twitch. Nothing happened.
"I knew it! Farking power slackers!" Burg looks over his shoulder to where Citron is still struggling to stand. "Hey! Citron! Can I borrow you a minute?"
Citron sets his jaw, scrambling rather ungracefully to his feet, in a vain attempt to pursue the traitor, only to find himself winded. He forces himself to march out to the vats, a forced smile spread thick on his face. With the level of noise here, he never heard Burg... Probebly a good thing. Expend see's Citron stagger.
"Come on! to the food vats!" He breifly revs the chainsaw to full throttle and urges the INFRARED along. Seeing him move, he turns attention to those IRs who are still standing around. "Comeon Vat-Slime! Start working or else!" The chainsaw is once again at full throttle.
Burg-R watches Citron shuffle out with Expend-O. Aw, shucks. I'll do it myself. He looks around and finds power line leading into the closet's portable space heater, thinking Eh, they're INFRARED's. They won't need it anyway, huddled up like that. In a shower of sparks, Burg pulls power line out of space heater and jams it into the electrical feed on the Communication Junction. The Junction Box sputters to life. There we go! It’s not at full capacity, but it’ll do for now. He reaches inside and fiddles with the controls, muttering about “triangulation” and “frequency tracking localization." He presses the test button.
"Ahem. Technician Burg-R-KNG-1 on assignment 7232, comm check, junction box ....P, L, N, slash, H, E, L, dash 33351, acknowledge?"
".-..,affirmative,.*..,.,click."
He smiles. "Acknowledge test protocol zeta-zeta-niner, standby."
",.,*...,.proceed..,-,..click."
"The quick brown buzzbot jumped over the lazy Troubleshooter. Testing, testing - 1... 2... 3... Can you hear me? Testing, testing. Is this thing on?"
"ttss.,..-.-.. tk ., , can you hear me now? click"
"Affirm, Loud and clear."
"Good, terminting test protocol. click."
He closes the box and walks out of INFRARED sleeping closet.
27-07 Knocking ~ Saul-U-RES Blog
What a daycycle! First, Girdag cMails me, through my spam blocker, with supposed information about my time before my promotion. I told him I remember it all, what with coming up through CPU and all, but then he throws nightmares at me. With my new interest in psychology, I figure, sure, I’ll talk to him. He wants to meet in private, though, so okay, I’m willing. I try in the BLUE suites, but then Takyn goes and interrupts us. So, down to the main Compnode, where Takyn struggles to fill out a form while I talk with Girdag.
Takyn, man. Brilliant with coding, not so much with stylus and notepad. I offered to help him with his form, but he figured he had it on his own. So be it. At least he types quickly, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to take out PSZ so easily. Not sure which of the other sectors is next; I favor taking out #4, but he seems to think a bunch of the smaller ones are the way to go. Doesn’t really matter, it’s so much fun!
Anyway, when I got back from the meeting with Girdag, I thought I’d take a nap, but I couldn’t. There was this persistent knocking noice. I finally traced it down to a seldom-used exit to the Outdoors. Wary of what I might find, I loaded up my laser and carefully, slowly, opened the door. Then something short, furry, and filthy tumbled in. The stench alone sent me reeling, and I was just bringing up my laser to shoot it when it spoke! “Thank - the - Computer,” it said, through a raspy voice, clearly long disused. But I recognized that voice! Could it be? I slowly approached it. “Farg?” I asked, quietly. “Fargmania?” again, a bit louder. It spoke again. “saulres? - groan.”
Yep, it was Farg, all right. I got him to one of his bedrooms, dumped him on his bed, ran a bath for him, and told him to get clean, and rest. Then it was back to my room for a nice shower and fumigation.
Feeling better, I checked the Jobs Board, but still no bites on my offers. You’d think service firms would be falling all over themselves to get paid to do work for an ULTRAVIOLET. And their rates would go up tremendously after such a visible job. Ah well. Maybe this is yet another idea of mine which won’t fly.
While I was online, I figured I’d write this up. Now back to check on Farg, make sure he didn’t fall asleep in the bath. And make sure he actually took one! Then, finally, some rest.
Tomorrow I’ve got to check on Girdag’s job performance statistics. And I just realized I still have Silent’s PDC; maybe I’ll track him down and give it back to him - after rubbing it in Farg’s dirty clothes first. Hee hee! Ah, yes, I do love this life.
(11-06)
After another day of duty at Hitchcock Studio, Expend-O-BLE heads back to the Armed Forces barracks for a washcycle, then heads over to the Hand to Hand Training Facility. A TrainerBot is waiting for him.
"Good Eveningcycle, Vulture Expend-O-BLE." says the bot.
"Good Eveningcycle. Please deploy Hand to Hand Trainer Level 1."
"Hand to Hand Trainer Level 1 Deployed." As the bot speaks, a clone-shaped dummy wearing a Brown Fur Commie Hat and a SynthHair Commie Moustache pops up out of the ground.
"Okay..." Says Expend, taking out his Brass Knuckle and holding it firm in his right hand before throwing a punch to the CommieDummy's abdomen.
"Abdominal Region Hit. Probable Damage: Moderate Bruising."
The vulture grits his teeth and starts throwing a series of punches with both hands at the CommieDummy's gut repeatedly.
"Abdonimal Region Hit. Probably Damage: Severe Bruising, Minor to Moderate Intestinal Damage."
"Thats more like it!" he says to himself, grinning. Expend-O-BLE then starts on a full out Vulture Squadron Hand to Hand Combat routine on the CommieDummy, including kicks and uppercuts to the CommieDummy all over for several minutes.
"Overall Damage: Extensive Bruising. Bone Breakage. Internal Bleeding probable. Concussion. Skull Fracture. Possible Death Without Medical Attention. Excellent Attack Pattern."
"Thank you." He says, as he catches his breath and puts away the knuckle. "Please initiate ASH Free Style Trainer."
"Engaging Aggressive Surgical Handling Free Style Trainer now." The CommieDummy is retracted back under the floor, and then HoloProjectors turn on, suddenly conjuring a small group of Virtual Commies with brown hats and moustaches.
"It's Commie-DOOM time..." He Unslings his GIGAN-XS Chainsaw and starts it up, gripping it properly before squeezing the throttle. He starts charging into the HoloCommie fray and slashes away. "YAAH! HAAH! DIE!!" The HoloCommies perfectly simulate losing limbs and bleeding all over the Training Facility floor and screaming like only Commie Mutant Traitors can. As one goes down, another replaces him or her.
Expend is so engrosed in his training session that he dosn't even notice the ULTRAVIOLET HIgh-Programmer Jazzer-U Dtriding into the facility.
"Citizen Expend-O-BLE, have you seen---- citizen, why are you talking to yourself? Get back to base and start interacting with some other citizens for a while." Crazy armed forces... they're all nuts. Expend-O-BLE stops the chainsaw and salutes the High Programmer, the HoloCommie program pausing in the meantime. Jazzer then leaves in much the same way he entered, although this time people were looking at him. One of these was Javacak-R-GBR, a registered mutant working for CPU. He watches the frozen simulated carnage with interest.
"Hey, Expend-O," he enqires, "fancy giving me a little basic hand-to-hand training? You never know when it might come in handy..."
"Greetings Citizen. You require Mandatory Self Defense Course? Very well. And this does qualify as interacting with a Citizen so..." He slings the chainsaw in its holding scabbard and takes out his own Brass Knuckles and gripping it in the right hand. "Now, the first hint is to study the enemy's eyes. They can tell you when they're about to strike." Gets into hand to hand stance and approaches Javacake. Tensing back his right hand in preparation to punch, he then throws a straight with the left towards his stomach. "Also watch for fake-outs, Citizen." Javacake dodges and blends into the wall.
"Hmmm... Sneaky. What about using your natural advantages to your own benefit?" He asks, as a set of brass knuckles appear to fly through the air towards Expend-O's nose. Expend-O-BLE's nose bleeds from the hit even as he tries to roll with the punch, but then he grabs for the wrist of the hand holding the knuckle with his left hand and grunts.
"Exellent, but every avantage aso has a way of beeng countered." Holding onto Javacakes wrist, he starts countering with repeated close quarter punches with his own brass-knuckle holding right hand to Javacake's guts. The Mutant doubles up in agony.
"OK! OK! I think I get the picture... Hows about we move onto some dummies and you show me some basic strikes and throws?" He says as he tries to control the internal bleeding whilst limping over to the dummies in the centre of the room. Expend-O wipes the blood off his nose with his left hand and wipes it on his RED pantsleeves. Then gritting he sets his nose in place with a Crunch!
"Okay Citizen, I can teach you the most basic of strikes. Anything more advanced cannot be taught due to Clearance and Armed Forces restrictions." He goes over to the CommieDummies that have now popped up. "This is a jab," he performs a right Jab to a CommieDummy's head, "It is more for speed and initiative than actual damage. Next, we have a Straight." This time he executes a straight punch, " It's much slower than a Jab, but more strength conversely. Try them on a dummy, citizen."
Javacake jabs, then jabs again. Misses with a straight, but then gets the hang of it and starts swinging punches to the dummy. Jab! Jab! Straight! Cross! Jab! Hook! Uppercut! He walks away from the dummy, the turns around and launches a flying kick at it in a moment of sheer adrenaline. Then proceeds to pick himself up off the floor and nurse a sprained ankle. "Ahem... Maybe I won't try that again... Is there anything else you can teach me, Expend-O? I'm eager to learn..."
Expend watches Javacake's combo attack with much eye for detail. "Hmm... you do very well with the basic strikes Citizen. But yes, you should not try that kick until you receive proper training. I believe that the Advanced Courses are restricted to members of the Armed Forces, or civilians who have authorization from either Armed Forces, IntSec, a High Programmer or Friend Computer. Good work, and your technique is perfect for smashing Commie Scum even without a firearm! They might be able to take away your Laser Pistol, but they can't take away your fists!" Javacake bows to Expend-O, then goes off to meditate and paint a fence, over and over again. Expend bows back to Javacake, then heads back to the Barracks for another Washcycle. Some time later, Citizen Silent entered the room, which was attended by Xai-O-SHI-1.
(12-06) (***Isn't paint blue clearance?***)
"Hello. I am interested in your course. Is it okay if I have premission to take it, and learn how to fight the Commie horde?" Asks Silent politely.
"I'm sorry, but we're awaiting computer permission to run the course. However, if / when we do get permission, you're free to come along. Until then I'm afraid giving training may be treasonous. However, feel free to stick around and punch some bags if you want." Replies Xai.
"I would love to stick around, but my service group just called me. If/When Friend Computer gives you premission, you tell me, and I'll come back here, ok?"
(Note, this is all P1 of this)
Vending Machines
(11-06) P4(from 2nd post) P5. "At a B3 despence bot..."
"Greetings citizens, I am here to fix the broken vendor, if someone would kindly explain what it is doing wrong." Says citizen Greed, who walks up to machine and jumps on top, and looks at it fron the top.
Adam was already working on it, and objected. "Uh, er, it's fixed now, citizen. Watch! B3 over here, dispense... vendo... bot... thing... whatever!" he intoned. click He is hit in the head with a can, and falls unconcious. The can is picked up by Zathril, who was walking through the area on his way to CPU.
"Hey! free B3!" He picks up the can and keeps walking, stepping over the unconcious Adam-R. A bot that looks like a cross between a brick and a dinner plate glides into the vicinity of the vendobot. A moment later a holographic bubble fizzles into existence, framing the handsome features of Tech Services Supreme Nut Tightener Costin-V-MOR. (his words not mine)
"Greed? Greed? Where are you citizen? Haven't you finished with this simple task yet? Any semi-competent Technicians to hand?" It is Konii who answers.
"At your service, Costin-U. I'll get right on it." He opens up the vendobot and proceeds with the repair.
Adam stands up groggily. "Ow... um, Costin-U, sir? Did you order the repairs for this bot? It was repeatedly crushed and blown up but then fixed some time ago. If you want to do anything more with it you'll have to take it up with R&D..." Konlii stands up from his repairs with a satisfied look on his face.
"All right, that should do it. Try it now, Adam-R."
Adam walks up to the machine and is addressed by the machine.
"Greetings, citizen Adam-R-LON! Please make a selection." Adam pushes a button gingerly. "Please insert ten credits." Again, Adam follows the instructions. Nothing happens for a while and Adam presses the button a few more times. Eventually he kicks the machine and a can of B3 comes tumbling out. Adam picks up the B3 and opens it, spraying foam all over his face.
"Phew- pah... Bleh... It's still broken."
"Nonsense, it's working perfectly." Said Konrii, "You paid your creds and you got your B3. What more do you want?" Adam glares at Konrii and kicks the machine.
"This thing is never going to be fixed."
"I warn you, citizen, you're bordering on the edge of treason here. The machine works, yet you insist on denying that fact. You even kicked it in an attempt to to make it stop working. I have reported all of this to IntSec. My job here is done, and I bid you good daycycle." Konrii leaves Adam stomping about moodilly and wiping B3 out of his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah..."
Citron walks by, drops ten creds, hits a random button, reaches down to collect his can of B3, still deeply involved in his PDC. Huh? He looks down to find none. Is this thing broken? He waits, and eventually a can drops. He snatches it, walks off to his seat, opens the can, is immediately sprayed by over-shaken soda foam. CMT-V sees him.
"Citron-R!!! Your Hygene standards are extremly poor today!! Normally, I would reassign you, but I am in a good mood. So return to your quarters and put on a clean uniform immediantly!"
Citron-R stands up in a hurry and trashes the empty can. "Yes, Com--- Yes, Sir!" he hustles back to his barracks.
Roberts walks in and looks at the roof. Hmm... That looks faintly B3 machine shaped... Why has a B3 machine been rapidly deployed here without notifying me? Damm damm damm... Im gonna get it in the neck from my supervisor now... He calls a RepairBot to fix the hole in the roof, then walks on as two other clones approach. Eager for 'fresh B3,' the first clone approaches the machine. When nothing comes out after he paid, Jhaiisiin taps the vendor lightly. Nothing happens. He kicks it hard and succedes in attaining a can. He wanders about happily mumbling about helping create a B3 can unsticker button. The second clone, Emurphy, approaches the machine and makes his sellection.
"That selection is ..,,.-.currently unavailiable.,..,-..,.-.*,,.,requesti.,.,,refill."
"No! not the claw!" Screams the clone, running off quickly.
"Get out!" shouts Adam, "Get-out, get-out, get-out! This is a Troubleshooter HQ, not a botspotter meeting! And I told that citizen this thing was broken... it's only meant to respond to Troubleshooters!" He pushes people out of the area.
Vats, Murder and Trickery
(12-06)
Maph-R-USS quietly stalked through the silent food vats in the middle of the night-cycle, looking for something, anything that appeared out of place. Like himself. He could see a glint of light shining off of something in the corner, but he couldn't quite tell what it was...
Xai looked around cautiously, waiting for him to enter the vats. Finally, Maph made an appearance, Xai crouched in the corner waiting for him to get to just the right place... Maph looked around, trying to find the 'messenger'. Of course, there isn't one. Xai made sure no one else was around then ran at him, full pelt, and shoved him into the hotfun vat, almost going over himself.
He drew his chainsaw and cut off the escape ladder, then waved goodbye and left. No witnessess, no evidence, no memory of what would have happened to this clone. The only thing left of him would be on the INFRARED cafeteria plates tommorrow.
Xai cleaned up and headed back to my dorm.
Luckily for him, as Maph fell into the vat, it was due for refilling, and the foot-deep layer of HotFun that had dried to the bottom of the vat was springy enough to cushion his fall. Unfortunately, this left the small problem of how to get out of the vat. Maph, pulled out his PDC, and started typing a message, the neon-glow of the letters only visible to himself.
(13-06)
Xai entered the room with a sigh. From the C-Mail he had recieved it was fairly obvious that Maph was still alive. There is no point trying to finish the job, after all, if I did that now the evidence would pretty much point me in the face. Not only that, but he didn't have the heart. Mabye I wasn't cut out for cold blooded murder after all. In any case, I sure as HEL sector had felt guilty as I lay down to sleep on my bunk. Xai walked to the vat and lay on his stomach at the edge, then lowered his hand to help Lord Matthuis out. Hopefully it wouldn't be to late for an apology and a nice chat over a cold B3
Silent enters a room with a sigh. Judging from the c-mail I got, the contract failed. Matthius, Maph has escaped the claws of death, and Xai will not accept another contract, knowing it would link up with him...Well, if you have to finish someone off, you're best having to do it alone.
He enters in, silently, making sure nobody sees him. Especially Xai and Maph. I have no clams against Xai, but Lord Matthius is the man I hate. And I will do whatever it takes to get him.
He examines the vats, looking to see which one is filled or not. Thats my target. 42A. I'm not in PLC, but the vat seems to be full...It is somewhat far away from the vat Matthius is stranded in, but not that far a distance. I could make a run for it, and grab Maph from Xai's loving arms, push him into the vat, and make a run for it. I'll have to run to escape, and may have to pay for the damages...but it will be worth it. All I'm worried about...is failing!
Xai pulls Matthius out of the vat...now is my chance...
Matthius grabbed Xais arm and he began to pull him up, "Look, I'm sorry. seems money can corrupt a guy after all. Pull yourself up, that's it..." But Xai didn't have time to finish his sentence, as out of the darkness ran Silent. He pushed Xai aside and pulled Maph up himself, then began dragging him away. In the meantime, Xai had hit his head on the grate floor and was a little stunned.
Silent run towads Matthius(Maph), pushing him down. He drags him to Vat 42A and try to throws him off, hoping that when he falls, he falls and dies for good. The only words that are coming through Silents brain is:
Please Don't Let Xai Kill Me Before The Deed Is Done...
Struggling against the grip of Silent, Maph-R-USS fought for his very life. Suddenly Silent pushed him to the ground, and just as a triumphant look gleamed in his eyes, Maph's spine folded backwards on itself, sending Silent plummeting over the edge of the vat he was trying to push him into.
Xai pulled myself to his feet, just in time to see Matthius' spine snap, sending Silent flipping into the vat. What a strange turn of events. Well, I have made my apologies and done my best to help, now would seem a good time to leave. Xai didn't dare try and help Silent, as he was sure he could hear approaching footsteps, and, after jumping down and peering down the hallway, sure enough, there was Dystopian Rhetoric, and Internal Security agent, on his rounds. Xai slipped out.
Maph stood upright, still folded over backwards, when he suddenly straightened out with a resounding CRACK.
"Boy, that's going to ache in the morningcycle."
Maph looked over to see Silent floundering in the sticky Cold Fun in the vat. Not high enough to cause him to drown, but enough to keep him bogged down until the vat technicians fished him out in the morning.
"Look Silent, I'm sure we can work something out. Tell you what, if you stop coming after me, I won't turn on the vat mixing blade. Deal?" Maph didn't need to wait for a reply. He knew he had sent a message to all the would-be killers. Play with the big clones, and you will get hurt. As this thought left him, he smiled, closed the lid on the foodvat, and left the room to return to the bunks, to await the next death-threat on the Grey Subnet.
Silent wonders, while trying to stay alive, how can he kill Maph. He regrets now that he was assigned the task...of murder. And yet, the consquences for failing are worse than the punishments for succeding...
"My next clone will get you, you Commie!" screamed Silent. But he knew he couldn't be heard. Maph was back at his bunks, enjoying his latest exploit.
The scream was muffled, but still fairly distinct. It sounded very much like Silent.
But... his next clone? So he expected to be killed?
DystopianRhetoric climbed the scaffolding and considered the vat control panel. It would be a simple, albiet pointless task to kill Silent there and then. But this was much too interesting. Instead he heaved the lid off of the vat, it was Silent in there all right. He allowed himself a mocking smile before heading over to the nearby storage cupboard to retrieve a spare ladder, which he lowered into the vat, though not before recording the sight of Silent wallowing in Fun on his PDC.
This done, he departed.
'Fat Tony' walked through the food vats on his late-night rounds, making sure that everything was working properly. Low as his clearance might be, PLC was his domain, after a fashion. He adjusted his gas mask to screen out the vat fumes. All around him, the vats sloshed and thrummed as the rotors kept the fluids in constant, healthy motion. Suddenly, over the roar of the vats, something caught his attention. Not a sound, but... a silence. Somewhere, a vat was not functioning properly. He could sense it. Tony walked, then waddled, then broke into a run. Finally, he burst into Food Vat Chamber 66C. Darkness. Silence. Clean air. Slimy trails and footprints on the floor. What could have happened here? What sabotage was at hand? He fumbled for his PDC.
"Friend Computer! Dis is cizzen Anthony-R-NYJ-2! Food Vat Chamber 66C is dead. I repeat, da vats is dead!"
Girdag watched Matthius walk off, and wandered after him. Tracking him back to his base was easy. Getting in wasn't a walk in the Park-sector, but it wasn't long before he was inside, and right behind Matthius. He checked the wall, then tapped Matthius on the shoulder, before ducking.
"Whoa! it! No need to start swinging! Just came to give you a little present. A Pow-Dat cable. Its on the floor there!" Watching Matthius look suspicious, he confirmed his offer. "Look, I saw you make that hit, and I was impressed. I want you to have this cable to stop there being any bad feelings between us." Girdag stepped back away from the cable. Cautiously, Maph placed his hand into one of the spare boots he was carrying, and then picked up the cable on the floor, keeping his eye on Girdag the whole time. He didn't want to get electrocuted any time soon.
"Thanks. Where do we go from here?"
Girdag figured the electrocution plan hadn't worked, so it was time for Plan B. He pulled the plug out of the socket, and span it forwards in a descending arc. Matthius, bent down picking up the cable, never stood a chance. It impacted on the back of his head - instant blackout. Girdag triggered the PDC signal that should get Silent here, tying Matt up with the cable while he waited for him.
Girdag looked soo smug as Maph slowly regained consiousness. He even had his back to him, the fool. He turned around, still thinking him to be out. Then he heard a noise. As Girdag turned around, he felt a crack on the side of his head, as Maph cracked him with the very weapon he'd used against him. The last thing he saw before he slipped into unconsiousness was the sight of an extremely elongated and thin clone, tying him up... When he awoke, Girdag saw no-one remaining, just an open door.
Tony turned to the control banks. He tried the power switch, and unsurprisingly, it didn't work. But a few minutes of poking around showed where some key wires had been severed. Splicing the wires did the trick; the control system started up, with rows of RED lights turning on.
It had been years since Tony'd had to work in the food vats, but he hadn't forgotten how the systems worked. He turned on the forced-growth lamps, dumped in the class 3 and 7b nutrients, and turned up the broth scrubbers to 130%. Then he waited.
Sweat gathered on his jowls. Was it enough? Then, slowly, some of the red lights turned to amber, and then to green. At least some of the algae could be salvaged. There would be Hot Fun tomorrow; anything else would be a crime. Note this section is all of page 1 of PLN Food Vats thread.
Grey subnet ~ Open bounty on Maph
A few hours ago, Lord Matthius has attempted to kill me, by throwing him into a food vat. He has been an annoying person who was marked to die, and yet surivied two assisanation attempts. This calls for drastic actions. I am opening an bounty on Lord Matthius.
NAME: Lord Matthius
REASON: For being an annoying person, and insulting many people, including my superior
STAUS: DEAD! Not alive, dead.
CREDIT AMOUNT: 50 (negotiable)
HOW: I would like for him to have a slow, hot death. A slow roast via hottorch or a dip in a smelting vat would be preferable, as I want him to suffer. SUFFER.
Bounty goes to the first person that carries this deed out, and do so SUCCESFULLY!
Wet
(13-06) P22, 23 RED Quarters.
In the RED quarters, clones are going to sleep. M-R-III and Konlii-R have just returned from working, and are about to preparing food. Adam-R sings the Tella theme song, rather loudly (Teela O'Malley, she's Teela O'Malley, she's tough and loyal! Teela, Teela! Teela O'Malley) Zathril greets Konrii.
"Hi there Konlii!"
"Hey, Zath! This microwave's my pride and joy. Cost me a pretty credit, I'll tell you. But it's worth it. There's a perfect spot down at the clone bank where it'll just fit. Well, it'll fit as soon as I pull off these superfluous lead panels. No more Lukewarm Fun for me!" says Konrii gleefully. Adam realises nobody is really paying attention anymore, and leaves with a shrug to HPD&MC. Zathril, turning back to speak to Adan-R, is a little embaressed to have ignored him and not even noticed him leaving.
"Oh, he's gone." he said. He wasn't that embarressed. It just meant he would have to return borrowed beolongings later. No-one has much to say. M-R-III speaks up to break the silence.
"So, another fine day-cycle, hey, citizens?" It turns out that he didn't really need to speak. Distractions were coming, and they were even of the non-violent variety. Maph-R wanders in.
"Hey, has anyone got a spare towel? I'm covered in dried HotFun at the moment..."
"Another clone smelling like food vat?" Muses Zathril, "what is going on today?" No sooner did he speak then Dourden walked in with a vakant look on his face.
"Where'd you go you damn commie?!" he shouts, then dives to the floor shouting "Die, scum! Die, bloody CMT!"
Tombking coughs. "Lord_Dourden.... Put some clothes on and stop playing that you got a laserpistol in your hands... And... whats that smell? Smells like someone has taken a swin in a foodvat or something..." He pauses and crawls to his sleeping place, "Not you too?"
Dourden doesn't answer, but walls over to his bunk to get dressed, muttering at Maph-R. The vacant look is still on his face. Maph-R is tapping his foot impatiently while he waits for a towel when Aratos rushes in.
"Say, did Lord-Dourden wander in here? he's, erm, "forgotten" his pills again, y'see. I'm supposed to be sending him off to collect them." As Aratos speaks, Dourden throws Maph a towel.
"Now that you're clean Lord Matthius-R," sayed Bee-R-CAN, "will you be joining me for surgery? We have a nice juicy specimen today. I think. I guess we can always pick one up on the way."
"Now that you're clean Maph-R, will you be joining me for surgery?" Asks Bee-R-CAN, "We have a nice juicy specimen today. I think. I guess we can always pick one up on the way."
"Ok, ok..." Maph-R takes a clean uniform from the drawer and folds and throws the old one into the recycling chute.
Dourden falls asleep after a long day at Intsec. Jpcoope-R rushes in. "Oh-my-friend-computer! I have totally completely SCORED today! I've just completed my Tella O collection! She is SO HO... HOMBLE...and trustworthy..." He takes a handfull of hormine surpressants. "She is a shining example to all of us here in Alpha Complex!" He proceedes to eat hot fun from a Tella mug while wearing a Tella shirt and gazing at a Tella mirror. As Girdag compares this to his identical Tella collection Silent walks in, dripping wet...It seemed that he was dumped into a vat...
"Hello...does anyone have a towel?"
Zath-R-ILL coughs. "Another one? You're the third person today to come in like this!" He passes Silent his towel.
"So Silent," said Tombking, "Gonna tell us what happend?"
(14-06)
Adam-R renters, collapsing on his bunk with a groan of relief. Bark! He takes out a bottle of Wakey-Wakey and pops a pill, shivering. He then sticks his head under the bunk and lots of shuffleing and barking can be heard.
Cooper looks at Girdags 'identical' collection. "Well... I am obviously THE BIGGEST Tella fan (at the RED clearance level) in ALL of PLC Sector. For Instance, you name a line from any Tella Movie and I can name it. ANY LINE. I AM the leader of the Tell O'malley FanCitizen Appreciation Society here in PLN after all. If you're interested in joining we get a certain alotment of credits every month for our club. Its the only aurthorized Teela O Malley Appreciation Society in PLN Sector, you know."
Silent looks at Tombking. "Yes, ok," he bagan, "I...um...spilled some Hot Fun on me. Yeah. It got spilled...ALL over me? Do anyone have a towel? It's getting sticky!" He runs up to Cooper "Did anyone say...credits? Yes, I want to join your Apperciation Society here in PLN! I don't care who you are appericating, just wire the credits to me every month!"
*BARK* Adam yells and withdraws himself from under the bunk and sits up against the wall, cradling a hand covered in blood and missing a fingertip. He stares at his finger, aghast. "Aaaah... aaahh...." Looking wildly about at the assembled clones, and finding no forthcoming assistance, staggers upright and dashes out of the room holding his wrist in pain, and leaving a trail of blood on the floor*
"Well here's the deal," says Cooper, "there's a rule about starting EAP Clubs here in Alpha Complex. Its in the books at CPU and HPD&MC I've worked in both places so there's a chance we can have one here in PLN Sector. Now we all know things are a little different here in PLN sector so I think we're gonna have to run it by the Highest HPD&MC officer we can find to make sure we can get reimbursed for our Hot Fun B3 parties when we get together to watch Tella O, who I am completely inspired by, by the way. We may not be able to get credits as this is a first try at EAP Clubs. IF YOU'RE GOING TO JOIN JUST TO GET FREE CREDITS...DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME! ONLY TELLA SUPER-FANS ARE ALLOWED! GOT IT? So If you or any troubleshooter is still interested PM me and I will outline the plan..." Silent looks rather disappointed.
Evilcommie strolls in and walks towards a wall terminal.
"Good daycylce Friend Computer, can you please direct me to my new quaters, I'm kinda lost." He listens carefully to instuctions, "Thanks alot FC!" he shouts, then stolls away whistling the loyalty song in the direction FC indicated.
Messages
14-06 Very Confused ~ Electronic diary of the ULTRAVIOLET Saul-U-RES
My auction just closed, and with a winning bid of 150,000 credits! More than I could ever imagine. (Imagine it selling for, that is; not owning. Heh. Being an ULTRAVIOLET sure has its perks.) But I have no idea how someone on a RED’s salary can afford that. He’s got to have some backing from someone else, and I’m really curious as to who.
Ah, well. I’ve sent Silent the c-Mail to arrange for his payment, and when we meet, we’ll talk. Now it’s time for another indoctrination treatment; Farg’ll be here any minute to take me - why there he is now. He’s always so punctual for these. And we’ve got high hopes that this’ll be the last one!
***
(15-06)
The folowing were posted on the grey subnet.
_________________________________
Message from an annonymous sourse.
Post subject: Message
o4g aeeb SD8S(dfg 34tgn SKass
QAE VFJA FGA SFG SI2 XVC]}G rsg AEH BUAW2 asDLG S873 SAOR AH4 OFN GEH 824 XBF/QNBN.&
ASGOIU 3247843u4a ^2n Ga as8 rgh 555h asdfgn 5 6joa sask ad;flh97274 n
asduif as97a a 4ekr thgbaudfb]-AFA g3n
ASDG 0AS A4R
====
SLEK askb asg703w4)S wS sGS>
asldif .,nmxz8846 y g3 ga
aslf g35trbhna ascxvu [/i]as gh n[/i] as dfghn h asa0 fKSJN /
_________________________________
Message from an annonymouse sourse.
No post subject.
There seem to be a lot of codes floating around all of a sudden. Darned inconciderate if you ask me.
_________________________________
Message from tshooter319.
No post subject.
You can say that again. Can someone crack this thing so I know if I'm getting a chainsaw in the back, or my name added to the list of Citizens of Interest, or my Hot Fun poisoned any time soon?
_________________________________
Message from an annonymouse sourse.
No post subject.
Well, if you can work out what it's encoded in I could work it out in a few hours. Otherwise probably days. Trick is, letter frequency works in the following order;
etaonisrhldcupfmwybgvkqxjz.
It's theoretically possible to work out anything from that. Looks like it's been encoded in BASE64 then viegenere to me though. You really need a definate for speed work.
_________________________________
Message from an annonymouse sourse.
Post subject; Message
2q8 ASDgun Sdwaegwe gb SBv Sg
Sdf g4 rrh200af bg?Sdgn S^%KLSDS 3uha/,dfnba bas b et h as;s d fg3$@083T AD AS' d f32 SD asd f8w adfgqq-q DAS
!L! !NLSZDJg asf agh5ert2 0435jh zxncb; 0uut54k
as g2rw7
_________________________________
Message from Silent
Post subject: These messages...
I am very worried about these three coded messages. Don't know what they are talking about, but please, anyone, decode them!
In fact, I'll pay for them to be decoded! 15 credits to anyone that decodes this message! A contest! Yeah, it's low, but please.
_________________________________
Message from tshooter319.
No post subject.
There's a third?!
_________________________________
Message from Silent
No post subject.
Uh...yes. Two messages in the first post, and the third message right before my first post.
Really, tshooter319, I'm just as...cautious...as you are. Better to know what is going on than not knowing. You know what I mean.
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14-06 Success ~ Electronic diary of the ULTRAVIOLET Saul-U-RES
That treatment was a doozy, but even Farg seemed very pleased with the results, in a way which he doesn’t usually express. He thinks I need one or two more and I’ll be all set.
I’m surprised Silent hasn’t tried to contact me about his winnings. You’d think a lowly RED would be excited about dinner with an ULTRAVIOLET! And does he think I have unlimited dinners available to share with REDs? If he doesn’t get back to me before the time arrives for the dinner I’ve arranged, he’s gonna be in big trouble!
***
(15-06)
Citron slips into the corridor with the broken despence-bot, clip-board in hand.
"Citizens! Gather closely, for I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for all of you! Our friends at Production, Logistics, and Commissary have, in their wisdom, opted to allow a highly-valuable consumer survey that may have a chance of influencing what items are available at your local PLC Outfitting Centre. And the most fun part? It's only one question. What items would you like to see at your local PLC Outfitting Centre? Step right up and tell me what you'd like to see!"
"I would like to see more weaponry." Replies Adam. "Currently you only cater to the working INFRARED; how is a loyal Troubleshooter meant to serve The Computer without some FIREPOWER? But apart from that, I'd like to see YOU at the Outfitting Centre, and not here with your annoying surveys. Look! Look around! Does a destroyed Troubleshooter HQ with a Frankenstein vending machine look like the kind of place you're going to get coherent answers, if any at all, to your question?!" He pushes Citron out. Silent walks in.
"Hello, Adam-R? Remember me? I was here to fix your vendobot, and I could have fixed it if it wasn't for some Tech Services person...Anyway, as a member of HPD&MC, and given the contract to fix B3 vendobots, I arrive to fix your frankenisten vendobot. Now, tell me the problem with your vendobot, and I'll fix it. And don't forget to pay."
Citron, still at the edge of the area coughs. "I happen to be doing work for PLC, fellow Citizen, so my annoying survey will just have to take place. And since you have provided me with coherent answers, this does indeed look like the kind of place where I would get them. So please quit moving people away from a vendobot before we assume you're attempting to steal it." He turns away and starts calling out again. "Citizens! Gather closely....!"
"Of course, Citron. Gather around everyone, so that you can be interveiwed. Plus, you get to see me, a trained HPD&MC mechanic, fix this B3 machine! Adam-R has said it is broken, but with the help of me, Silent, it will be fixed! Let us start working!" He looks at Adam. "But don't forget Adam-R, this service costs money." he turns back to Citron again. "Ah...and for the PLC mall...I would like credits. Yes. Free Credits inside of PLC. Everyone love credits, so if you place a box saying "Free Credits Inside", I'm sure everyone would be happy."
Adam breaks down in tears and storms out as Pax of the Armed forces shows up. "Armed Forces here... please move along... there's nothing to see here... have a happy, fun and exciting day... it's mandatory..." Hearing this, Citron quickly files a report about Adam-R being repeatedly unhappy about a B3 machine. He dashes back over to Silent.
"Silent, drop the repairs, Saulres-U is looking for you." He says, grabbing him by the wrist and dragging him off to the RED barracks.
23-06 Furious ~ Electronic diary of the ULTRAVIOLET Saul-U-RES
How dare he?
Dinner was great, as usual. Except my guest didn’t arrive. No, not only didn’t he arrive, he didn’t even respond to any one of my three cMails. THREE!!! And nothing. Who does this RED vatslime Silent think he is, anyway?
With a promise of several thousand times his weekly salary, and now this, he’s clearly up to something. I will find out what, and he will not like it. Guaranteed.
The INFRARED Markets
(15-06)
I was pretty nervous but I knew what had to be done... I'd let my greed get the best of me and I came down here to the INFRARED market to get a loan for that dad-blamed Tella-O mug... "It's just one credit" I told myself "How bad can it be?" They told me about something called "interest" it didn't sound so bad at the time, but after calulating on my PDC I realized that I'll always owe them money... no matter if i pay it back today, tomorrow or or next yearcycle... I've gotta plead for mercy maybe they'll just take back the money they lent me...or maybe not. Either way I'd rather lose a clone or two instead of facing my masters... if THEY found out I did this I might as well get my template wiped.
Cooper opens a door in an abandoned subsector, a husky shillouette sits at a makeshift desk backlit by a makeshift lighting setup a generator humming quitely in the background.
"Umm... excuse me Citizen," he clears his throat and begins sweating profusely, "About this 'loan' you gave me... it appears that I won't be able to afford the interest... would you be willing to talk about another 'payment plan'?"
"So. You are tellin' me dat you cannot pay. Dat is very unfortunate. We had a deal, you an' me. You promised me dat you could pay on schedule. You gotta understand, I do not like welchers. I do not like dem one bit. And when I do not like something, well, sometimes dat makes me angry." Fat Tony cracks his knuckles. The noise is sudden and loud in the enclosed space, like a burst of gunfire. "So. What sort of "payment plan" did youse have in mind?"
From one of the dark corners Tombking enters. "Gosh... there really are a lot of dark corners around here... Is'ent that right Cooper?" He puts his hand on cooper's shoulder, "A lot of dark corners..." Cooper's knees buckle somewhat under the nerve pinch being supplied courtesy of tombking.
"Well...ehhh...sirs...I...uh... was..." he stammers, eyes wildly scanning room for any possible escape routes, "I thought maybe... just this once... I could... umm... just pay you the money i owe you... 1 credit... if you like, you can have the teela mug as interest...it's... ehhh... uh.. total colectors item... you can sell it on Cbay maybe... I... ehhh... don't really need it THAT bad... does... " he starts wheezing a bit, "Like it said I.. uh... am... REALLY sorry about this whole misunderstanding... I'd totally owe you..." He is visibly shaking, and brings the mug out of hiding, "h-h-h-h-hhere you go s-s-s-s-sir.." His shaking hands drop the mug. Its drops as if in slow motion, then shatters into millions of tiny shards."Noo..."
Fat Tony glares furiously at Cooper, "This is what you offer me? A broken piece of merchandise? What am I gonna do wit' dis? No, now you have insulted me. An' I do not like bein' insulted. Tombking, please teach dis clone a lesson. Try not to break anythin' too important, as we would like him to remain alive so as to suffer properly. But first, be so kind as to take away his PDC. We would not be wantin' to break it accidentally durin' the teachin' process, OK?" Cooper tries to make a break for it, but stumbles and falls face first into a combination of old vatslime and dust. Tombking smiles.
"Okey I just take that one from you then... " He takes a grip on jpcooper43 shoulder...This time abit harder.At the same moment takes Coopers PDC. "Ohh... Does it hurt? I'm SO sorry.... I could fix that for you... This will not take long... The pain is soon gone. Gone as...." Tombking raises Coopers PDC for a hard blow and swings it at him towards his head. But misses. "ARGH! Keep you head still! I gonna!!!" He presses a few buttons on the Coopers PDC and Puts it inside the helpless clones shirt. It starts to beep. "Ohh gosh... I think someone just pressed the Self-destruct mechanism! Who could it be?! see your next clone later citizen!" He moves to secure place in area.
"AAGGHHHHHHHH! AAAAAGGGHHHH! GET IT OFF ME! GET IT OFF MEEEEEEE!" Cooper lamely grabs at shirt and spins around in panicked circles, instead of calmly unzipping his overalls and running naked for cover.
"Oh, for Computer's sake. Do I got to do everything myself?" Fat Tony grabs Cooper and holds him still. He reaches into the panicked clone's shirt, takes out the PDC, and switches off the self-destruct mechanism. "Now, time to roll up my sleeves and get ta work. Don't worry, kid, this won't hurt a bit. No, I lie, it will hurt a lot." Fat Tony picks up a lead pipe and hits Cooper. And again. And again. Anyone outside the office can hear loud, meaty thwacks and crunching noises... then silence. "Well, dat's dat. Tombking! Get back in here. Got something for ya to dispose of." Tombking returns looking a little afraid.
"Ahem.... Sorry sir... Got a little carryed away... I saw a vid yesturday.. and ehm... You know....They have a bad inpact on me.. " He grabs Cooper and brings his dead body out for public display in the area, speaking loudly. "And anone that sells anything here and dont pay us 10% of there profit they make here... Ends up like this one...! Understood?"
"Err, excuse me, but have you seen Adam-R anywhere? He's disappeared from the RED quarters and... " Javacake cuts off as he spots Tombking holding up Cooper's body, "...that's Cooper, isn't it? Cooper, my fellow CPU worker and registered mutant. Cooper my friend. Is this your doing again, Tombking?" Javacake takes out his recently acquired broom, "Right. Time for another lesson in good manners." He walks purposefully towards Tomking, holding the broom threateningly.
After a while, Fat Tony emerges from his office. His RED jumpsuit is spattered with spots of a darker RED, and he wipes a dot of blood from his jowl in a reddish smear. He looks at the shocked patrons of the INFRARED Market and smiles.
"Hey dere! Do not worry, dis is just some bad business here. You do good business, you play by da rules, no one gets hurt. You play by our rules, we keep you safe here in da INFRARED Market. We do right by our customers, guaranteed! So anyway, I gots a deal for youse guys. Cancer-Lite cigarettes, only 5cr per pack! It is a real steal! Does anyone want to buy some of these top quality cigarettes? Cizzen Javacake-R! I see you know cizzen Coope-R. It seems dat he attempted to welch on a debt. As everyone knows, dis is a crime against da value of da credits given to us by da Computer, and thus is treason. Surely you are not supporting dat kind of thing, eh?" Fat Tony hefts a lead pipe casually over his shoulder as he speaks. In places, the metal seems to have a slight reddish sheen. Javacake pauses in his advance towards Tombking.
"I'm not interfering in your affairs, Fatty-R, or whatever your name is, I'm just making an objection to the punishment Tombking has apparently decided to dish out. A very personal objection. A beating I can tolerate, but a public display of a clone's battered body is unacceptable." He continues on towards Tombking, the blunt end of the broom held in an agressive manner.
"Tombking? Why do you not escort cizzen Javacake into my office. There we can talk about this like civilized clones."
"Gosh Javacakey... just follow me in here..." Tomgking points at the office, "I dont need to tell you how to do so... Do I?" He looks at Javacake manacingly "Are you coming?" Javacake returns Tomb a dangerous look.
"Lay a hand on me and you'll regret it, lackey," he says, and turns to Tony. "'m sure, Tony-R, if you have anything to say to me, you can say it in front of all these nice, loyal, INFRARED witne... I mean citizens. Of course, if you just want to turn over poor jp's body to me so that I can look after him, that would be fine as well." He hefts the broom.
Tony laughs. "Oh yes, I am sure that these good cizzens here will be witnesses. They will surely come forward to talk about what dey saw when dey were at an illegal INFRARED Market. No problem!
Now, I have to wonder what you want dis body for. You see, either you want it for some kind of personal use - which is disgustin' - or you want to turn it over to IntSec - which is unacceptable. Or you just want to take his stuff, which I do respect, not dat I will allow it. Now, it is unfortunate dat cizzen Cooper met his end falling a couple dozen times onto a blunt object. But dere is no reason to make a fuss, we will just see dat he is recycled peacefully, just as he would have wanted."
Javacake turns back to Tombking and leans on broom nonchalantly. "So, friend, I'm interested, what do you think about all this? Are you going to do what's morally right, or are you not allowed an opinion by Tubby over here?"
"If it was up to me? Ohh... I would have made you eat your own PDC mutie... And then...hmm..... Ohh its so hard to pick... Lets see... made you eat your dead friend here? Gosh... That would have been something to see...!" He breaks off as Tony interupts.
"Now, Tombking-R, just because cizzen Javacake is bein' rude is no reason to descend to his level. I am sure dat he was just leavin'. Unless, of course, he was innerested in buyin' some of our fine merchandise. Like dis fine Tella-O tee shirt, only a few bloodstains, otherwise in excellent condition!"
"No, no, Tony, if Tombking wants to be rude, he has every right to be. I just might have to be rude back..." He hefts the broom again. "Time to clean up!!" Javacake changes colour to blend in with the background. The broom suddenly moves rapidly towards Tombking's head, via Fat Tony's stomach. As it connects, Cooper's body is wrenched out of Tombking's hands and appears to start floating away, accompanied by the offending broom.
Kwil suddenly realizes that the moment a floating body goes out of the INFRARED Market safe zone, IntSec is bound to be all over the place. "Never mind, folks, I think I just remembered where I put that ORANGE laser barrel.. you can thank Javacake for that." He makes himself scarce.
Fat Tony doubles over, gasping for breath, as the broom sinks into his belly fat. But years of hauling crates in PLC have toughened this clone up. As Javacake hefts jcooper43's body and starts running away, Fat Tony straightens up and lumbers after him.
"I cannot believe... I just got suckered... by a damn... CPUer. Ugh... Javacake... you are one... stupid mutie. You may... be invisible... but I can still... see your jumpsuit." Despite being hampered by having been hit in the gut, Fat Tony easily catches up to Javacake, who's totally encumbered by hauling the dead weight of a dead body. Tony swings his lead pipe just above the neck of the seemingly-empty jumpsuit. There's a loud crack. Javacake turns visible again as he and Cooper's body both sprawl onto the ground. "You stupid jerk. You just had to make me do it, didn't ya? You shoulda just walked away. Tombking, strip these two and dump 'em in the vats. I dunno if Javacake's still alive, an' I don't care. Get 'em out of my sight. Damn stupid cizzens to mess with us. Dey gotta give us respect."
Tombking gasps for air a few seconds. ohh my head.... I need a helmet... He calms down after a few seconds. damn it...eerr...This sure is fun... He hits Javacake some more with his broom and then strips them. Take that!.... Where was it I should take them? Ohh right... He grabs the clones and starts carry them to the vats in the area and dumps them. Girdag waits for Tombking to go, then appears out of nowhere by the vats. He ties his Pow-Dat cable around Javacake, before pulling him out and giving him CPR. When Javacake regains conciousness, Girdag concentrates and dissappears again, dropping only a bill for 10 credits
"So... who would like to buy high-quality merchandise? We got algae chips! B3! Cigarettes! Keychains! You want it, we got it. Bargain prices! Step right up, tell us what you are looking to buy!" continues Tony in the market. Silent walks in shuddering.
Silent turns around and around, becoming more and more paranoid than usual. I know he's out to get me. I know it. His revenge is finally unleashing...his craziness finally is shown. And I am going to be his target of his rightful fury.
"Tombking, we talked via c-mail, and I know. It will cost me, and it is lucky I got some credits to pay for the 'protection'. I hope that you will help me. We have a good relationship, no? Me, being your Law-Y-ERR, defending you against that lying Midnight? Hm...how about 100 credits? That seems a reasonable offer. 100 credits for my surivial."
"100 credits? For saveing you from a ULTRAVIOLET? Where did the money that you bid go? Or was that just a lie?" He gesture towards tonys office. "Lets talk in here shall we?... Tony will of course follow us both in..."
"A lie? No. I would never lie, Tombking...I just wanted to save my money, just all, being a miser. I mean, I thought that after I give you the 100 credits and you save my life, I would use the rest of my money to enjoy myself. Being a miser is a good thing, no?" The rumors of murders, assisanations...dead bodies and such. They say that if you enter into Fat Tony's office, you enter into the termination booth. The INFRARED Market is useful, but to those that disobey the leaders, it is also a graveyard...and I fear I just disobeyed the leaders. "I do suppose that 100 credits is a bit too low a price for my petty surivial from erasure, so I guess I have to offer more up. 150,000 credits, then? But, for me to give you the money, you have to save my skin. I do not want to lose my mohney to some scammers. Not that you are scammers, you are legit businessmen. Still...I am a paranoid person, and I have been stung many times. Just a precaution. I know you'll save me." Tony looks out of the office to see Zathril wandering about searching for something.
"Hello? Anyone there? Tombking?"
"Tombking-R, it seems that we have a customer. Why do you not talk to our 'client' while I handle the customer?" Fat Tony heads out of the office as Adam-R-LON turns up, rubbing his head.
"Ow, my head... I hate being decanted" he looks around. Hmm. Silent has got to be around here somewhere. *sigh* Great. He has to guilt-trip me into defending him from these Free Enters when I'm completely unarmed. This'll be a barrelbot of laughs. He continues to search for Silent, who is waving from Tony's office.
"Hey! Adam! Knew you could make it! Tombking, this is Adam-R. You know him. I just hired him to protect me. You know, from them, the guys who are out to get me. He's a Troubleshooter, so he can find trouble and shoot it. You know, just as a precaution. I hired him, with my own credits, so you can see that I am rich. So, will you accept my deal of 150,000 credits?" Adam spots Silent and walks over to him.
"There you are. Oh, er, hi, Tombking, ol' buddy ol' pal. Yeah. I'm just here as a sorta, insurance. Y'know what I mean, right?" Oh Computer, what am I doing here?
"Hahahaha!" Tombking almost falls down from laughter. "Silent... You know that I only take credits. And credits is what I want.. But as long as you stay here... Your safe.. Still if you have does 150,000 credits in cash rigth here?...Hahaha!" Adam looks at Silent, then at Tombking, and back at Silent.
Outside the office, Tony is talking to Zathril. "Ah, friend Zathril-R! Have you come to purchase some of our fine items? We are always glad to deal with you. I am sure we can arrange a special price for you"
"Hey Tony! Unfortunatly I don't have time to look through your stock at the moment, doing something for a ULTRAVIOLET and i figure if anyone knows what's going on it would be you, so do you know where Silent is?"
"I am sorry dat I cannot help you, Zathril. You know I would be glad to help you out if I could. But since I have you here, would you be innerested in some fresh, tasty cigarettes? Or perhaps some gum, or sweet Bouncy Bubble Beverage? Dat pen of yours looks mighty nice, I would gladly cut a deal if you were innerested in trading it. Of course, I can see you are busy, so if you are not innerested in trading, I will not keep you from your work."
"Oh well Tony, I guess I- Hey, Tombking's here? He might know!" He hurries over to where he hears Tombking laughing. He opens the door.
Tombking continues, "So do you say you...." What now?! He turns around as the door starts to open.
Fat Tony yanks the door shut before it opens far enough for Zathril to see what's inside. Tombking then locks it from the inside. "Gosh... Whats the problem with citizens today? Adam-R, does Silent pay you to hang around here?"
"Hey! Dat is my private office! What do you think you are doing, poking into my office? Dat is disrespectful!"
"It is? Sorry Tony I was just going to talk to Tombking, since he was in there I assumed it was his."
"Even so, dat would also be disrespectful, unless he had given you permission. But hey, you are my buddy, right? I cannot stay mad at you. Anyway, if I were to find out where Silent was, I am sure dat you would be da first cizzen I would tell. Go on. I will talk to Tombking for ya. Dat way, you do not have to waste time here and can keep looking for dat Silent character. I will call you if something comes up, OK?"
"Sure thanks Tony, I'll be back to look around your stock once this whole thing with finding silent is cleared up, I wonder where he's gotten to." He makes to leave.
Pax strolls to the office, naked. "Gooddaycycle citizens, how are you all? Feeling happy?" He chuckles and hands Tony a pagaged broom. "Here's that thing, Tony" he looks at Zathril, who stopped rather suddenly. "This bloke being a nuisance?" Pax leans with his back against the doorpost and lights up a 'Cancer-Lite cigarette'. Putting the packet back between the band of his 'Low-slung LeatherLyke holster'.
Zathril coughs. "What the? Put some clothes on, Pax, i'm sure tony here has some excellent quality ones for sale somewhere." He leaves.
Internal Security agent Dystopian Rhetoric, having just completed his work on that last case, thought he'd go down to the INFRARED market and treat himself to some of that hooch that makes you go blind for 10 minutes. However, his drinking plans were forstalled slightly when he saw a whole bunch of clones involved in some interesting conversation. He decided hanging around on the periphery would be a nice idea, just in case anything interesting happened.
Pax eyeballs a passing clone. "What are YOU looking at? Never seens a Armed Forces soldier before?" He chuckles again ans shakes his head. "Time for my patrol it seems. Let's see if we can find some commie traitors." He walks away, but stops to hang around infront of tony's office for a while.
(16-06)
"So, let's get on wit' dis, shall we? We all got business to take care of, and dis is gettin' in da way." The door is unlocked and everyone enters the office. Tony leans over to Silent and whispers for a moment. After listening to Silents reply he motions to Tombking, who turns to Adam.
"I suppose you have something to tell me.. After all... You did enter in to the office.."
"Me? Oh, as I said, just, um, insurance, y'know. Just in case. Any harm. Comes to Silent. Not! Implying anything, of course. Y'know. Not from you, I don't think you could hurt a fly, aha, he's just my good friend Silent, ol' buddy ol' pal, just like you, eh, Tombking, we're all buddies here aren't we, ahehe, aheh..."
"Well.. Yes.. We are all buddys.. But you are not gonna hang araound in here as his insurance right? Why not follow me out? We could look at some stuff of intresest.. Ohh. By the way.. Have you heard about that scrubby has found out that some 'brown' thingy is running around in the RED quoters.. I think scrubby is out to find that brown...barking....'thing'.. And we dont want scrubby to do that right?"
"Scrubby? Brown barking thing? Stuff of interest?" Adam looks sincerely confused.
Tombking sighs. "You are a slow citizen right?" They don't leave.
Fat Tony nots curtly at Silent's reply. "Okay, den. You've bought yourself a little negotiatin' room. I will now call in some more of my people. If you have convinced me dat you can pay your way by da time dey get here, den you have got some protection. If not, well, den out you go. So start talkin'. Tell me what you can offer us dat makes up for da risk of a pissed-off ULTRAVIOLET after our asses. You don't got much time; I am sure dat Saulres has got people after you by now, and dis has got to get taken care of before dey show up." Fat Tony takes out his PDC and starts typing away with his sausage-like fingers, all the while keeping an eye and an ear on Silent.
"Correct, 'Fat Tony'. For one thing, I got the admiration and glory of me, Silent, for saving my clone family. More importantly, I would be in your debt. I am an intellegent person, knowing lots of stuff, probarly stuff above my security clearance. I gotten a friendly rapport with most people. I would be your loyal clone, and I would do whatever you say. I follow and I obey orders effectively. In other words, you save my life, and I'll work for you, for free."
In the market, V passes all the stalls without looking and heads straight for the office.
"Gents, I'm here to discuss a deal with Fat Tony. Is he available?" he calls out. Fat Tony glances up irritably as he hears the muffled voice from the other side of the door.
"Tombking, please find out who dat is outside my office, OK?"
Pax looks up towards Tony's door as he hears V speaking to some of Tony's people. He had been hanging around to check on the Markets way of business. "Hey, you!" He walks towards the clone and shows him his Armed Forces ensignias, "Tony is busy, you need anything?"
Tombking opens the door and walks out. Closeing it fast behind him.
"Why do you clones hang around outside here?" he turns to V, "What?"
Dystopian Rhetoric Intsec verbal report recording; I'd recieved orders from Saulres to find Silent. Well... I hadn't directly, but I decided to use a little initiative. Acting on a hunch, and given that Zathril had been turned away from there while looking for Silent yesterday, I proceeded to the INFRARED market. I doubted he was actually there, but it was always a possibility and the Free Enters might be able to give me the same leads as Zathril had gotten. The market was filled with the usual hustle and bustle, I decided it might be best not to wear my badge, some of those INFRARED heavies looked of violent temperament. I tried to remember where I'd seen the activity yesterday, yes, it was that little office... off to one side. It didn't take long to find. There was some RED clone guarding the door, he already seemed to be talking to someone. That same one that the other citizens had reported the other day. It was just what I needed... I decided to approach as well.
Girdag Fireskull Armed Forces verbal report recording;I figured the old methods worked best. And besides, if I found Silent, that was a real credit bonus for me. I wandered up to the back of the office, out of view of Tombking. Then, concentrating carefully, I honed my powers and vanished. I reappeared inside Tony's office, right behind the fat clone himself. A couple of cracks with the heavy end of the Pow-Dat cable brought him down, and a good bit of kicking made sure he wasn't getting up again. I turned to Silent. 'You. Come with me. NOW!' I said. Hefting the cable to make clear my point, I grabbed his shoulder and walked towards the door.
Silent tries to pull away, and winces.
"No, no, please, don't. Don't let saulres get me...I did nothing wrong...I was set up, oh please! Adam-R, bodyguard! Tombking! Stop Fireskull!"
Adam blinked, suddenly seeing Girdag.
"Um. Hey, uh, Girdag, citizen? Could you, like, let go of Silent? I'd appreciate it, y'know... couldja do that for me?"
Fireskull flips his PDC to 'Transmit' mode, sending to saulres.
"Sir! I have found Silent, sir, and am trying to bring him to you! He is resisting!"
Tombking turns to the door. What the? He turns back and looks at Pax and V.
"You are Armedforce right? Stand guard or something...Wait here...!" He opens the door again and enters seeing Girdag. Suddenly Tombking rushes towards Girdag with speed greater then it should be. Aiming with his head like some sort of headbutt. Tombkings current strength looks like he could throw around autocars. Silent, despite the pridicatment decides that he must have some sort of an unregistered mutant power. Silent grabs his broom and tries to knock Fireskull's PDC out.
"No, no, Fireskull. I don't want to be erased! Adam-R, use your B3! Use your B3!" He tried to get out of the way of Tombkings rush, hoping it is enough to stop Fireskull, but suddenly, Fireskull vanishes, leaving Silent directly in Tombkings path.
Dystopian Rhetoric Intsec verbal report recording; I barged in as soon as I heard Girdag shout out into his PDC. "You idiot Girdag," I muttered quietly enough for the PDC not to pick up my voice," this is an INFRARED market, whether it results it catching Silent or not, letting them know you know about this place is not good for your career prospects. We both have the same goals, but for the love of the Computer, please try to be more subtle about it." Tony was temporarily prone outside where Pax was standing. Suddenly Girdag vanished, and there were an array of angry looking clones standing around me. I decided that discretion would probably be the better part of valour here and scattered various small objects around with my mind, hoping to cause a distraction as I ran back out of the door.
Girdag Fireskull Armed Forces verbal report recording; This sort of work was more suited to Internal Security. Since we are trained to fight, not to infiltrate, I could only hope that Saul-U-RES would be able to track the PDC transmission. I must say I was surprised when Dystopian ran for it... Anyway, Tombking rushes forward hitting Silent with his shoulder. He kept running and hit his head on the wall. It was a big crack and Tomb rying to pull his head out... he got his head stuck in the wall.
Silent was a total wreck, thrown about by a mutant headbut. Still, best not to mention it to IntSec. They'll capture me and erase me. Saul-U-res plotted this all out, planned this revenge to occur. I never thought it would happen. This never was a nightmare I had...but now, now, I'm scared.
"Thanks...Tombking. That...mutant...got away...but you can get him soon...but thanks....anyway...does this mean I'm protected? And how do I get unstuck?"
"Gmmt..mmmm mmmoummm....Immmsmmtummmmmckmmm.." Tombking answers unitelligably.
Girdag Fireskull Armed Forces verbal report recording; Looking in from the roof, I spotted my chance. Tombking was stuck, Silent injured. Jumping down into the room, I grabbed Silent in an armlock, before marching out the door with him in front of me. Now, I hoped, Dystopian would be able to distract Tombking when he escaped
After hearing all the commotion inside, Pax turns towards the door, only to hear Tombking say "Stand guard or something...". Internally he started to boil with anger. How did this PLC pencil pusher dare give him orders. He peeks inside the office only to see the chaos that is happening there. Smiling he gets out a Cancer-Lite cigarette and lights it. Damn, he enjoyed those things. He shakes his head slowly and pulls out his PDC, broadcasting on the Armed Forces High Security band.
"This is Pax here at the INFRARED market. We have a situation. I repeat. We have a situation. A riot is in progress. I need backup. Suggest Max Riot gear. This may get out of hand." He puts the PDC away and slowly pulls out his broom. Smeg this. He thinks and prompty breaks the brooms head off, forming a long and pointy stick. Smiling he enters the room and show everyone his Armed Forces Insignia. "Right. Everyone on the ground. This is a Armed Forces Raid. Please lie down with your belly on the ground and with your hand on your head. Resistance will be treason. Back up is underway. If you co-operate peacefully no harm will become to you. Dystopian Rhetoric sir, please step towards me. You ofcourse are free to go and I would be honoured if you could assist me."
Girdag Fireskull Armed Forces verbal report recording; The door was open, so there was my chance. Shoving Silent ahead of me, I run through the door, yelling to Pax as I did so... "Urgent business! saulres' orders! Make sure Tombking does not leave!" I started to move towards the RED barracks, calling into my PDC.
"Saul-U-res, Sir! I have Silent, and am moving to the RED barracks now!"
"Damn that clone," muttered Dystopian "I'll watch your back!"
Dystopian Rhetoric Intsec verbal report recording; As I slipped on my brass knuckles I called out to Girdag that I'de watch his back as I squared up to face the other clones. The odds, I must say, were not good. But if Saulres wanted Silent... I didn't have much choice in the matter. I moved to tackle Adam, my leap fell just short however, and I only caught him by the shin with one hand and hoped it would be enough to upset his balance. It worked, he crumpled, dejected to the floor. I don't know how much of this was from me hitting him and how much was because he had so badly failed to protect Silent. I gave Adam a pat on the back and tried to get to my feet, however it looked like I'd twisted my ankle trying to tackle Adam and I stumbled and fell next to him. A subsequent attempt brought me to my feet, and I made the best attempt I could to limp away.
Some sticky pheromes comes from silent...invisible but it surronds an area...a very small area...but GirdagFireskull, being next from silent smells it...and feels trusting.
"Fireskull, I am an innocent man. I was here to do an important, TOP SECERT, mission for saulres. saulres pretended to hunt for me so that the Commies doesn't know that I'm going after them. I can't tell you more, but please, rescind that order and let me stay here. To finish my mission. saulres would be real mad if his top secert agent get captured."
Girdag's reaction to Silents pheromones is too stong too be helpfull. Girdag grabs silent in a bearhug, covering him in kisses. He happily turns off his PDC, and, still hugging and kissing Silent, dances back to the RED barracks with him.
"Come on Silent! Lets go back to the barracks for fun fun fun and algae chips!"
"You know...I would love to go to the RED barracks, but... Fireskull, I have to finish my mission. saulres would be mad if I didn't finish my mission. And, you know, I don't want saulres mad. Don't worry. As soon as my mission is complete, I will send you a message and I'll go to the barracks for fun fun fun and algae chips!"
Girdag hesitates. "No! I can't let you out of my sight! I love you too much!" He continues dancing towards the barracks.
Loyalty Cabaret
As the All-Former-Traitor chorus starts into 'Go Go Go Joseph-R', an IntSec GREEN goon squad enters, places Silent gently in a reclining chair, says a few 'hut hut hut hut hut' lines and quickly leaves. Biggles-V-DEA arrives just as they exit.
"Excuse me, waitress? Could you get a B3 for my friend in the chair? Yes, a straw would be very helpful, thank you!"
Denny-R-KUO enters. "Hello? Is this where I'm supposed to be? I see it is. Yes! Hi Silent! Why are you all tied up? Hi Biggles. What's up?"
"Hi Denny. Well, er...I was stuck in some area, and Biggles-V came in to..."un-stuck" me and bring me in. For some interrogation. Nothing big. Why are you here, Denny? The game is all over. All over. Nothing I can do but wait for my sentence for losing." He drinks the B3 through the straw. When your life is about to pass away...well, the simple pleasures of life become much more pleasurable.
A BLUE goon comes in, doesn't see Biggles, turns to leave. Sees Silent. Does a double-take. Stops and thinks. Scratches his head. Thinks some more. Finally, takes some initiative. Picks up Silent, throws him over his shoulder, leaves.
"Bye Silent!" Says Biggles, "Hope you enjoyed the show! Denny-R! Sorry, I didn't hear you come in. Are you comfortable? Here, have a B3. No, really. You can have it for free. Yes, free. Now, we need to discuss a matter about your PDC ...." Biggles-V leans in and whispers into Denny-R's ear as the All-Former-Traitors hit the chorus and keep on singing.
Denny drinks, "Thanks for the B3! Now what?" he asks, as Biggles continues to whisper. "Sorry for the confusion, Mr. Internal Security sir! It won't happen again! No! It won't, and I promise!"
"Biggles-V stops whispering and leans back. He smiles slightly and watches the singers do their thing up on stage.
"Good for you, Denny-R. This correction won't last for long, at least not if you stop ... you know. Stop doing that thing what got you in trouble in the first place. Now off you go! Get along." Sheesh. REDs these days are rather dim.
New Begginings... New mutations, new clones... etcetera... Someone think of a name fo this please?
(16-06 Technical Services ~ Forced Growth Clone Tanks, page 1)
Midnight-R-PLN-2 floats within one of the many clone tanks. Everything is ready for the MemoMax braintape to be read into the new brain and for him to be decanted.
Technition Konlii-R flips through his paperwork to find out who's up for decanting. Let's see...
Coop-R, found floating in a vat of Cold Fun.
Eww.
Midnight-R, died in R&D Lab 23.5.
Hey, that's the unprintable experiment that finished me off! So they killed you too, eh?
He moves Midnight-R's file to the top of the pile and begins the decanting process just as Burg walks in.
"Hey, Konlii-R, any word on Adam-R's decanting? I wanna hit that clone up for the credits he owes me the second he steps out of the tank!"
"Then you'll have to terminate him again. Haha... Seriously though, you just missed him. Try the RED barracks."
"Aw, HEK. Thanks." He leaves again, and Konlii turns back to the dacanting. Suddenly a screen lights up.
Clone death report! Adam-R-LON-1 in PLN Sector near Transbot Station #221. Announces an artificial voice and tandum with the scrolling letters appearing on the screen. Another monitor flashes up, next to another tank in which a sleeping clone body floats.
Name: Adam-R-LON-2!
Status: Ready for decanting!
> Troubleshooter detected! Running Clone Priority subroutine.
> Decanting...
Machinery clanks as liquid swirls and lights flash, whirligigs whirl and announcements are announced.
> ERROR!
Name: Adam-R-LON-1
Status: Decanting...
> Running EasyQuik MemoMax subroutine...
> ERROR
The tank screen slides up and Adam-R blinks and rubs his head.
"Ow. My head... why does decanting always give me these vatting headaches?" He mutters as he attempts to brush some of the gooey stuff off his body. He eventually realises the futility of the action and walks out of the tank area. "Hey, citizen Konlii! Nice to see you. I'm not up-to-date on the latest Tech mandates and stuff... you haven't got anything for me to do before I leave, do you? I'm a bit busy right now, deadlines, y'know." He shivers. Cold in here...
(17-06)
"Any mutations in your new clone you'd like to register? All of your organs working? Fill out these forms and we'll have you back on your Troubleshooting way in no time. Now just step into the chemical shower and we'll get that goo right off. A word of advice though, keep your eyes closed. It burns."
"Mutations?" Adam-R hits his head a few times experimentally, does some jumping jacks and concentrates really hard about something heavy falling on Konlii. "Doesn't look like it. Now let me take a look at these forms," he moves over and electicity crackles between his fingers. "OW! Um, I, um, I'm sure that was just static. Ahehe. Aheh. Yeah... Uh-huh. Hm. Fill out... the forms... yeah... um..." (The pats his breast pocket... oh. Um, just pats his breast then) "You don't have a pen on you, do you...? I'll have that shower in the meantime." He steps into the shower cubicle nervously and shuts his eyes tight.
"Here, just put your tongue on this scanner and be done with it. It's the end of my shift here and I have some teching to do elsewhere." Konlii calls and he opens an eye.
"B-but the shower..." Adam objects as he waves his gooey arms pathetically, "I don't want to turn up at the barracks like this, I'd be a laughing commie stock! Oh fine, alright." He steps out, bends and sticks out his tongue on the scanner, Midnight leaving the tank vertually unnoticed.
"Ewe! That stuff stinks. Ugh! I think I got some in my mouth." He wipes tongue on his small towel, "Can I get something to wash this out with? Oh I need to do a tongue scan? No problem..." he follows Adams example in pressing his tongue to the scanner, leaving a noticable slime mark. "Let's see. Ten fingers. Check! Ten Toes. Check! No mutations here! I guess it's off to the showers then." He walks into a shower stall... "Arrrgh! My eyes!"
"Nothing to stop you from taking a shower, Adam-R. Go ahead. But stop waving your arms about like that! You're making a mess! Oh and be careful in there, Midnight-R. It burns..."
Adam stares as Midnight stumbles out of of the shower, his eyes swolen shut.
"Er...well, uh, I'll be off... then..." He leaves, naked and slimey.
The Monitor blinks and beeps again
Clone death report! Tombking-R-SWE-4 in PLN Sector inside Medical Services Facility 211-19/RED
The lights that turn on are far away, almost at the end of all the clonetanks.
Name: Tombking-R-SWE-5
Status: Ready for decanting.
> PLC worker detected! Please hold...
> Decanting...
Bleep! Konlii hits a few keys.
Name: Tombking-R-SWE-5
Status: Decanting...
Running SlowMo MemoMax subroutine...
Tombking comes out, blinks a few times and looks around.
"Not again...! This is like.... Fifth time!"
Something crashes to the floor. "Oh, terribly sorry about that. I hope it wasn't anything important. Uh... Could I trouble you to help me gather my stuff? I'll be out of your way as soon as..." Midnight bumps into something else, "oh excuse me. I didn't see you there."
(18-06)
After a long moment his eye swelling begins to go down. Oh yes that's much better. Things are still a little blurry though. There's my things too. Just let me gather these up and get dressed... He gets dressed and puts his things in various pockets of his RED jumpsuit. He then turns around and sees the mess he made.
"Oh no! Someclone broke the tongue scanner! And it's got a bit of slime on it. It must have been a mutant... It might still be here!"
Let's see. I could stay and try to find this 'mutant' or... I could run like HEL sector out of here...
Midnight-R runs like HEL sector out of there.
Allandros-Vs office
(16-06 Allandros's office p1)
It is large opulent office, with bookcases full of Armed Forces training manuals, R&D journals (old habits die hard), and plaques commemorating Allandaros-V's service in NAM sector.
Allandaros is now back in his office, sitting at his desk and reading a report. Pax walks upto the office door and stands still before knocking, talking softly to himself. Right... eehm... here we go... He knocks once, waiting for an answer. As he waits he makes sure his holsters are slung in the correct fashion and he discards the 'Cancer-Lite' cigarette he is smoking.
"What is it, soldier?"
Pax clears his throat and stands to attention, "Good daycycle sir, I am Pax-R, just transferred to under your command by Friend Computer. I would like to introduce myself to you before I start work properly. I have my files with me if you are interested in my carreer so far. Presents a bunch of neatly stapled papers and puts them on the desk infront of Allandaros. As you can see I did two tours in NAM sector and I served on the Vulture Squad in MDE sector but I got transferred here because of the... you know... accident in MDE sector... Our commander seemed to be a commie mutant traitor. And we blew him up." He clears his throat again. "I am happy to be under your command, sir, can I please request the position of being your right hand in this platoon, sir? I feel Friend Computer has given me this transfer to further hone my skills and be more of a service to the complex. But if you decide otherwise I will be happy to prove my worth by working in the lower ranks for Friend Computer. I will be happy either way." He salutes briefly
"Two tours in NAM? Interesting. I'll have my eye on you, Pax-R. Do well, and you might get to be corporal in a very short time. Go to Practice Room AA-23(b) and drill there. The other Armed Forces grunts will be joining you shortly." Says Allandros-V, and Pax stands to attention.
"Sir, yes, sir!"
He salutes and turns around in a solid 180 turn. He then marches out of the office, being carefull to close the door behind him in a happy and orderly fashion.
***
Mike-V-LEM walks into the room. "Yo Al, how's the situation with the bot coming? Anyway, I still have work to do, even if there's a psychotic homicidal bot in my office, so I would like to share yours until the situation in mine is dealt with. You could disagree, but you know what happens when an important VIOLET isn't able to keep working. Now, can I use your phone quick? I need to yell at some lack."
"Sure thing, Mike. Once you're done yelling, I'll give you the situation update as I know it." He slides shiny executive-style phone over to Mike who picks up phone and punches in a number. There is no answer and he tries another.
"Priority Delta call, punch me through... still no answer?" Mike hangs up & dials the IntSec main office. "Hello, IntSec? Could you send a squad over to Hitchcock Studio? I called about the progress on the newest Teela season and there's no answer. Send your finest squad; Teela might be in trouble."
On his way to Practice Room AA23(b), Brevet Sergeant Expend-O-BLE stops by the Office. Halts, salutes, stands attention.
"On my way to Practice Room AA23(b) General, Sir, I remembered a proposal that Corporal Xai and I have hit upon to improve Armed Forces productivity and fundings. We asked Friend Computer as Armed Forces did not have a Supervisor in place at the time, and now that the Combot situation is under control I would like to make my suggestion before resuming Drill, Sir.
"What we propose is that Armed Forces and its personnel offer Self Defense Hand to Hand Training Courses to the civilian population of PLN Sector and possibly Alpha Complex. There will be a Basic Course that any RED citizen could take for an affordably Credit fee, and an Advanced Course that requires written authorization from Armed Forces, Intsec, a High Programmer or Friend Computer... with a registration fee more proper for such advanced techqniques, Sir. In addition to increasing Armed Forces revenue for training and funding, it would also provide the average Citizenry without access to firearms a way of taking on the Commie Mutant Menace until reinforcements arrive. And as another bonus, Armed Forces and IntSec can monitor these classes to see which civilian holds enough promise for a transfer. I believe it would make Armed Forces even more wonderful, Sir!" He waits until dismissed, then heads on out towards Practice Room AA23(b) when ordered to do so. As he leaves, Saul-U-RES arrives with the BLUE squad and Silent.
"Allandaros! Got a volunteer for your latest Omega Chair upgrades!"
"Isn't that IntSec's department?" Asks Mike, motioning to one of the BLUEs escorting Silent, "can you kick this traitor in the groin for me?"
The goon kicks Silent in the groin
"Heh. Pretty funny," says Saulres, "Mike-V? IntSec has some methods, yes. But I think for this, the Omega Chair is called for. Biggles can have him when Allandaros is done. I'll just PDC him... Hmmm..." He stops to think, then points to a goon. "You! Give me your PDC." The goon complies and Saulres gets out his own PDC. He types things in his, then in the goon's and son on back and forth, several times, muttering. Then he laughs. Takyn. Gotta be Takyn. And of course he did that. It was for my own good. I'll have to talk to him. He gives PDC back to goon and whispers to him. "Right. I'm going now. Gotta get back before -- gotta get back." He speaks up, "You five, keep an eye on Silent. You five, come with me." He exits with a smaller entourage.
"Mike, the Omega Chair transcends service groups," states Allandros, "It is simply...the Omega Chair. Silent, why don't you step right this way? Two of you BLUES, come with me. I'm going to need someone to clean up the blood spills, and this is sensitive equipment. The rest of you, keep watch outside, hmm?" Allandaros opens up a small, hidden door in the rear of his office and begins descending the steps there. The BLUES, and the unfortunate Silent, follow.
"You know, I've never seen the Omega Chair in action. Mind if I stop by?" They leave, and after a time Athatar knocks on the door to the office, then waits. The automatic door response chimes in.
"Allandaros-V-ELF is currently busy utilizing the Omega Chair. If you are VIOLET clearance or above, you're most welcome to enter. Otherwise...send a PDC message and he'll get back to you. Sometime."
The Interregation of Silent Ù The OMEGA Chair Ù
(17-06)
The pathway down from Allandaros's office yields a small room dominated by a large chair in the center of the room. The chair is connected to a control bank taking up one of the room's walls. The chair is horrendous. Electric prongs, spikes, and...things...you really don't want to think about festoon the horror in the center of the room.
The chair's back is emblazoned with a VIOLET Ù. In this room stood the forbidding masked figure of Allandros-V, the Armed forces general of PLN sector. He speaks to one of the BLUE clones that act as his body guards.
"All right, gentlemen, why don't you set this scum right in that chair?" He indicates the chair and the BLUEs shove Silent down into it. "Any Questions before we begin?"
"No, all good. Ask away. I ruined myself, and I'm sorry. But there is nothing I can do to redeem myself. Ask away, and let me answer..." Silent trails off. He looks down cast and repentant, as well as somewhat scared.
"Very well," replied Allandros-V "We'll begin." He walks over to the contol bank and starts flicking some switches. The room darkens - except for the three bright spotlights directed right at Silent's face. Furthermore, a ring of panels descends from the ceiling to surround Silent's head, almost like an MRI, but transparent, so that the observers can see Silent's face. "Firstly," he says "the credits... Why bid an amount you didn't have?" Silent answers without hesitation.
"I was planning to be in debt to saulres this entire time. After my dinner, I would explain to saulres I couldn't pay for the dinner, no matter what. saulres, after being disappointed, would make me his personal servant to pay for it. Hopefully, I would rise in saulres' graces, by working for saulres directly."
"Do you know what happens to people who don't address High Programmers properly? Do you know what happens to people who lie to me?" Allandros-V pauses for effect, then starts shouting "They get more time in the Omega Chair!" He punches a button on the control panel causing two needles jab into Silent, whose body convulses. He looks like he's about to scream, but can't vocalize it. A small trickle of blood runs from his mouth; apparently he's bit himself. As always, Allandaros's mask remains impassive. "That lie would have worked for up to...say, three thousand credits. You bid a substantial bit more than that. You bid a price high enough to completely correct a clone template several times over. Your total value is much, much less than that. Your total value, when you were RED, was something like 500 credits. Right now, of course, your credit value is negative - traitor.... Lets try this again... Why bid so high?"
This will kill me, Thinks Silent, The Omega Chair is attacking me, causing me much agony. I can see why Allanadros uses this for interrogations. I've got to have one for my own personal use...just as soon as I get out of it...I wonder if Mr. ULTRAVIOLET sat in this very chair...
"Err... Mister VIOLET..." Silent groans, "If you have noticed in the c-bay logs, other has bided. Not as high as me, but still high for a RED to have. For example, the bid before my final bid, was 50,000 credits by Ath. My first bid, as you may have noticed, was 20 credits. Very low number, and should have stayed low. However, an obession was grown. An obbession to win the betting and get that dinner, with my friend, Mr. ULTRAVIOLET. I really like Mr. ULTRAVIOLET. I really do. Even after he questioned me, he was a good friend of mine, I would never hurt him. He was a good ULTRAVIOLET, being a loyal and kind citizen. I wish I could be like him. And therefore, I wish to be at that dinner, meeting up with a good citizen.
"I bidded high, not knowing what I has done. I wanted to go to that dinner, and I was dumb to forget that I have no money, no way to fund for that dinner. I was flattered by the ULTRAVIOLET, and I wanted to be near him. I wanted to do so...at any cost.
"And now, I upseted my favorite ULTRAVIOLET, a person I love, second to Friend Computer. When he kicked me, I felt sad, sad that I made him mad, and harmed him. This, harming a ULTRAVIOLET, was itself a punishment. I loved Mr. ULTRAVIOLET. And I didn't mean to hurt him...I really didn't." Silent sobs rather pathetically.
(18-06)
While Silent talks, another VIOLET citizen enters. It is the HPD&MC Executive Coordination Officer Mike-V-LEM. He stands beside Allandros-V.
"So, how far through the investigation are you?" He asks as Allandros-V turns towards him.
"Just getting started... Hold on a moment, let me get through this..." Allandros turns back to Silent. "The other bids are irrelevant. Your bumbling lies are irrelevant. Your attempts to talk your way out are foolish, Silent. We don't want your lies. We want information. Information. And by hook or by crook, we'll get it... You talk of love. Love is irrelevant." He keys in some comands and then continues, "I'll ask you again. Why bid so high? Who were you working for?" This time, the pain comes in a series of electric shocks across the forearms. The stench of burning flesh fills the room, and one of the BLUEs wrinkles his nose. This time, Silent is able to vocalize his scream.
Hearing Silents scream from three corridors away, the HPD&MC Coordinated Executive officer, a sadistic registered mutant called CMT-V comes to investigate the sounds. Seeing the chair in action he becomes rather exited. "Oooh... youre using... The Chair?! Can I watch?"
"Yes, yes... if you're quiet," says Allandros, exasperated, "I've got an interrogation to do, and these interruptions aren't helping."
Silent's screams have ended. "Mr VIOLET..." he breaks in, breating heavily, "um, the VIOLET who is currently interogating me..." He breaks off, then sighs, "I was working for Free Enterprise. I bid so high because they told me to bid. If I didn't obey their orders, well, something bad would happen to me. It was somewhat of a loyalty test... only it was a treason test... to see if I was loyal to their secert society. While I pass their 'test', I wasted Mr. ULTRAVIOLET's time and deserved to be punished."
Allandros looks at Silent for a moment before replying. "ou may be interested to know that at this point, your nervous system is currently fortified. Your nerves will hardly be taking any damage at this point. The purpose of this is, of course, to leave them largely intact so that you can feel...every...excruciating...moment of pain from the Omega Chair." He looks at the controls, then speaks quietly, "You know what I hate, Silent? I hate it when you lie to me." He flicks a switch. This time...nothing seems to happen. One of the BLUEs looks puzzled. "Well then," he says, "I've got places to be. Don't worry, Silent...I'll be back to finish this." He ushers the BLUEs and visiting Violets out of the room. As everyone leaves, and the door shuts...a single drop of water falls on Silent's forehead. Then, after what seems like an eternity...another. And another...
How to escape from this chair? Wonders Silent, Surely telling the truth didn't work, neither did lying. Can't kill myself. Can't break free. Can't hire anyone, no credits. Can't reach my PDC...wait I don't even have one! This is all so devesating. Gah!
... This makes me WANT to go back to the food vats...scary.
(20-06)
"Aah, Silent. What a distinct lack of pleasure to see your ugly face again." Says Allandros-V, entering his office, followed by two BLUEs. He looks at the pudle of water that had acumulated around Silent and the Omega Chair. "Hmm, it seems that the water treatment's been going effectively. But why don't we dry you up?" He flicks a few switches. To Silent's relief, the water seems to have stopped. However, something else is happening. Heating elements on the Chair begin to glow, first a dull cherry-red, then shading upwards to ORANGE. The water pooled on the ground begins to melt away, and Silent begins to look more than a little uncomfortable. "So, Silent... Why don't we discuss all these codes you were babbling about. What codes?" he asks as the Heating elements continue to heat up.
* * *
23-06 Freedom ~ Electronic diary of Saul-U-RES
I can’t believe it went so smoothly. I thought it would be a lot harder to sneak out than it was, but Farg didn’t show up to escort me to that indoctrination, Takyn was on vacation, and Jazzer was busy preparing for Funball. The codes on the door were a snap for me to break, knowing the other ULTRAVIOLETs as well as I now do, and I was out of the towers and into the complex.
Getting a phalanx of security guards was easy; BLUEs know to kowtow to a ULTRAVIOLET (unlike some REDs, but I’ll get to that). Sure, my clothes have built-in armor, but you can never be too careful, the way the clones of PLN Sector behave. Yeah, even though I was carrying the things which protected me from secret society influence (especially the Psi Dampener, which kept those stinking Psion freaks away from me), it didn’t hurt to have some extra muscle.
Anyway, no one was helpful in finding Silent in the barracks. Leave it to Biggles to find him wherever he was hiding; that’s a good man there. I’ll have to check out his group’s entertainment at some point. Anyway, when I finally got Silent, he came up with some lame lies about what he was up to. He even claimed he spent the money he owed me! Yeah, right! Like any RED could amass almost 150K, even one in Free Enterprise. Such bull annoyed me so much I busted him down to INFRARED. Swiped his ME card so any future funds he receives will go to him paying what he owes me. Finally, sent him to Allandaros (another good man; I like the VIOLETs) for some Omega Chair activity. He’ll find out the truth behind Silent’s lies.
But the key thing I learned was that something was up with my PDC. I wish Silent had kept his; it would’ve been nice to see what he got from me. But I was able to simulate with - oh, what’s his name? Some BLUE’s. Anyway, turns out that incoming cMails to me were all being bounced with some spam protection, and all my outgoing ones were being encrypted (all except the subject). Didn’t take me long to realize it was Takyn behind it. And it made perfect sense, too; I sure didn’t need any REDs bugging me while I was going through indoctrination.
Once I realized this, of course, I had to go to Takyn and have a good laugh about it. Found him in the funball arena. Didn’t disturb him, really. I mean, at first he was a bit upset about me invading his space, but after I threw a couple more Phase IV enhancement ideas at him - which he liked - he was all too willing to chat. I impressed him with my ability to beat his codes to leave the towers and my discovery of what he had done, so he was willing to undo it.
Well, not all of it; he took out the encryption, but I kinda like the spam blocking. So he showed me the backdoor entry code which would bypass it; the other ULTRAVIOLETs had already been using it so that’s why I didn’t notice there was anything wrong right away. I immediately distributed it to the VIOLETs so they can get in touch with me; now that I’ve proven myself, I can interact freely with whoever in the sector I want, and after all, why would I want to associate with anyone under GREEN? And since we’ve only got REDs, ORANGEs, and VIOLETs (and one INFRARED. Hee hee!), well, the Service Group heads can act as nice buffers between the lower levels and me.
So no more indoctrinations! I’m all done. Farg’ll be happy, whenever he shows up again. Wonder where he went?
Ah well, that’s a concern for another day. For now, I’m just going to enjoy my freedom.
***
"Codes, codes...well...ouch, sorry, Mr. VIOLET...but, you know, I'm a heat-senstive INFRARED and I don't like being burnt...hm...er...I lied about the codes. Yes. No codes. You know I lied many times. Well, I lied again. There was no codes. I was trying futiley to fool Mr. ULTRAVIOLET and you, hoping to get out. But, I'm a loser...OUCH...traitor, and I deserve this punishment, for not only disappointing a ULTRAVIOLET, but for lying. Oh, how I hate lying! And, oh, Mr. VIOLET, have mercy on me!" Silent could feel parts of his flesh being burnt away. Still, the nerves are steel... which means that he could still feel the pain.
"You hate lying?" Mused Allandros, "Hmmm, interesting... So why do you lie so much? You've lied to your superiors, you lied to the High Programmer, and you've been lying to me just now." He looked closly at Silent, "Why you lie so much, Silent. I'm honestly curious now."
"I don't know!" Babbeled Silent, "I've been lying for quite some time, I couldn't remember when I started. When I try to ask myself why I lie, I don't know the answer...sometimes I even lie to myself, so I don't trust myself. I really do hate lying, but I do it all the time. Sometimes it was for minor acts, insubordation, and other times, it was for treasonous events, and now, it's for this. Oh, I hate lying. I got to find a way to stop lying, to start telling the truth for once."
"What?!" Allandros sounds angry, and codes in another sequence. "That's it, Silent. That was the most incoherent statement I've heard this yearcycle. You're going to pay for that one." Needles jab into Silent's arms again. A green fluid is injected, and the needles withdraw. Meanwhile, a projection begins to appear on the far wall. It's Silent's internal organs, his brain and lungs, his arteries and veins...A bright green fluid can be seen passing through the blood system. "Do you see that green liquid, Silent? That's some nanotech I developed while at R&D. When that reaches your brain, you will be experiencing some of the most hideous pain imaginable. That is, of course, unless you tell me who was behind all this. If you tell me - I might not key in the commands to activate the nanoprobes... So. Who were you working for? Who was going to bankroll you? Why didn't they back you up?" The fluid continues to course through Silent's body.
(21-06)
CMT-V, who seems to have a rather suspiciously mutatious sence for when the chair is being used, pokes his head into the room. "Allandaros, could you please turn on the vent fan... the smell of burning INFRARED is all over this sector and its making me dry heave in my helmet. Thanks," He looks at Silents organs on the wall, "OooooooOOooOO.. the nanoprobes!! That reminds me, I need to pick up some earplugs from the PLC. Wish I could stay longer."
As CMT leaves, Silent tries to answer Allandros, but seems to be having some dificulty. "Err..." He says, and closes his eyes for a moment, thinking. Gah. No more lies to get me out of this mess. Allandaros must have been very experinced in this field, so he knows whatever I'm saying. He proberly already known everything...but he still want to use his Omega Chair, for some sadistic reason. I don't know what a nanoprobe is, but if it is like that heat from the chair, I'm going to hate it...and not only do I have to lie through my teeth, but that buring flesh is not helping me concerate. That Omega Chair must have beenCome on, Silent, you can do it. You can come up with a solution. You can lie through your teeth again, you can do it...avoid those 'nanoprobes', whatever they are...remember, you been doing it your entire life...
"er, I dont know?"
Oh, no... I know thats a wrong answer... I'm sure going to have nightmares about the Omega Chair. Okay, lesson learned. Don't EVER bid higher than you have in a C-bay auction, even if the person says you can bid more than you have...otherwise you'll land back into this Omega Chair and have to suffer the same thing I'm in. He opens his eyes. Please, somebody say the 'nanoprobes' aren't a new R&D devicie that can blow me up! I can't afford another clone!
Allandros pauses. "Wait... What do you mean, you don't know? Do you not know who was bankrolling you? Or is it that you don't know why they failed to back you up?"
CMT appears at the door again. "Hey Allandaros! I've got a scrubot on standby in the hallway here incase this one explodes too." Silent groans, but nobody seems to notice, "Oh! And remember to wear the approiate coveralls this time! Those ORANGE level Grunts got really confused last time." He leaves as Mike-V enters.
"He could just be an idiot, Allandaros. Sir Saulres did tell people to bid more than they had. Besides, who would pay a RED like him 150,000 credits? You could buy your own sector for that money... This is entertaining, but Silent is still a member of my Service Group, and I'd rather not waste his clones. Trained help is so hard to find these days. Finish confirming Silent isn't part of some vast conspiracy, release him in working condition, and suggest that Sir Saulres simply give the dinner to the next-highest bidder," He checks c-bay on his PDC, "Which would be citizen Athatar at 50,000 credits..." Mike makes a mental note Discuss fiscal responsibility with lackeys. "Actually," he continues, " make that the 3rd-highest bidder. That would be you, Allandaros, at 4640 credits. You do have that many credits, right?
"Mike, lets not discus this in front of him..." Allandros takes out his PDC and starts typing, "Just check your cMail, Okay?" He turns to Silent and wais for him to talk.
"What Mr. Mike-V-LEM sir says. I am a dupe, a stupid person, who made a stupid mistake, and will never make a stupid mistake ever again. Please forgive me, Mr. VIOLET!"
"Forgive you? Silent, I don't think you properly appreciate my position here. I'm not concerned with whether you repent or not. That's for the High Programmers and the Computer to decide. I have a very simple job, and that is to find out exactly what you know. Once I am satisfied in this regard, then...why, you are free to go. But until that time...you're going to answer my questions. I don't care about the fact that you're a dupe. The question is - who duped you? Who was behind this? I must know... The sooner you tell me everything, the sooner you get to leave. Who was behind this? Who was supporting you? Who? WHO?!?" His slams his hand down against the nearest flat surface. Silent gasps. He looks... terrified.
"Free Enterprise!" The words come quickly, fearfully, desperatly "I belonged to that secert society, and they told me to do it....they duped me." He sighs and gets a hold of himself. "They are behind this. I have no other information."
"Do you remember what I told you earlier, Silent? I hate it when clones lie to me. I hate it." He keys in yet another sequence. The souls of Silents feet recieve a sharp electric shock, and he souts in pain. The green fluid on the viewer seems to be creeping closer to Silent's brain - it's already passed the heart, and is now heading upwards... Allandros continues, showing no sign of sympathy. "Who was your contact? Where did you meet him? How did you first become involved in Free Enterprise? Why would Free Enterprise wish to anger Saul-U-RES?"
(22-06)
The pain... Those nanoprobes are getting closer... Silent screams in terror "Make it stop! Make it stop! Please! please... My contact! They used codenames so I don't know! I think... I think his name is 'Bob' or 'Tom'. I believe I meet them usually in the INFRARED Market, where they would tell me from a dark corner... arrgh... and I would be.. unable to see... their faces." Silent takes a breath, "They recruited me because they know I would do a job without asking any questions; Do it or die."
"I do not know why Free Enterprise wants to anger Saul-U-RES. They tell me that I should do it, so...I do it. Your best bet is to interrogate my superiors. They may have far more intel that I ever can speak."
"Very good Silent. Why, there may be hope for you yet. Now then, you mentioned something about your PDC going missing. Tell me what happened."
"Sorry Mr. VIOLET if my speaking is a little soft and interrupted, the pain from the Omega Chair still hurts...ow...." Oh, the pain. Make it stop, make it stop! "My PDC is my most favorite thing. However, I handed it over to a Free Enterpriser. The same one who also told me to bid high and annoy Mr. ULTRAVIOLET. I did it, because, as I said before, I'm a dupe. I think I deleted Mr. ULTRAVIOLET's messages from the PDC before giving it to the Free Enterpriser, but I´m not sure. Your best bet is to capture my superior and get him to talk. Preferably in the Omega Chair."
"Why did you delete the massages?"
(23-06)
"I think I have deleted the messages. I am not sure however. The pain and the misery has made me forgotten some details, and I can't be too sure of anything...ow..." He breaks off again. Allandros dosnt seem to mind. Pushing isn't nessisary at this point of the interrogation. "I think, if I deleted the messages, then it must have been that FE person again who told me to. I just obey what he told me, never questioning."
"Very Interesting." He keys in a sequence and the panels on the chair withdraw, the manacles snap open. The projection on the screen fades away. "Thank you for your cooperation in this investigation, citizen. Your superiors will be informed of your statements. Any incriminating remarks which you may have made will most certainly be used against you... Right, Silent. You're free to go. Get out of here. And don't let this happen again. If you think this delta chair," he points at the chair "was bad, consider what would happen in the real Omega Chair."
(24-06)
After a while Mike-V speaks. "That sent shivers up even my spine, Allandaros."
CMT-V appeared at the door, "Just curious, Is there an Alpha Chair?" It makes one wonder if he'd been standing outside the whole time... Listening...
***
***INCOMING TRANSMISSION***
….,., .,…. **….,, ,.,..just ridiculous!! Here I am, caught Outdoors with….* ,.,. .,.* *..,., .,… ,.,.,* *…, *.,.,. and*..,., .,… ,.,.,* …..sure gored me but good. If only I hadn’t …,…, with th..,.. *,.. ,.,.,…stupid PDC is running out of power an.,.,.,.he reception here is practically nil! Can’t even reach Jazzer on the emergency frequen….,.,. ,.,.,.* ,.,.,. **,.,… ..,…etting worse. The micro-beacon doesn’t seem …,,. ..,,,. ..,.,.working and I’m not even sure if I’m still transmitting anymore. I’ve managed to …*..*, ,***,,,. ..*.. …, …,a tourniquet for..,,,.. .,.*,., ..,,,,…ould be okay for the short term. But it’s hard to walk and my usual running pace is definitely out of the ques…***..,. ..,.. *..,,,.. *..,…,, ,., .,., * ,,.,.ill take me weeks to get back to the complex at this rate!
Well, I did tell Takyn I was staying out here longer to find a bit of a challenge. Looks like I found one.
..,.,*.,.**,.,. *…-..*.. *.*…-**.*.-.* *.* **. **.>> *>>>>CARRIER LOST
A New Life
(24-06)
Silent enters the Irfrared closet just as The Computer makes an anouncement. "Citizens, The Computer has provided this clean and comfy space so that you may rest inbetween punishment shifts. You may also use the restroom down the hall on Twodays, Threedays and Sixdays."
So, this is where I live from now on. The Computer is most mericful and bountiful. Hopefully, I'll learn a lesson from this, and will reform from my lying status. He sits down. A voice from far of can be heard. "Sucker!" Its shouts.
A clone, GirdagFireskull, from sector GBR, walks in with a bull horn. Finally some fun, I think ill enjoy this. He puts the horn to his lips and shouts.
"WAKE UP!"
Its very loud, but doesn't seem to have much of an effect. Infact nobody even seems to really notice.
Dweccl, another INFRARED clone in the closet is twitching rather badly. "Isn't this fun! Friend Computer says so! It's so much fun getting chased by a giant bed bug down to PLC, back to the RED dorm then just outside the funbal stadium, only to have the bed bug suck you dry to within an inch of your life! Wowee! What incredible fun that was! I wish with all my might I could do it again!" he twitches "So, how was your daycycle, citizen Silent? Been read any good - and assuredly justly deserved and undoubtedly fun - riot acts lately?" He laughs, then twitches, then crams himself into the corner of the closet.
"Nothing much, Dwccl... I've been at the Omega... I mean, Delta Chair for some time now. Today is my first day as INFRARED. Don't worry, I've been INFRARED before, so not much here is new." Silent finally takes notice of GirdagFireskull. "Look, before I wake up, I need to go to sleep. As soon as I will sleep, I will wake up, okay, trusted citizen?"
No sooner has he said this, however, than two higher clearance clones walk in. The first, V declares he is here to see Silent, at which the second clone says "Well, I'm here to find a mop," he pauses, "Oh, hey, is that the Communications Junction Box for HEL Subsector? Excellent! I've been looking for this! Excuse me a moment." The clone opens the junction box with a spare spanner.
Silent addressed V. "Hey, V. What's up? Long time no see, hey! We've been friends, no...good friends. Surely friendships like this are very unbreakable, expect for our lovable friend, The Compute, right, who is all our Friend, right, V? Yeah, V! What do you want to talk about?"
"Hmmm..." mutters the second clone, pressing a button lables "test" and leans towards the microphone grille. "Technician Burg-R-KNG-1 on assignment 7232, comm check, junction box... *reads side of box* ....P, L, N, slash, H, E, L, dash 33351, please acknowledge?" He presses the button again and waits a few minutes before trying again, "Acknowledge test protocol zeta-zeta-niner, confirm?" He pushes the button a few times. "Frak it. No wonder the entire subsector's having problems with comm lines. Hmmmm, I wonder if those vatheads in Power even wired this thing into the local grid!" He turns around and looks at Silent. "Citizen Silent! Rejoice in this opportunity to service your fellow citizens and Alpha Complex and to make amends for your prior actions yadda yadda yadda. I need you to lick this part of the junction box for me, okay?" He points to an exposed metal terminal, then backs casually out of arms reach of Silent. At this point another clone, Citron-JRX, enters, muttering that at least he won't have to deal with the stressful life of RED citizenship for a while. Nobody pays him any attention.
"Burg-R, sure, I'll lick that exposed portion...but you know, I going to have to talk to V for a little bit...on second thought, maybe I should lick that exposed portion first. But you know, licking exposed portions here is...not good. What if this room get destroyed? We should lick this exposed portion somewhere else...yeah, somewhere else. Somewhere far away."
"Stop lolligagging, clone!" growls Burg-R, "I'm busy, and I gotta get this junction box fixed... Your fears are baseless. A class three commo tie-in like this doesn't have enough power flowing through it to cause it to explode." At least when Troubleshooters aren't involved "Now, your head on the other hand, well, tell ya what. I need to know if this thing is energized. You're holding up important Complex business because half the subsector is without communications. Just stick your tongue out and touch it to that part right there that says "Aux Electron Flow Out". If something bad happens to you, like you catch on fire or spontaneously vaporize, I guarantee that Tech Services will pay for your new clone." Not a guarantee. Offer void where prohibited. Prohibited in all sectors with the letters “A”, “Z” and those letters in between in the standard Computer-approved alphabet. Offer is not valid to all citizens of INFRARED to GREEN clearance. The Computer is Your Friend. Thought for the day: Loyal citizens only have two arms, two eyes, two legs, and one head. "Whatta offer to redeem yourself in the eyes of Friend Computer!" Burg-R lowers his voice. "Also, I heard you spent some time in... the Chair." He shudders. "So, hey, this should be like a walk in the plaza for you, huh?"
(25-06)
"Ah, the chair... It was good, but---"
Suddenly V's hand thrusts out, grabbing Silent by the neck and lifting him off the ground. Silent starts to gasp and V speaks. "Friendship, Silent? It was loyalty... Stupidity I can forgive, but disloyalty? You will die a traitor's death. Any last words?"
The Int-Sec clone, Lu, roams into the closet.
"Hey, hey. Do you have any evidence of this clone's treason? It's treasonous to terminate traitors without evidence."
Suddenly Dweccl blurts, "You know what I like about being INFRARED best? Huh? Do ya?" He waits anxiously for an eager "No, what? Really - I'm just itching to know". After an awkward silence, realizes he's not going to get a reply, so he continues, "No giant RED bugs! Just a few dozen ring worms, see?" He dangles a ring worm between a pinched forefinger and thumb and sighs with a look of sincere contentment. Nobody pays attention.
"V...V...just listen to me," Silent, being elevated some way of the ground, barely manages to speak. " I have done wrong things, yes. But I still believe in you. I was not loyal, true, but the core ideas you have inspired in me still remains. You have enlightened me, shown me the truth. And for that, I am greatful. But, now you will kill me. Which is sad. Because I really like you. I really do. I'm so sorry....really am...I didn't mean it. But it's over. The entire society is comprimised. Mere revenge can't do anything now, for the damage has been done... chk-hch... Just kill me. I deserve it.
Citron glares over at the noisy altercation, then with a sudden burst of inspiration, dashes over and dives at V, bottle of cleansing spray in hand. "That's unauthorized destruction of Computer property there, bucko! I won't have that happen in my presence!"
Lu buts in again, "Hey! No murder of fellow clones without evidence of treason! Don't ignore me, INFRAREDs."
Expend-O-BLE arrives at the INFRARED Closet and swings the doors open before drawing out the GIGAN-XS chainsaw and starting it up.
"ALL RIGHT YOU INFRARED VATSLIME!! REST PERIOD IS OVER!! GET OVER TO THE VATS AND START DOING YOUR DUTIES IF YOU BOOTSMOKES WANT TO REDEEM YOURSELVES IN THE EYES OF FRIEND COMPUTER!! MOVE IT MOVE IT MOVE IT!!" He squeezes the trigger and the Chainsaw whines at Full Throttle as he points it at the INFRAREDS to begin herding them.
Lu edes away from the chainsaw. "Err.... I think I'll be going now, Expand-O-Ble. Thank you for coming and getting the INFRARED's to work." Lu moves to leave when suddenly V bakhands Citron without looking, sending him flying across the room to land like a sack of potatoes.
He glares at Silent. Lu sighs as V starts to speak. "Silent, I hope your next clone forgets about all this and joins a nice relaxing society. Else it might become stressful," he squeezes Silent's neck, crushing his windpipe. "And so ends the disgraced life of Silent-1. Hunted by ULTRAVIOLETs, demoted to INFRARED, and terminated for refusing to help a Technician repair a panel. Shameful." HE throws the body to Burg. "His toungue should still be moist." It was at about this time that Zathril entered the room, in the hope that watching others in pain will help him relax after the interrogation. However, everyone was either to busy, or too insane to notice him leaning quietly against the wall.
V finally notices Expend-O-BLE, who is still standing with the chainsaw. Well, I see they've improved the wake-up call a bit.
***( V *whispers to Bee* Work with me here. I don't want to get drastic. EDIT: Retcon complete.)
***(Burg *steps back and using his SureShot PDC attachment, takes picture of citizen V grabbing Silent's throat* Hey hey HEY! Don't be pushing my "assistant" around! *violently shoulders himself between Silent and V* Citizen V, don't you have any work you need to be doin'? *Expend-O opens the door to the closet and starts up his chainsaw.* Thank Friend Computer! Now I can get some work done! Now, Silent, will you please lick that terminal? I really need to see if that thing is energized or not. EDIT: Posted between the point I saw Expendi-O's entrance and the flurry of posting activity. I guess Takyn will sort it out.)
Lu interupts. "V, I'm going to have to ask you to come with me, unless you wish to be executed for treason."
"Citizen V, I saw that, Hand yourself over to Intsec right no or you will be forcibly taken there!" Shouts Zathril, and several of the people in the crowded closet jumped, wondering how long he had been standing there. Citron, ever the opportunist, used the moment of distraction to kick out at V's legs as Expernd-O-BLE starts up his chain-saw again. V managed to easily dodge Citron's kick as the INFRARED drugs are already slowing his reaction time from what it was as a RED. V quickly darts into a small group of IRs that make a path for him, and quickly fill it. The thronging IRs, all of them now in a state of panic, knock Zathril, Lu, and Burg to the ground, and send Expend dangerously tottering with a reved up chainsaw.
Chaos reigns in the tight sleeping closet as 30 IRs shout and shuffle in confusion and panic. Lu scrambles to his feet, but V is nowhere to be seen. He imediatly messages Biggles, alerting him to the unauthorized murder. He shook his head saying "He got away!" Lu was already running in the direction he thought V must have taken. Expend-O-BLE tries desperatly to regain his balance and release the trigger amid the ongoing confusion and Zath-?-lLL struggles to his feet and follows after Lu and (presumably) V, since from what Lu is saying Intsec want him. Expend finally gets his ballance and barks out at the IRs, chainsaw ready to rev should any decide to rush him. "ALL RIGHT INFRAREDS!! TO THE FOOD VATS NOW!!" Rush me if you want IRs, I'll delimbinize them as a disiplinary action!
Ignoring the INFRARED's, who were slowly coming under Expends control, Burg-R grabs Silent's lifeless body, shrugs, and presses the still moist toungue against the exposed metal stud, watching Silent closely to seeif any sparks fly or muscles twitch. Nothing happened.
"I knew it! Farking power slackers!" Burg looks over his shoulder to where Citron is still struggling to stand. "Hey! Citron! Can I borrow you a minute?"
Citron sets his jaw, scrambling rather ungracefully to his feet, in a vain attempt to pursue the traitor, only to find himself winded. He forces himself to march out to the vats, a forced smile spread thick on his face. With the level of noise here, he never heard Burg... Probebly a good thing. Expend see's Citron stagger.
"Come on! to the food vats!" He breifly revs the chainsaw to full throttle and urges the INFRARED along. Seeing him move, he turns attention to those IRs who are still standing around. "Comeon Vat-Slime! Start working or else!" The chainsaw is once again at full throttle.
Burg-R watches Citron shuffle out with Expend-O. Aw, shucks. I'll do it myself. He looks around and finds power line leading into the closet's portable space heater, thinking Eh, they're INFRARED's. They won't need it anyway, huddled up like that. In a shower of sparks, Burg pulls power line out of space heater and jams it into the electrical feed on the Communication Junction. The Junction Box sputters to life. There we go! It’s not at full capacity, but it’ll do for now. He reaches inside and fiddles with the controls, muttering about “triangulation” and “frequency tracking localization." He presses the test button.
"Ahem. Technician Burg-R-KNG-1 on assignment 7232, comm check, junction box ....P, L, N, slash, H, E, L, dash 33351, acknowledge?"
".-..,affirmative,.*..,.,click."
He smiles. "Acknowledge test protocol zeta-zeta-niner, standby."
",.,*...,.proceed..,-,..click."
"The quick brown buzzbot jumped over the lazy Troubleshooter. Testing, testing - 1... 2... 3... Can you hear me? Testing, testing. Is this thing on?"
"ttss.,..-.-.. tk ., , can you hear me now? click"
"Affirm, Loud and clear."
"Good, terminting test protocol. click."
He closes the box and walks out of INFRARED sleeping closet.
27-07 Knocking ~ Saul-U-RES Blog
What a daycycle! First, Girdag cMails me, through my spam blocker, with supposed information about my time before my promotion. I told him I remember it all, what with coming up through CPU and all, but then he throws nightmares at me. With my new interest in psychology, I figure, sure, I’ll talk to him. He wants to meet in private, though, so okay, I’m willing. I try in the BLUE suites, but then Takyn goes and interrupts us. So, down to the main Compnode, where Takyn struggles to fill out a form while I talk with Girdag.
Takyn, man. Brilliant with coding, not so much with stylus and notepad. I offered to help him with his form, but he figured he had it on his own. So be it. At least he types quickly, otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to take out PSZ so easily. Not sure which of the other sectors is next; I favor taking out #4, but he seems to think a bunch of the smaller ones are the way to go. Doesn’t really matter, it’s so much fun!
Anyway, when I got back from the meeting with Girdag, I thought I’d take a nap, but I couldn’t. There was this persistent knocking noice. I finally traced it down to a seldom-used exit to the Outdoors. Wary of what I might find, I loaded up my laser and carefully, slowly, opened the door. Then something short, furry, and filthy tumbled in. The stench alone sent me reeling, and I was just bringing up my laser to shoot it when it spoke! “Thank - the - Computer,” it said, through a raspy voice, clearly long disused. But I recognized that voice! Could it be? I slowly approached it. “Farg?” I asked, quietly. “Fargmania?” again, a bit louder. It spoke again. “saulres? - groan.”
Yep, it was Farg, all right. I got him to one of his bedrooms, dumped him on his bed, ran a bath for him, and told him to get clean, and rest. Then it was back to my room for a nice shower and fumigation.
Feeling better, I checked the Jobs Board, but still no bites on my offers. You’d think service firms would be falling all over themselves to get paid to do work for an ULTRAVIOLET. And their rates would go up tremendously after such a visible job. Ah well. Maybe this is yet another idea of mine which won’t fly.
While I was online, I figured I’d write this up. Now back to check on Farg, make sure he didn’t fall asleep in the bath. And make sure he actually took one! Then, finally, some rest.
Tomorrow I’ve got to check on Girdag’s job performance statistics. And I just realized I still have Silent’s PDC; maybe I’ll track him down and give it back to him - after rubbing it in Farg’s dirty clothes first. Hee hee! Ah, yes, I do love this life.
posted by Zatnik | 4:33 AM
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